PedagogicalInformation

LasVentasTour

I-TheBullring

II-TheBullfighter

III-TheBullfight

IV-TheBull

V-ThePresident

Contents

VI-TheInfirmary

DiscovertheMonumentalLasVentasBullring

TheBullring

1- Whatisthecapacityofthearena?ThecurrentcapacityoftheLasVentasbullringis23,798spectators.LasVentasisthe3rdlargestbullringintheWorldafterMexicoandValencia(Venezuela).

2- Whoarethestatuesdedicatedto?

a. JoseCuberoSanchez“ElYiyo”,oneofthelastbullfighterstobekilledinabullfightinSpain(ColmenarViejo,Madrid).

b. AlexanderFlemming.ItmaysurprisemanytoseeAlexanderFlemmingoutsideabullring,butbullfightershavealottothanktheinventorofpenicillinfor.Beforethediscoveryofpenicillinbullfightershadtofightinfectionsaswellasbulls.Thehornsofthebullproducedtwotypesofrisksandonmanyoccasions,evenifthegoringitselfdidn’tcausefataldamage,theinfectionthatcameafteritdid.

c. LuisMiguelDominguin.AtributetotheMadridbullfighterwhowascarriedoutofthemaingateofthebullringon5occasions.

d. AntonioBienvenida.Oneofthegreatestbullfightersofhisera.BienvenidawasfromMadridandwasthebullfighterwhofoughtthemostinLasVentasduringhisera.

3- Whowasthearchitect?JoséEspeliu,oneofthemostfamousarchitectsofhisera.(interestingly,afriendofJoselito,originalinventoroftheideaforthemonumentalbullring)Unfortunately,Espeliupassedawaybeforetheringwascompletedandtheworkwaspassedontoanotherdistinguishedarchitect:ManuelMunozMonasterio,designeroftheSantiagoBarnabeau,stadiumoftheRealMadridfootballteam.

4-Sincewhenhavebullfightstakenplaceinthebullring?Thefirstbullfighttotakeplaceinthebullringwasonthe17ofJuneof1931.AmongstthemanycuriousthingsthathavehappenedinLasVentasisthepauseinactivitythroughoutthecivilwar,duringwhichthearenawasusedasalargeorchard.

5-Whatisthearchitecturalstyleofthebullring? Thebullringisofneo-mudejarstyle,withabrickfaçadethatisadornedwithglazedceramicdecorations.Thestructureissupportedbyametalframewhichalsoholdsupthestands.6-Whatisthesignificanceofthecoatsofarmsinthebullring?

ThecoatofarmsofeachSpanishprovincecanbefoundaroundthebullring,interestingly,theprovinceofCordobaappearstwice.Ofthecurrentsetofprovinces,onlytheAfricanprovincesofCeutaandMelillaaremissing,whichatthetimewereonlyunderSpanishprotection.7-Whydoesthebandnotplay?InLasVentas,unlikeinallotherbullrings,thebanddoesnotplaymusicwhilstabullfighterisputtingonagoodperformance,thisisduetoaninterestingoccurrenceinthesocalled“VictoryBullfight”,thefirstbullfightintheringafterthecivilwarhadended.

DuringMarcialLalanda`sperformancewiththefirstbulloftheafternoon,thecrowdpleadedforthebandtoplayapasodoble-composedinhonourofthebullfighter-toharmonizehisfaena.Onthecontrary,DomingoOrtega`sfaena,whichwassoexceptionalthathewasalmostgivenatailforit,wasnotharmonizedwithmusic.Thetensionbetweenthefansofbothbullfightersbecamesoheatedthatthepresidentofthebullfightmadetheinevitabledecisionthattherewouldbenomoremusic.Sincethen,thishasbecomeatraditionintheMadridbullring.8-Howisthebullringorganized?Thisbullringhas4levels:lowstands,highstands,terracesandbalconies.Thestandsaresplitinto3differentsectionscalledtendidos,thesearedevidedintothreemainzones:Shade(1.2.9and10)Sun(4.5.6and7)Sunandshade(3and8)

9-ThemaingateofLasVentasTobecarriedoutofthemaingate(PuertaGrande)ofanybullringisthebestrewardabullfightercanreceiveforhisperformance.InMadrid,themaingateisopenedwhenabullfightercuts2earsduringthebullfight,trophieswhichareawardedonpublicdemandbythepresidentofthebullfightafteragoodperformance.

Totheleftofthegateyoucanfindaplaquecommemoratingallofthebullfighterwhohavebeencarriedoutofthegate.furthertotheleft,thereisanotherplaqueinmemoryofAntonioBienvenida,thebullfighterwhohasfoughtthemostinLasVentas.

Heisfollowedby:PacoCaminowith12AntonioBienvenidawith11AndrésVazquezwith1011-Atwhatagedoyoustartbullfighting?Childrencanstarttrainingatthebullfightingschoolfrom9to10yearsofage.Theystarttheirprefinalcareeroncetheyare16.

12-Wheredobullfighterstrain?Inspecializedbullfightingschools.TheMadridbullfightingschooltrainsabout50newstudentseveryyearwhowilleventuallybecomebullfighters.

