La Malagueta bullring
La Malagueta bullring may be one of the most emblematic buildings in Malaga, but it’s not actually all that old.
It was officially opened to the public on 11 June 1876 with a fight involving the legendary Rafael Molina “Lagartijo”.
The building itself was designed in neo-Mudéjar style by Joaquín Rucoba – the man also responsible for the Mercado Central de Atarazanas.
It was the seventh to be built in the city and was declared a Historic Artistic Monument in 1976.
The bullring is hexadecagonal in shape (16 sides) – as can be seen from the Mirador de Gibralfaro – and is 52 metres in diameter.
Does bullfighting still happen in Malaga?
With the general decline in the popularity of bullfighting in Malaga, few bullfights take place during the year.
That said, it’s still active, and in August, coinciding with the Summer Fair, it hosts the annual Feria Taurina (bullfighting fair).
During Easter time, there’s also the ‘Picassian’ bullfight in which bullfighters wear costumes inspired by the art of the Malaga-born painter.
Tickets for bullfights can be purchased online here.
Occasionally concerts by major international acts are held here, too.
Centro Cultural La Malagueta
In recent times, La Malagueta bullring has undergone a significant renovation. It addressed structural issues and restored the bullring’s original brick façade.
However, most significantly, the upgrades saw the bullring reopen as a Cultural Centre in January 2020, following upgrades by the Diputación de Málaga to turn it into a year-round cultural venue.
Equipped with exhibition areas, conference rooms and a restaurant, Centro Cultural La Malagueta now aims to offer a diverse programme of exhibitions, conferences and events throughout the year.
Malaga bullfighting museum
If you want to find out all about the controversial world of bullfighting, at the moment, you’re out of luck! The Museo Taurino Antonio Ordoñez is no longer located at La Malagueta bullring.
The collection of stunning costumes and capes, as well as posters and photographs that captured legendary moments in the ring, is yet to find a new home after several unsuccessful attempts on the part of the local authorities to create a new, dedicated bullfighting museum in Malaga.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.