The Las Ventas Bullring
Madrid's
main bullring is called La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas del Espíritu Santo,
or more simply,
Las Ventas (Alcalá street, Metro: Las Ventas). Built in
mudejan style, this impressive building is formed of red brick and ceramic tiles. The
construction, designed by José Espelius and Muñóz Monasterio,
was terminated in 1929, although the ring itself wasn't inaugurated until 1931. Today the
ring is also used for rock concerts and political meetings.
More info here...
San
Isidro
The
best time to see bullfights in Madrid is during the months of May and June. The world
famous San Isidro bullfight festival takes place during these months and
brings together the best fighters, bulls and aficionados. There are fights every day for
20 days, starting at 7 o'clock in the evening. The festival includes a variety of
different fights, with novillos (young bulls), rejones
(bullfights on horseback) and Goyesca fights (in period costume)
During
the festival it's possible to see the bulls close-up in their pre-fight corral at La
Venta de Batán, near Batán metro station.
Madrid Bullfight Tickets
for San Isidro
We now offer the chance to buy your
bullfight
tickets online ! Please just click
here,
and you will be taken to TicketsToros, where you can purchase tickets online
for any of the Madrid bull-fights.
If you prefer to organise everything yourself once you are in Madrid, tickets
are sold at the Las Ventas bullring ticket offices from 10.00 until
14.00h for fights on the following 5 days, and until 19.00h for the fight of the same day.
However, the better or more popular fights, and especially those during the
San Isidro festival, are often sold-out almost immediately. Ticket prices
can range from just a few euros to over 100 euros, depending on the seating
area, and with shaded areas (Sombra) being more expensive than sunny ones
(Sol).
The
rest of the bullfighting season
The
bullfight season runs from March to October. Outside San Isidro, fights
are normally held every Sunday, starting at 7 o'clock in the evening. Some of the fights
will be novilladas (fights with young bulls and less experienced
fighters). Tickets for all fights may be purchased
here.
Tickets
for bullfights outside San Isidro
For
the general public (non-season ticket holders), tickets can be acquired at the Las Ventas
bullring ticket offices on Friday and Saturday before the fight from 10 to 14h and 17 to
20h. Also, on the day of the fight itself (Sunday) from 10h until 19h.
Again, tickets for all fights may be bought
here.
We now offer the chance to buy your
bullfight
tickets online ! Please just click
here,
and you will be taken to TicketsToros, where you can purchase tickets online
for any of the Madrid bull-fights.
Bullfight
Notes:
A
corrida or bullfight normally lasts around 2 hours, but there is
no fixed time limit and depends on how many bulls are sent back to the corral or any other
incidents during the fight itself.
A
normal fight brings together 3 matadores (the ones who actually
kill the bull) with their respective troupes and 6 bulls, 2 for each fighter. The matadores
fight in turn, the most experienced fighter first, unless a new fighter is being presented
for the first time in Madrid, in which case the most experienced fighter will cede his
turn to the new fighter. This is called dar la alternativa.
The
matadores can be distinguished from the rest of the troupe since they will be the only
ones whose traje de luces (suit of lights) are braided in gold.
Each
matador directs a 15 minute session, called a faena, which in
turn is divided into 3 sections. The first section involves the matador receiving his bull
with a large cape. Here he is able to make his first judgements regarding the bull's
strength, courage and general validity for the fight.
The
second section, la suerte de varas, involves picadores
and banderilleros. Picadores, on horseback, use long lances to
weaken the bull's neck muscles. The bull's courage can be discovered by his willingness to
approach the horse and lance. Secondly, the banderilleros stab brightly-coloured barbed
sticks or banderillas into the bull's back.
The
matador receives the bull alone in the third and final section of the faena, perhaps the
most interesting for aficionados. Holding a small red cape now, he attempts to pass the
bull as close to his body as possible in an artistic and varied manner. After effecting
these passes, he will take a real, sharpened sword to attempt to kill the bull by bringing
it on to him with its head lowered so he can thrust the sword between the bull's shoulder
blades.
The
fight is then judged by the public. They may whistle and boo, remain silent, clap or award
the matador one or both of the bull's ears by waving a white handkerchief until the fight
president awards this coveted prize. If a fighter receive two ears in the same afternoon,
he is lifted up on to somebody's shoulders and transported out of the ring and through the
main gate. He has thus opened the Puerta Grande, the maximum
accolade for any fighter.
The
public may also judge the bull to have been so brave and noble, that it should have its
life spared (indultado). This happens only very rarely.