Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos

Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos is a historical bullring in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. This Moorish style bull ring opened for residents in 1910 as part of the larger Real de San Carlos Tourist Complex, with bulls – as well as bullfighters Bombita Grande and his brother Bombita Chicos – carried all the way from Spain to perform in the violent show. The ring was 50 meters in diameter and could hold about 10,000 spectators. People traveled from all over Argentina to witness the performance, but just eight bullfights were staged between January and March 1910 before a government edict outlawed them for good.

Apart from the bull ring, The Real de San Carlos complex includes a hotel-casino, a ferry dock (for transporting guests from nearby Buenos Aires), and a massive "pelote basque" building ("fronton"). The casino opened after bullfighting was prohibited, and the entire area just operated until 1917. Only one of the complex's racetracks is still in use today. For safety concerns, it is technically banned to approach the abandoned bull ring.

After being abandoned for a century, it was ultimately repaired in 2021 and converted into a cultural center for musical and sporting events.

Location: Colonia del Sacramento