Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda: The Real Maestranza

The Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda (Royal School of Cavalry) was created in 1573 in response to a Royal Charter issued by Philip II. The King wanted to ensure that the local nobility were able to organise cavalry units should they be required for defensive or military purposes. Today, the Real Maestranza is non-profit making body which, true to its origins, maintains a horse-riding school as its mark of identity. The Maestranza is also the builder and owner of the impressive Ronda bullring. Both the Riding School and the Ring are to be found in Ronda's historic town centre.

Owing to its historical, architectural and cultural interest, the Real Maestranza's principal activities are devoted to preserving and making accessible its buildings and collections. It has gained a deserved reputation for the recovery of archives, works of art, libraries and original documents relating to its history. These are catalogued by professional librarians and archivists and made available for consultation by researchers specialising in subjects such as genealogy, heraldry, tauromachy, chivalry and horse riding, sociology of power elites, travel literature and the history of Ronda and the surrounding area.

Access to the Maestranza's architectural and cultural heritage: the bullring is open to the general public all year round and the visit includes the Bullfighting Museum, the Royal Harness Collection and the Firearms Collection. Together these all make up an important attraction for visitors to the area and have made the Real Maestranza one of the leading tourist destinations in Andalusia. Meanwhile, the horse riding school has garnered a reputation for outstanding performance in competitive dressage events around Spain and abroad.

The Real Maestranza also carries out educational and arts activities. These include a programme of prizes and grants to local university students, organising Ronda Music Week and publishing books on subjects related to the Maestranza's origins and its cultural heritage.