MadridMan

Could you tell me more about the Plaza de Toros? How big is it? How long is a bullfight approximately? How much do they cost to attend? Is this a waste of money?

Hello Spainlover! Welcome to the group!

Are you talking about the Plaza de Toros in Madrid? Nearly every city and town has a Plaza de Toros.

If we're talking about Plaza de Toros Las Ventas in Madrid it's (I believe) the second largest bullring in the world - the largest being in Mexico City. I'm not sure of the seating capacity of Madrid's Plaza de Toros, but maybe Antonio could tell you.

As for the cost, there are a VERY complicated seating system with about 100 different prices depending on how close you are to the ring, if you're in the sun-side, the shade-side, or if you're in the combination sun-and-shade.

You can view Madrid's Las Ventas website @ http://www.las-ventas.com (only in Spanish).

Bullfights last about 2.5 hours to 3 hours and there are 6 bulls and 3 matadors/toreros so each torero gets two bulls.

A waste of money? Depends on who you ask of course. Many people are dead-against it and others enjoy it. However you feel, it's certainly an experience!

For more information about this topic you can visit http://www.mundo-taurino.org or alt.culture.bullfight newsgroup.

Hope you make it to Spain someday soon, Spainlover!

Saludos,

MadridMan

Hi Spainlover,

I don't like bullfighting so I'm sure Madridman knows more thing about it than me.

I just wanted to tell you a curiosity. Did you know that in Almagro (Ciudad Real) there is the only square bullring in the world?.

Regards,

Antonio



------------------
The best tips from your favourite hostal in Madrid.
Hostal Chelo at http://www.chelo.com

In 1976 I was a college student in Seville.
Every Sunday morning, I read one chapter from DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON by Ernest Hemingway. Then,in the afternoon I went to a bullfight. I always went alone. There I met people from all over the world. I would buy the least expensive seat (called "sol") and work on getting a suntan.

Years later, I read Hemingway's novel THE DANGEROUS SUMMER. It do***ents a summer during the later years of his life in which he travelled throughout Spain attending bullfights.

With the internet, there is so much information about bullfighting. Read and then go to one or more. They are great!

Hey Antonio!

Mijas also boasts the "only" rectangular bullring in Spain, but I believe this is not so.

davej@wanadoo.es