Las Ventas (Madrid)

The Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain, is the largest bullring in the country. With 23,798 spectators, it is the third bullring with the largest capacity in the world, after those in Mexico and Valencia (Venezuela). It is also the second largest in terms of the diameter of its ring —61.5 m— after that of Ronda.

It is located at number 237 on Calle de Alcalá, in the La Guindalera neighbourhood of the Salamanca district. The nearest Madrid Metro station is Ventas (line 2 and line 5). It can be accessed from the M-30 via the Puente de Ventas. It can be visited inside every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on a tour that includes the interior of the bullring and the Bullfighting Museum.

In June 2018, work began on the renovation of the plaza to improve its safety and comfort, especially in view of the holding of non-bullfighting events, which will entail a reduction in its capacity to between 2,000 and 2,500 seats.

This bullring was designed by the architect José Espelius Anduaga in the Neo-Mudéjar (Moorish) style with ceramic incrustations. The seats are situated in ten “tendidos”. The price of the seats depends upon how close they are to the arena and whether they are in the sun or the shade (the latter being more expensive).

The bullfighting season starts in March and ends in October; bullfights are held every day during the San Isidro Fiesta, and every Sunday or holiday during the season. Bullfights start at 6 or 7pm and last for two to three hours.

It was inaugurated on June 17, 1931.