Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza de Sevilla

The first proper day in Seville, and we had a sightseeing tour around the city. However, this capture is from La Maestranza, perhaps one of the most famous bullrings in whole Spain. We had a chance to get tickets for a bullfight performance, which we grabbed curiously. I bet it was kind of a once in a lifetime experience for sure!

So, bullfighting is a traditional Spanish combination of sport and art, though it's such brutal, as some might say. Having its roots in ancient gladiator fights at amphitheatres, bullfighting is one of the most opinion-splitting arts in the world, confronting animal rights and primeval traditions.

The performance usually includes three leading bullfighters (matadors), assistant bullfighters (picadores), and six 5-year-old bulls (toros), though this time the bulls were only 3-three-year-old for some reason. In the beginning of every round, all matadors and picadores start annoying and challenging the bull using their personal violet/pink capes, capasses. This continues for a while, until two horsemen enter the arena.

The horsemen's mission is to stab the bull's back muscles with a long spear to weaken them. The bull usually starts pushing the horses, which are heavily padded. After the stabbing, the horsemen leave the arena and three picadores continue the performance. The picadores' challenge is to stab the bull on its back with colourful sticks to weaken it even more. Some of the sticks usually stay hanging on the bull's back, as seen in the image. When that is done, all matadors and picadores but one back off the centre.

The leading matador in turn has to finish the bull with a sword and muleta, a red cape, as their weapons. Matadors are usually men, but we had a rare chance to see a female matador debyting. However, the matador has to challenge the bull even more until s/he has to give it the final damage by stabbing the whole sword inside its back. Very bloody, and that's when the bull is actually dead, though one of the picadores has to finish it by stabbing its neck with a knife. After that, the bull is dragged out the arena with horses and the new round begins.

Ps. It seems to be my 500th blip, too. Wow!