Bullfighting

Bullfighting as we know it today, started in the village squares, and became formalised, with the building of the bullring in Ronda in the late 18th century. From that time, it began to follow a particular sequence of events: the entrance of the bull, the picador, the banderilleros, and finally the matador (bullfighter). Many of the picadors' horses were injured in the early days, so these heavy horses now wear protection.

The bullfighting must be understood as and art were the bullfighter is dominating the bull and make him do what the bullfighter wants. A good bullfighter will stay close to the bull and won't move on the bull is passing by. However, the real thing is the act of killing the bull which should be done at ones and with the bull dying with in a few seconds.

Perhaps you are more interested in the bullfighter costumes, they wear a suit of lights. Other thing that you may see happen in a bullfight is that after the bull is death the audience is shaking handkerchief, that means that the audience think that the bullfighter did a great job and desert an hear of two from the bull.

A novice bullfighter is called a novillero and fights not in a corrida, but in a novillada with young bulls (novillos)

Bullfighting on horseback is called rejoneo.

Bullrings - Las Ventas in Madrid is the most important bullrings is Spain. The San Isidro fair which usually runs from May 12 to June 6 is the greatest . Seville which locals called "La Maestranza" means where you learn, is the second one. Don't miss the week of fights which coincide with the Seville Spring Fair. Ronda is the oldest bullring in Spain. It hosts the famous Goyesque Fair in early September. Some bullrings house bullfighting museums. They can also be used for other events such as pop concerts.

Bullfight Magazines such as "6toros6" or "Aplause" can be purchased from the newsagent in Spain. They give a good insight into the complexity of the sport.

Bullfight posters can be collectors items. Their style hasn't changed for years. If you take the trouble to read them carefully they explain in detail all about the fight in question. Have a look at some bullfight posters.

Running with the bull

Running with the bull is practice that happens almost in every single "Fiestas Patronales" in every single Spanish town. Of course, the most famous is San Fermin in Pamplona, but that has became too crowd and you can enjoy a more authentic holiday in other places closer to Madrid, like San Sebastian de los Reyes which happen at the end of August.