Bullfighting — the great debate

No topic divides Spain like the Corrida de Toros. For some, it is a centuries-old art form of tragic beauty, for others, institutionalized animal cruelty. As a traveler, you should know both sides.

Tradition & Culture

Bullfighting has a history of over 300 years in Spain. Hemingway glorified it, Goya painted it, García Lorca wrote about it. The best matadors (toreros) — like the legendary Manolete (1917–1947, died in the arena) — enjoy a status between pop star and saint in certain circles.

The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid (23,000 seats) is the "Wimbledon of bullfighting." The Feria de San Isidro (May/June) is the most important bullfighting season.

The opposition

Rejection of bullfighting is growing rapidly — especially among young Spaniards. Surveys show that over 60% of the population are against it (over 80% among those under 30). Catalonia banned bullfighting in 2010 (partially overturned by the Constitutional Court in 2016, but effectively dead). It has been banned in the Canary Islands since 1991. The Balearic Islands tightened the rules massively in 2017.

The EU cut subsidies for bullfighting breeding in 2015. Many cities declare themselves "anti-bullfighting communities." Visitor numbers have been declining for years.

As a tourist

Everyone is free to attend a bullfight or not. Those who want to understand the cultural side without attending the Corrida can visit the bullfighting museums in Seville (Real Maestranza), Madrid (Las Ventas), or Ronda (Spain's oldest bullfighting arena, 1785). In Ronda, Pedro Romero developed modern bullfighting on foot (previously fought on horseback).