LAS VENTAS

Description

Essentials about Las Ventas in brief

For some it is pure animal cruelty, for others it is a centuries-old tradition: bullfighting. Anyone who wants to watch a “fight” between matador and bull should make their way to Las Ventas in Madrid. With a diameter of 60 meters and a capacity of around 24,000 spectators, Las Ventas is Spain’s largest bullring and one of the most important in the world. Besides bullfights, Las Ventas is also used as a venue for concerts and various sporting events. If a bullfight is too bloody for you, but you still want to see the arena, you can also visit Las Ventas on a self-guided tour.

The history of Las Ventas

When bullfighting began to enjoy growing crowds in Madrid at the beginning of the 20th century, the city decided to build a new arena. The construction of the arena, designed by architects José Espeliú y Arruga and Manuel Muñoz Monasterio in the neo-Mudejar style, began in 1922, and the first bullfight took place while it was still under construction in 1931. It was not until three years later that Las Ventas was officially opened.

The events in Las Ventas

The arena is used primarily as a venue for bullfights. The bullfighting season starts on the first weekend in March and ends on the last weekend in October. In addition to the traditional bullfighting, Las Ventas has also hosted the national finals and the most important bull jumping event each July since 2000. The arena also houses a museum, the Museo Taurino, where the history of bullfighting in Madrid is told through numerous pictures, documents and original pieces of clothing.

In addition to bullfighting, the arena is also a frequent venue for concerts in the summer and fall. World stars such as AC/DC, the Beatles, Coldplay, Iron Maiden, Kylie Minogue, R.E.M, Radiohead and Shakira have performed here. In addition, Las Ventas is also used for other sporting events, such as motocross competitions or tennis tournaments.