Even though most people are under the impression that bullfighting is exclusive to the white villages of Ronda, Andalusia, Malaga and Seville (although they are not villages, they are also in Andalusia), they are all really cool places. to see a bullfight together with Madrid.
Ronda is the original place where modern bullfighting began, which is why the Ronda bullring is highly regarded among fans. However, Ronda hidden in the mountains and its bullring is not that accessible for true and genuine bullfighting fans. There are very few bullfights in Ronda, perhaps not only to preserve Ronda’s status as the original and genuine home of bullfighting, but also to not allow this small town to become just another tourist trap.
The roots of bullfighting in Spain go back to the worship and sacrifice of the prehistoric bull. Many associate bullfighting with Rome, where many events involving animals and even humans were held. Theories exist that bullfighting was introduced to Hispania by Emperor Claudius, being a substitute for gladiators during a time when a short-lived ban on gladiatorial combat was enforced.
Originally a sport for aristocrats, bullfighting began in 711 AD during the coronation celebration of King Alfonso VII. Religious festivities and royal weddings were celebrated with bullfights in the local plaza, where nobles rode on horseback in competition for royal favor, and spectators from the general population enjoyed the excitement. At that time bullfights were fought on horseback, using the “brave bull”, a kind of bull that has been preserved from an ancient lineage, found only in Spain, and is still used to this day.
King Philip V hated the sport, saying it set a bad example for the public and banned it for the aristocracy in 1724. However, the commoners loved the sport. Because the common people could not afford horses, the Spanish introduced bullfights with matadors on foot. Generally considered to be the first to do this, it was Francisco Romero who initiated the rules for this new sport. The Spanish quickly became true professionals in the practice of avoiding the bulls, unharmed, on foot.
Now a part of Spanish culture and tradition, bullfighting is considered an art form and certainly a national pastime. Although the confrontation of man against beast is the final point of bullfighting, the Fiesta is highly ritualized. Bullfighting is also big business in modern Spain.
The bullfighting season runs from April to October. Bullfighting is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and controversial Spanish customs. A bullfight is also one of the places where the Spanish truly come together as one mind and one heart to proudly celebrate their heritage. Today several thousand Spaniards seek the excitement of celebrating a bullfight, the most traditional of the Spanish Festivals. It is said that the total number of people who watch Spanish bullfights easily exceeds one million per year.
Vista Alegre and La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas are the two bullrings in Madrid. Each has a capacity of 20,000. The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is the more important of the two and is where most of the city’s bullfights take place. The better known of the two Spanish bullrings is La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, which has been in use since 1931. Plaza de Toros Las Ventas can be found at Calle Arenal # 237. If you go by metro, take the Sales meter. In addition, Vista Alegre, in recent years, has been used more as a place for concerts and sports.
Bullfights are every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. from mid-May (during the San Isidro festivities) until October. Some of the best bullfighters can be seen during these times.
Something important that you should know and remember when you buy your tickets is that the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is an open-air bullring. Tickets can be purchased in the section that shades the spectators. Remember, it can get very hot in the sunny outdoor area, without shade protection. Naturally, the shaded area will cost more money. At the time of this writing, outdoor tickets were selling for $44.03 USD and shaded areas for $56.60 USD. Prices are subject to change and only adult tickets are sold. Bullfighting is not recommended for children under 14 years of age, as advised by the Madrid Children’s Commissioner.
The smaller La Maestranza bullring in Seville offers 12,500 seats and is one of the most popular arenas, attracting the best bullfighters in Spain. The bullring of La Ronda was built in 1785 and is one of the oldest in the country.
As practiced today, a “bullfighter” or matador executes various moves and movements that stem from the bullfighter’s personal style and personality, as well as the school where he learned and perfected the sport.
All bullfighting matadors draw inspiration and sharpen their artistic skills not only from the mere practice of bullfighting, but also from the search for an emotional connection with the crowd that is always transmitted through the bull. The matadors’ maneuvers are always carried out at close range, which puts the bullfighter at great and serious risk of being gored or trampled.
A bullfight is a spectacle, it is a dance with death; one wrong move and the Matador could be impaled on the bull’s horns. It is the Matador’s job to make this dance dramatic and enjoyable for the audience. A bullfight is definitely not for the faint of heart!
Bullfighters wear the “Traje de Luces”, an intricate beaded design and embroidered suits. A parade of the “paseillo”, or participants, all well choreographed, some mounted on well protected and decorated horses that go around the square before the bull is released. High drama at its controversial best is this three-part ritual, as old as the sport itself, in which everyone involved in the bullfight is introduced to the event president and spectators. Two bailiffs on horseback look towards the presidential box and symbolically ask for the keys to the bullpen gate. All this drama of pomp and circumstance is followed by “corridas de toros”, the actual bullfight.
A bull is then let into the ring as the matador, the greatest bullfighter, watches his main attendant wave a bright yellow and magenta cape in front of the bull. This act is intended to make the bull charge. The Matador watches closely to determine the qualities and mood of the bull, before taking charge himself.
A trumpet is then played and several other bullfighters, called Picadores, weaken the bull by stabbing him with spears. All this takes about 10 minutes.
Then another trumpet sounds. The Matador now removes his winged black hat and dedicates the bull’s death to the president or perhaps to the crowd before beginning his chores.
The slaughter, where the matador demonstrates his courage and skill. It is, without a doubt, the most beautiful and skillful part of the fight. The faena consists of running, carrying a muleta, which is held with the left or right hand, all with the intention of making the bull charge, and when he charges, the muleta swings and moves away from the body of the matador with luck. taking the bull with him. Always held in the right hand is the sword, the murderous sword. The slaughter continues until the Matador has demonstrated his superiority over the bull. Once this has been achieved, the bull is ready to be slaughtered.
The matador keeps the bull fixed on the muleta at a distance of about ten feet. At the right moment, the matador swoops in and attacks the bull, thrusting the sword over the horns and deep between the shoulder blades. If the sword hits its intended target, it is a thrust. However, if there is a mistake and it hits the bone, it is a puncture or half-thrust. A lunge usually brings the bull immediately to his knees and to his death. However, if the bull does not die, the matador can take a sword with a short crossbar on the end, called a descabello, and use it to stab the bull’s neck and sever its spinal cord. The fight is over.
If the matador has moderately pleased the crowd, he will normally be awarded a bull’s ear. If he is satisfied with himself and with the crowd, the matador would receive both of the bull’s ears and possibly the tail as well.
In most cases, if the public or the matador believes that the bull has fought with extreme bravery, they can request the president of the event to grant the bull a “pardon” or pardon. If the pardon is granted, the bull’s life is spared and he is allowed to leave the ring alive and return to the ranch from which he came. At that point, the bull becomes a stud for the rest of his life.
As mentioned above, watching a bullfight is not for the faint of heart. When you visit Spain, if you don’t think a bullfight is something you’d like to take home with you as a memory for a lifetime, then choose an alternative, like a great and wonderful flamenco!
