The Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos, about 4 kilometres north of the Barrio Histórico, is one of the most unusual buildings in Uruguay. Built in 1910 in Moorish Revival style, with elaborate terracotta and tile decoration, it was intended to be the largest bullring in the Americas, with a capacity of around 10,000 spectators. The building took less than a year to construct, which is remarkable for its scale.
The tragedy is that Uruguay banned bullfighting in 1912, just two years after the ring opened and after only two corridas. The ring has never been used since, and decades of neglect have left it in a picturesque state of controlled decay: the grandstands are crumbling, the decorated arcades are slowly falling apart, and weeds grow up through the sand of the arena floor. A small museum inside documents the building's history and the brief, strange story of bullfighting in Uruguay.
Access is via a guided tour or during museum opening hours. The building is a 10-minute drive or a 15-minute cycle from the historic centre, and it pairs well with the Museo del Ferrocarril nearby.