Plaza de toros de Acho

The Plaza de Toros de Acho is the premier bullring in Lima, Peru. Located beside the historical center of the Rímac District, the plaza is classified as a national historic monument. It is the oldest in the Americas and the second-oldest in the world after La Maestranza in Spain (not counting the Roman Empire-era Arles Amphitheatre in France).



Of the 56 official bullrings in Peru, the Plaza de Acho ranks most prominently. It has a seating capacity of 17,000 and was constructed of adobe and wood, both traditional materials.

History

In 1765, Agustín Hipólito de Landaburu sought permission to construct what he called "a fixed plaza for the corridas de toros" that would take place in Lima during the city's celebration of Carnival. The plaza would be constructed in the Rímac district on a site that had been used for several temporary bullrings since 1754.



The inaugural run took place on the 30th of January, 1766, and showcased the bullfighters Pisí, Maestro de España, and Gallipavo. The first bull to be killed in the plaza was a white animal called "El Albañil," meaning The Mason.

Throughout its existence, revenues from the Plaza de Acho have been designated for the organizers of different corridas....
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