Along with eating tapas and watching flamenco, watching a bullfight is one of the activities that you can't miss in Spain and a must for a tourist. This is the most traditional of Spanish Fiestas. The Spanish people consider them art forms which are intimately linked with their country’s history, art and culture. Although is very controversial, bullfighting is Spain’s oldest and best loved national sport.Bull fighting is very closely associated with Spain and can trace its origins back to 711 A.D when the first bullfight took place in celebrations of King Alfonso VIII. The origins of the Bullring or "plaza de toros" are probably not the Roman amphitheatres but rather the Celtic-Iberian temples where those ceremonies were held.Bullfighting is certainly one of the best-known Spanish popular customs. This Fiesta could not exist without the "toro bravo", which is a specie of bull of an ancient race that is only conserved in Spain. This controversial sport is very popular in Spain with several thousand Spaniards flocking to their local bull-ring each week. Almost a million people watch bullfights in Spain every year.There are several bullrings in all Spain; some of the most important are located in Madrid, Seville and Ronda. Madrid's Bullring is called "La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas", was built in 1929 and first used in 1931."Las Ventas" can house 25,000 people and is the most important Bullring in the world. Seville Bullring is called "La Maestranza" Bullring and was built in 1758 . This is one of the most charming bullring. "La Maestranza" has a capacity of 12,500 people and attracts the best bullfighters of all Spain. The Ronda bullring was built in 1785 and is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Spain.
