If you’re visiting Southern Spain, it’s almost impossible to avoid the topic of bullfighting – it’s deeply rooted in the history of the country, and each city and town, no matter how small, tends to have its own bullring.
Even the tiny hillside village of Mijas Pueblo, north of Fuengirola, happens to have the smallest one in Spain (or so they claim!).
The bullring dates back to 1900 and it’s not your typical bullring – first of all, it has an oval shape, which is not typical for Spain, it’s much lower than a standard bullring, and it looks more like a house from the outside.
The first game hosted here was in September 1900 and the last one was in 1968, after which it has been closed for refurbishment and no games have been hosted here since then. Back in the day, they used to bring the bulls to the arena through the deserted streets of the town, instead of driving them in boxes and cars.
As you step inside the entrance, you will see a tiny ticket booth and gift shop on the left, with the entrance to the back of the arena on the right. The entry is 4 euros and most of the time it’s pretty empty, leaving you plenty of time and space to explore. There is no audio guide available, it’s really a tiny place.
The room leading to the main arena is an exhibition of old bullfighting costumes, posters and memorabilia, with the option to take a few photos with the props provided. After that, you can walk through the main passage decorated with plagues detailing the events that took place here, and finally enter the arena. The back of the arena is where the bulls were released from, there is also a dedicated presidential seat in the tribune, and space for medics.
From the stairs and seats, you get spectacular views of Mijas Pueblo and the next-door church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.
If you’re already visiting Mijas Pueblo, I think this is a pretty cool and unique place to visit – and after you’re done with the excursion, I highly recommend a stroll through the botanical park La Muralla right next to it, the views are hard to beat!
Opening hours: Winter: Monday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Summer: Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location of bullring in Mijas Pueblo:
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