The Plaza de Toros de Acho is the premier

bullring A bullring is an arena where bullfighting is performed. Bullrings are often associated with the Iberian Peninsula, but they can also be found through Iberian America and in a few Spanish and Portuguese ex-colonies in Africa. Bullrings are o ...

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. Located beside the historical center of the

Rímac District Rímac is a district in the Lima Province, Peru. It lies directly to the north of downtown Lima, to which it is connected by six bridges over the Rímac River. The district also borders the Independencia, San Martín de Porres, and San Juan de L ...

, the plaza is classified as a national historic monument. It is the oldest bullring in

the Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America, North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. ...

and the second-oldest in the world after La Maestranza in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

(not counting the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...

-era

Arles Amphitheatre The Arles Amphitheatre (French: ') is a Roman amphitheatre in the southern French town of Arles. Two-tiered, it is probably the most prominent tourist attraction in the city which thrived in Ancient Rome. The towers jutting out from the top are m ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

). It opened on 30 January 1766. Plaza Acho

Of the 56 official bullrings in Peru, the Plaza de Acho ranks most prominently. It has a

seating capacity Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available, and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that ...

of 13,700 and was constructed of

adobe Adobe ( ; ) is a building material made from earth and organic materials. is Spanish for ''mudbrick''. In some English-speaking regions of Spanish heritage, such as the Southwestern United States, the term is used to refer to any kind of e ...

and

wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...

, 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 Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

. The plaza would be constructed in the Rímac district on a site that had been used for several temporary bullrings since 1754. The site was called “el Hacho,” a Quechua word meaning “elevated place with view of the sea.” Construction on the plaza officially began on 30 January 1766. Bullring-lima

The inaugural run took place on 30 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''. An exception to this was during the war for independence from Spain: between the years of 1821 and 1826 all proceeds from the plaza were directed to the liberating army. The plaza was remodeled once, in 1944, due to deteriorated conditions. Although the work was generally considered successful in retaining the plaza's beloved characteristics, at least one writer bemoaned the "fall" of the old plaza: "Solemn, silent and decrepit--like those old actresses burdened with years-old glories and fames--the old Plaza de Toros de Lima has fallen." Since its opening, the Plaza de Acho has hosted many famous bullfighters or ''

torero A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activity ...

s'', including Juan Belmonte, Manuel Rodríguez 'Manolete', Luis Miguel Domínguez 'Dominguín', and Manuel Benítez 'El Cordobés'. In September 19 of 1987 Plaza de Acho was the site of

Los Prisioneros Los Prisioneros ("The Prisoners") were a Chilean Rock music, rock/synth-pop, pop band formed in San Miguel, Chile, San Miguel, Santiago Province, Chile, Santiago, in 1983. They are considered one of the most important Chilean bands, and arguably ...

most famous concert in Peru.

Acho today

The bullfighting fair held in honor of the annual

Señor de los Milagros The Lord of Miracles (in Spanish language, Spanish: ''Señor de los Milagros''), also known as "Christ of Miracles", is an image painted of Jesus Christ that is venerated in Lima, Peru. The image was painted during the 17th century by Benito ...

festival takes place at the plaza on Sundays through October and November. During the fair, Lima brings in some of the world's most lauded talent (the bill for 2019 included Andrés Roca Rey, Sebastian Castella, and Jose Mari Manzanares) The best bullfighter of the year is awarded the ''Escapulario de Oro'' (Golden Scapular), while the " Escapulario de Plata" Silver Scapular goes to the provider of the best bull. Sometimes either or both scapulars may go not awarded. Paseillo Acho

References

External links

*
Torosperu.com
*
Puiggrós, Bartolomé, "¿Y la Plaza de Hacho?"
'' El Comercio''. June, 2009. *
Afición Perú
{{Authority control

Acho Acho is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Emmanuel Acho (born 1990), American football player *James Acho, American sportswriter *Sam Acho (born 1988), American football player as first name: *Acho (vice-chancellor), 13th-cent ...

Spanish Colonial architecture in Peru Sports venues in Lima 1766 establishments in the Spanish Empire Buildings and structures completed in 1766