In about 1760, the Real Maestranza de Caballería undertook the task of constructing a stone building to replace the temporary wooden bullrings that had previously been erected on the same site. Thus began a construction process that would last for 120 years, involving different stages and overcoming serious difficulties before the work was completed in 1881.
Following the receipt, in 1730, of the royal privileges to construct a bullring, four construction periods can be distinguished:
In order to put an end to the costs and complications of an ephemeral type of architecture, the Real Maestranza began the construction of the “material” bullring, in accordance with the plans of Francisco Sánchez de Aragón. Between 1761 and 1762 three ochavas were constructed. In the final months the management of these works was the responsibility of Pedro de San Martín.
The last major piece of work done by Juan Talavera consisted of finishing the upper arcade with the construction of the forty balconies that were lacking, twenty on each side of the bullpen area. Iron was used for the first time in this edifice. Important improvements were made to the building and its annexes: an entrance for the confinement of the bulls without their needing to cross the arena; an extensive stable, a tack room, the infirmary, the chapel and the bullfighters’ resting room; the slaughterhouse was improved, new storerooms were made under the front row of seats, and also several places for the sale of tickets. Plans were made to decorate the bullring. With this intervention, the construction of the bullring was complete.
The primitive bullring was dismantled in order to construct a new wooden one, but this time with a round, chamfered shape, because experience had shown the danger of fighting in this bullring because of its four corners. Clearance of the Baratillo hill began, and the bullring was erected on this conveniently appropriate site. Its seats were similar to those of the previous bullring, with balconies and boxes preceded by a bench or screen.
To show his appreciation, the King granted important and decisive privileges to the Corporation, which in 1739 erected a third bullring, consisting simply of balconies and platforms, more similar to the current bullring, and with four gates, in addition to that of the bullpen.
Following the grant by Felipe V of the privilege of holding bullfights, the Real Maestranza decided to build its own bullring in a part of the Arenal which is near the current site between the convent of the Pópulo and the so-called Baratillo hill; it was made of wood, and rectangular, like the square of San Francisco, the main square of Seville where public festivities were held. It had high and low balconies as well as platforms or terraces. (Plan of the first wooden bullring, c.1731)
The Councillors’ Balcony and the two adjoining ochavas were constructed, eleven balconies in all. This work was directed by Juan Talavera y de la Vega.
The post of Institution Architect was created, with the idea of linking with professionals of prestige among “the most important people in the City”. The first architect to be officially linked was Juan Manuel Caballero y Ortiz. The stonework was resumed, beginning with various stages of the lower platform, and most of the tendidos were finished in 1849.
The Royal Bullring is distinctive because of the irregular outline of its arena. It is well known that the fact that its construction took 120 years (1761-1881) had an influence on the deformations that are visible today, and on the variety and quality of the building systems used. The stage of construction which took place in the XVIIIth century (1761-1785) can be divided into two distinct phases.
In the first (1761-1766), the construction plan originally envisaged by Francisco Sánchez de Aragón was faithfully implemented. The arc of the ring that he described could be that of a circular bullring of thirty ochavas.
However, in the second phase (1781-1785), the circle began to be deformed when the bullring was constricted to conform to the plot of land available and to adapt the dimensions to the bullfighting on foot that was coming into fashion in that period. So Vicente de San Martín relocated the centre of the circle, and from the new centre described a circle with a shorter radius. The result was the well-known oval shape of its ground plan. Subsequently, in order to adapt to the area of a smaller bullring, he relocated a new intermediate centre, as can be seen on the attached plans.
Selected texts and information:
La Plaza de Toros de Sevilla. Historia de su ininterrumpida construcción. María del Valle Gómez de Terreros. Universidad de Huelva, 1999.
Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla: Obras 2005-2011. J.A. Carbajal y VV. AA. Real Maestranza de Caballería, 2011.
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