Experience the Unforgettable Bullfighting in Madrid

Posted by Bookespana on December 31st, 2012

Attending bullfighting in Madrid is an unforgettable experience. People from Madrid, madrilenos, have a passion about attending bull fights. In the Spanish capitol, Madrid, you will find some of the best matadors and bullfights in the world.

Prior to the bullfights, you can take a tour of the stadium and learn about the history of bullfighting. See Bull Ring Tour for more information.

Before buying tickets to a bullfight in Madrid, it’s good to know some facts and the rules of bullfighting. Here follows a brief introduction of the main rules and participants in a bull fight.

Each bullfight comprises six bulls and three matadors, each of whom fights two bulls. The bulls are specially bred fighting bulls, usually from the same bloodline and are not less than four years old with a weight somewhere between 500 and 800 kilos. A bull must never have faced a man on foot before they enter the bullring, according to the bullfighting rules. The reason being that if this is the case, they may charge the man, instead of the cape. The selection of bulls for Spanish bullfighting is determined by drawing lots on the morning of the corrida.

The toreros perform in order of seniority with the senior matador going first and fourth, the second-ranked matador second and fifth and the least experienced fighting third and sixth. If a matador is gored and unable to continue, the senior matador must take his place and complete the fight. Each bullfight is divided into three stages of thirds and lasts for around 20 minutes. A corrida starts with a parade of all the contestants and bailiffs dressed in 17th century costume, who salute the president of the fight. The president is an important official who controls the fight and can award trophies to a matador who performs well. A trumpet is blown to announce the first fight when the matador and his team enter the ring, and to signal the end of each stage. The bailiffs receive the key to the gate which is thrown to them by the president of the bullfight, through which the bulls enter the ring. The president then waves a white handkerchief to signal the entrance of the first bull into the ring.

Preliminary PhaseDuring the preliminary phase the footmen, peones or capeadores work the bull with large magenta and gold capes while carefully appraising its agility, intelligence, dangers, sight and, most importantly, its strength. It’s very important for the matador to determine the animal’s qualities such as whether it favours one horn or the other (e.g. hooks to the left) or swings its horns up at the end of each pass. Sometimes a bull is reluctant to fight in which case it will be tactfully withdrawn on the sign of a green handkerchief from the president.

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Attending a bullfight in Madrid is an unforgettable experience. BookEspana, the premier Bullfighting experience specialists, offer great value Madrid bullfighting tickets and can deliver them directly to your hotel where you are staying.