Probably everyone saw the movie 'Manolete', a 2007 biopic directed by Menno Meyes about the bullfighter Manuel Laureano, Rodriguez Sanchez with the dazzling Penelope Cruz and the charismatic Adrien Brody as protagonists. Not only the passions are shown in the film, but 'corrida' - the bullfight, the most common form of traditional Spanish performance.

The history of bullfighting is likely to go back to the Bronze Age, to the Iberians who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula and worshiped the bull as a sacred animal. Initially killing a bull was a ritual and was performed only by priests. In the 8th century, before the invasion of the Arabs, this activity was one of the favourites of folk fun. At the end of the 15th century, that is, at the time of the end of the reconquest and unification of Spain, the bullfighting becomes the entertainment of the noble class.

Participants of this performance are special bulls, according to the phenotype near the aurochs. Many characteristics of fighting bulls differ, their correspondence to one of the 7 ideal samples ('castes') is especially appreciated. They are carefully selected for the height, the beauty of the lines, the shape of the horns. An animal for the fight should be beautiful, inspire admiration and fear. The bulls are bred in special farms, appreciated, nursed and trained specially. As part of our tour when visiting a bull ranch you will have the opportunity to observe the art of preparing bulls for bullfights.

Officially, the season of bullfighting in Spain begins in March. At this time the bullfights are held once a week on Sundays. But the most massive and interesting shows can be seen from May to October. For example, in May bullfights in Madrid are held almost every day for celebrations in honor of the saint patron of the city of San Isidro.

Arenas ('plaza de toros') are divided into three categories. The highest are the largest arenas of Madrid, Pamplona, Sevilla, Valencia, Cordoba and Malaga. The arenas of the main cities of the Spanish provinces are included in the second category. Among them, for example, the bullring of Alicante. The third category is the small arenas of coastal cities, such as Benidorm or Benalmadena in the south of the country.

It is said that the oldest bullring in Spain, 'Castañar de Béjar', originates at the end of the 15th century, in a place where the shepherds found an image of 'Nuestra Señora Castañar' in 1667 and decided to build a temple in this place. The bullfights were then organized to raise funds for construction. The first arena was made of wood in a shape of a square, not round. Soon the bullfights were forbidden for reasons of censorship. It is said that another century passed before they were renewed and a round bullring was built. But the controversy discussions over bullfighting in Spain have never calmed down.