PhD Program in Historical studies
Almadén and Ronda
The bullring in Almadén (Ciudad Real) is one of the most emblematic places in La Mancha and is one of the few examples of hexagonal squares. The history of this square is linked to the presence of mines in the area; according to some sources it was built together with the Hospital Real de Mineros de San Rafael in 1752 by the superintendent of mines Francisco Javier de Villegas, to remedy the ongoing epidemics and high mortality. The ring had a dual purpose, to raise funds to help support the hospital on which it depended and to offer more dignified accommodations to workers who lived in poverty and that accounted for the largest outbreak of epidemics. To house the workers meant renting the 24 apartments that were made in the outer part of the same building which accommodated about 200 people. The project was completed in 1765, but there are documents which demonstrate the use of the structure, still incomplete, already in 1752. From 1754 to 1759, with a royal decree, Ferdinand VI forbade bullfights to try to recover the breeding of this species halved by epidemics and drought. This measure, however, was not extended to Almadén`s ring. As has already been said it is hexagonal, consisting of two floors and the outside has a pitched roof with shingles and twenty-four fireplaces with a particular shape. The main entrance is in brick, the internal podiums are all covered inside, the ground floor is arched while the first floor has wooden columns that support the roof, which is also, like the exterior, tiled and sloping. It can hold about 4,000 people and has been designated a National Historic Monument in 1979 (RD 11/16/79). The last renovation was in 2003, and currently, in addition to its use for bullfights, it hosts exhibitions in its rooms, a tourist office, a restaurant and a hotel.
Finally, we must mention the plaza de toros in Ronda, though it dates back to a period subsequent to the Baroque period. It is probably the most well-known historic plaza of the peninsula and one of the most characteristic. It was built by the Real Maestranza de Caballería, the equestrian association founded by Philip II to form and train riders. It was designed by Martín Aldehuela starting in 1779 and was completed in 6 years. Its first use by the cavalry corps could also be inferred in this case, by the breadth of its ruedo which measures 66 meters in circumference, one of the largest in the world. It consists of two floors, both covered with five rows of steps each. There are 136 columns in Tuscan style, forming 68 arches. It can hold about 5,000 spectators. Ronda and its plaza represented a milestone in the development of modern bullfighting thanks to various families and generations of bullfighters who have strongly influenced the history of this discipline. In reference to the famous painting by Francisco Goya depicting the brothers Pedro and José Romero, from 1954 at the beginning of September a bullfight is held called goyanesca which is characterized by the ambience, clothes and decorations that were used at the time of Goya. The plaza houses the museum of the Real Maestranza which houses books, paintings and memorabilia related to bullfighting and equestrian art.