🏇Rejoneo in Seville: Art, Horses and Tradition in the Cathedral
What is Rejoneo in Seville?
Rejoneo in Seville is much more than a bullfighting discipline; it is an equestrian art with deep roots that finds its most solemn temple in the Real Maestranza de Caballería. While foot bullfighting reaches its highest expression at the April Fair, bullfighting on horseback is a tradition that connects Seville with its equestrian past, with the bravery of its livestock farms and with figures who have made history.
Rejoneo is the bullfighting skill performed on horseback. Unlike a foot bullfight, the rejoneador must fight the bull while mounted, combining command of the horse with the ability to plant rejones (short lances) and banderillas in the bull’s withers.
The Real Maestranza Bullring, known as the “Cathedral of Bullfighting”, is not only the stage where the most glorious pages of foot bullfighting are written; it is also the preferred stage for the greatest rejoneadores to demonstrate their art, their command of the horse and their courage before the bull.
Where can you go to see Rejoneo in Seville?
🏛️ The Real Maestranza de Caballería: A Temple with History
The Real Maestranza de Caballería in Seville is the oldest bullring in the world and a symbol of the city. Built between the 18th and 19th centuries, it is much more than a bullring; it is an institution with more than 300 years of history that, as its name suggests, was born linked to the world of horses and horsemanship.
📅When to Enjoy Rejoneo in Seville?
April Fair
- April (two weeks after Easter)
- The most important bills of the year, with the great figures of rejoneo
Autumn Season
- Rejoneo bullfights at the Maestranza and other bullrings in the province
Charity Festivals
- Throughout the year Special events with bullfighting figures
The Skills of Rejoneo in Seville:
Rejón de Castigo (Punishment Lance)
- Planted at the start of the fight to wear down the bull
Rejón de Muerte (Death Lance)
- The final skill, which must be delivered high to be effective
Quiebros and Gaoneras
- Decorative moves that demonstrate the communion between horse and rider
But modern rejoneo has evolved towards a more spectacular and acrobatic style, where pirouettes, caprioles and the horse’s dance are valued as much as the effectiveness in the fight. The audience gives itself to those moments when the horse “bullfights” the bull, kneels or even lies down on the sand, while the rejoneador boasts of his mastery.
What does Ángel Peralta Mean for Rejoneo in Seville?
👑 Ángel Peralta: The Centaur of the Marshes who Professionalised Rejoneo. One cannot speak of Rejoneo in Seville without mentioning the most influential figure in the history of this discipline: Ángel Peralta Pineda (1925-2018), known as the “Centaur of the Marshes”.
Beyond his role as a rejoneador, Peralta was also a cattle breeder, poet, writer and actor. He appeared in films such as “La novia de Juan Lucero” (alongside Juanita Reina) and “Cabriola” (with Marisol). He discovered figures like Diego Ventura (his father worked for years on his estate) and, at the age of 88, reappeared to grant the alternative to French horsewoman Lea Vicens.
Ángel Peralta is, without a doubt, the main protagonist of the history of Rejoneo in Seville and his legacy lives on every afternoon of bullfighting at the Maestranza.
🏇The Golden Age of Rejoneo in Seville: The Four Horsemen of the Apotheosis
Together with Ángel Peralta, his brother Rafael Peralta, Álvaro Domecq and the Portuguese José Samuel Pereira “Lupi” formed the first great Rejoneo bill in the history of the San Isidro Fair in Madrid, and they led a golden age that brought rejoneo to its greatest popularity.
The Horse as Protagonist in Rejoneo in Seville
🐴 Rejoneo in Seville would not be possible without horses, true partners in the fight who must possess exceptional qualities: courage, nobility, agility and refined technique. Great rejoneadores spend years selecting and training their stables, which are as important as their own art.
Legendary Horses:
Faraó
- With him he obtained the Golden Spurs at Wembley (1960)
Nazarí - A horse that “bullfights and enjoys itself with its opponent”
Chalana
- Horse of great composure and security
Rejoneo bulls must be manageable, noble and with enough bravery for the rider to develop his art, but not so much as to endanger the horse. This is a specialised selection that has given rise to unique cattle ranches in the world.
The Main Bull Ranches for Rejoneo in Seville:
Fermín Bohórquez
- One of the most prestigious ranches for rejoneo
Ángel Peralta (Viento Verde)
- Peralta’s own ranch, with which he fought for years
Murube
- Acquired by the Peralta brothers in 1953
🎭Rejoneo in Seville: What it Represents for the City
For Seville, rejoneo is much more than a bullfighting spectacle. It represents:
🏇 An Ancient Equestrian Tradition
- Seville is the capital of the horse. From the Royal Stables to the April Fair, the horse has always been an essential part of Sevillian identity. Rejoneo is the highest expression of that relationship between man and horse, taken to the realm of fighting wild bulls.
🏛️ A Bond with the Real Maestranza
- The institution that gives its name to the bullring was founded as a brotherhood of knights, and rejoneo keeps alive that noble and equestrian spirit that gave rise to the arena. Every afternoon of rejoneo at the Maestranza is a return to the origins of the bullring.
🌊 Connection with the Marshes
- Many of the great rejoneadores, starting with Ángel Peralta, are children of the Guadalquivir Marshes, that territory where horses and fighting bulls are raised. Rejoneo connects Seville with its natural environment and with the cattle‑raising tradition of the province.
🎭 A Mass Spectacle
- Afternoons of Rejoneo in Seville at the Maestranza often fill the bullring, with an audience that values both equestrian technique and bullfighting emotion. The Puerta del Príncipe has opened on numerous occasions for rejoneadores like Diego Ventura, who already has nine exits on shoulders through that gate.
🏡 THE SUN PLACES: Experience Rejoneo in Seville from Luxury
At THE SUN PLACES, we understand that enjoying Rejoneo in Seville requires the perfect base to experience the event in all its fullness.
🌟 Our Proposal for Bullfighting EnthusiastsLuxury Accommodation in the Historic Centre: Our Luxury Apartments in Seville are located in privileged spots, a short distance from the Real Maestranza and the Arenal neighbourhood, the bullfighting heart of the city.
- Complete Bullfighting Experience: We help you design your bullfighting day with:
- Ticket management for rejoneo bullfights at the April Fair or in the autumn season.
- Recommendations on the best seats according to your preferences (sun, shade, seating or barrier).
- Personalised Bullfighting Itinerary:
- Guided tour of the Maestranza Bullring, with access to the chapel, the bullfighting museum and the passageway.
- Route through the bullfighting taverns of Arenal, where the atmosphere is felt before and after the bullfight.
- Dinner in restaurants with bullfighting tradition such as Casa Ricardo or La Albahaca.
- After the excitement of the afternoon, return to a haven of peace and elegance in the heart of Seville.
- Spacious areas, equipped kitchens and private terraces to share the experience with friends and family.
📞 Contact THE SUN PLACES to book your stay in Seville during the rejoneo season. Discover the Maestranza, its horses and its history like never before.