Madrid - Corrida de toros (Bullfights) - Plaza de Toros de las Ventas

I'll make no apologies for my continued stance on bullfighting but far too often it is viewed as a part of Spanish culture and therefore requires experiencing as part of a tourist visit to Spain, this doesn't have to be the case. I've been to Spain more times than I can recall and not once felt the need to watch a bullfight. I'm pretty sure people don't come to the UK wanting to experience a dog fight or a spot of badger baiting.

The following website details the cruelty and torture the bulls endure in the days leading up to and including the 'fight'.

http://www.stopbullfighting.org.uk/facts.htm

For the sake of clarification:

Bullfights -as in the barbaric spectacle to massacre a bull in the arena- are NOT part of all the cultures within Spain. Furthermore, there's no such thing as "Spanish culture" as such, there is Castillian culture -which often is also referred to as "Spanish"- but then there are other distinct cultures: Catalan, Basque... etc.

Bullfighting has often been used as an attempt by the central government (located in Madrid), unsuccessfully I must say, to "standarize" Castillian culture over the others but both the Catalan Parliament and the Parliament of the Canary Islands prohibited it years ago in their territories considering it a barbaric practice -hence the reason you won't find "corridas" in these territories. Some other parliaments are attempting to do so as well, but unfortunately, the complex (and very peculiar, to say the least) system of distribution of competences (=power) among territories within Spain and the so-called central government makes it not possible to pass certain laws in certain territories. To top it up, the Spanish Supreme Court has been challenging these prohibitions for years.

Just sayin'.

To be fair Enric, Bullfighting was only banned in Catalonia in 2010 (actually came into effect in 2012) so one can't give the impression that it's not really a Catalonian tradition, it was actually very popular. Let's also not forget the other cruel practice of bull running is still practiced and popular in Catalonia, a practice I also hope to see banned however I accept that it's unlikely to be because many people are ignorant to the cruelty and torture that takes place prior to the run.

Hi umpymom -

I’ve been going to Spain on and off for more years than I care to recall. My parents took me as a kid to a bullfight, because way back when, it was all part of the experience.

The bulls barbarically lost 6 - 0. As they virtually always do.

I love Spain, but that is a part of the culture (using the word in a very loose context) I’ve never felt the need to revisit. I’ll go further - if I never see another corrida, it will be too soon. An odd mixture of pageant, cruelty, and ultimately, boredom. For me at any rate.

But if you want to see one, you pays your money, etc. The museum might attract me admittedly but not the actual event. I’m sorry I can't advise on transport. I’m not due in Madrid for another couple of months yet!

Whatever you see ultimately, have a great trip!

Ian

Just tour the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas and the museum separately from the day of the Bull fight.
We went and bought them at the site last December. The best way is to take the subway or metro Line 5 to The stop called Ventas.

I enjoyed many a bullfight when I lived in Spain and was able to watch a few famous matadors such as Paquirri, Paco Camino, Antonio Ordonez, Curro Romero, and D. Fermin Bohorquez (who fought on horseback) while there. One thing about bull fights is you either love them or hate them, there is little middle ground. I witnessed many a bull be killed, but also a number of matadors being gored. On only a couple occasions did I witness a bull walk out of the ring. I last attended a fight, in Madrid, in 2007. If going, the seats are concrete bench. Buy seats in the “sombra” (shade). That will keep you out of the sun for at least part of the fight. There are 6 fights, each lasting about 20 minutes, and each matador fights 2 bulls.

We purchased the bullfight tickets the day of the fight from one of the many kiosk type stands right at the bullring. To get there, we took the metro to the Ventas stop.

If the bullfight museum is at the bullring, you could probably visit on the day of the fight, but not visit those parts of it that access the ring directly (i.e., the ring itself, corrals, Chapel) because of the fight taking place the same day.