14-Howmuchdoesabullfighterearn?Theamountabullfightergetspaiddependsonhispopularity,aswellasthecapacityofthebullringheisperformingin.however,abullfighter’swagesaren’tallforhimasthewagesforhisteamcomeoutofhissalary.15-Arethereforeignbullfighters?Yes,theyareverycommonincountriesthathaveadoptedbullfightingculture:Mexico,Colombia,VenezuelaandFrancearecurrentlygeneratinglotsofbullfightingtalent.Overtheyears,therehavebeenbullfightersofmanydifferentnationalities,possiblyoneofthemostinterestingcasesisthatofTairaNono,theonlyactiveJapanesebullfighter.

16-Whyisthebullfighterscostumereferredtoassuitoflights?Thesuitusedbythebullfightersduringabullfightis

10-Whichbullfightershavebeencarriedoutofthemaingate?ThebullfighterwhohasbeencarriedoutofthemaingateonthemostocasionsisSantiagoMartin“ElViti”,whowascarriedouton14occasions.

Bullfighters13-Aretherefemalebullfighters?Yes,thefirstwomantoperforminLasVentaswasJuanitaCruz,in1936.Currently,onlytwowomenhaveopenedthemaingateinLasVentas;oneofthemisthefamousbullfighterCristinaSanchez.

referredtoasthesuitoflights,itsnamecomesfromthesparklinglightproducedbythesequinsthatcoverit.

17-Whoisinthebullfighter’steam?Thecuadrillaistheteamofassistantbullfighters,bothonfootandonhorseback,whohelptofightthebullundertheordersofthebullfighterhimself.Itismadeupofpicadorsandbanderilleros.

18-Whatisthealternative?Thealternativeistheceremonyinwhichanovicebullfighterbecomesamatadordetoros-fullyprofessionalbullfighter

19-Whatdoestheceremonyconsistof?Themostseniormatadoronthebill,headoftheline-up,handsoverthefightingofthefirstbulltothenewbullfighterand,asbullfightinggodfather,handsoverthe“tools”:swordandcape.Thealternativecanbetakeninanybullringaroundtheworld,however,itisimportanttoconfirmitin4importantbullrings:TheLasVentasbullringinMadrid,thebullringofNimes(France),themonumentalbullringofMexicoD.Fand/ortheSantamariabullringinBogota(Colombia).Thisceremonyisthedoctorateofabullfighterandhewillbeknownasamaestrofromthenon.

20-HasanyonediedinLasVentas?Yes,1bullfighter,3banderillerosandacarpenterafteratragicaccidentinwhichabullleapedintotheringsidewalkway,yettherehavebeenlotsofbullfightershavebeeninjuredovertheyearsinLasVentas.Itsforthisreasonthattheroleoftheinfirmaryandthemedicalstaffissoimportant.Theirjobswillbeexplainedinmoredetaillater.21-Howmanybullfightersparticipateinabullfight?Therearegenerally3bullfightersinabullfightwhofacesixbulls.Twobullsforeachbullfighter.

TheBullfight

22-Howlongdoesabullfightlast?Thereisnoexactdurationforabullfight.Theeventwillusuallytakebetween2and2½hours.23-WhendoesthebullfightingseasonstartinSpain?TheseasonstartsinFebruaryandgoesonuntilmid-October.

24-Areallbullfightsthesame?No,therearedifferenttypesofbullfights.-Corridadetoros:inwhichprofessionalbullfightersface4to5-year-oldbulls.-Novilladawithpicadors:inwhichsemi-professionalbullfightersperformwith3to4-year-oldbulls.-Novilladaswithoutpicadors:inwhichsemi-professionalbullfightersperformwith2to3-year-oldbullswithouttheuseofpicadors.-Rejoneo:inwhichprofessionalandsemi-professionalbullfightersperformonhorseback.Bullsofdifferentagescanbeusedinthesebullfights.25-Whatisanovillada?Anovilladaisabullfightinwhichyoungerbullsare

foughtbynovicebullfighterswhohavenotyettakentheiralternativa.

26-Howcanabullfightbesuspended?Verybadweatherconditionsorifallthebullfightersonthelineupareinjured.IntheSanIsidrofairof2014,forexample,abullfightwassuspendedafterall3bullfighterswhoparticipatedwereinjured.ThebullfighterswereDavidMora,AntonioNazaréandSaúlJiménezFortes.Nonetheless,thesuspensionofabullfightisaveryinfrequentoccurrence,thelasttimesomethinglikethishappenedwasin1979.Onthisoccasion.InthisinstancePedroFernández,PacoAlcaldeyJoséOrtegawereinjured.27-Whatisthepaseíllo?Thepaseílloistheopeningparadeofthebullfightanditisanessentialpartoftheeventinwhichtheparticipationofalltheprotagonistsisindispensable.

29-Howaretheprotagonistsarrangedinthepaseíllo?Atthefrontoftheparadearethealguacilillos,whowouldtraditionallyberesponsibleforcleaningoutthering.Nowtheyareresponsibleenforcingouttheordersofthepresidentinthering,handingtrophiestothebullfighterandpassingthekeysofthebullgatetothepersonwhoopensitattheendofthepaseíllo.Thefirstinthelinearethebullfighters.Theirpositioningfollowstheirsenioritydependingonwhentheytooktheiralternativa.Thefirstbullfightertotaketheiraltervativaispositionedtotheright,thesecondmostexperiencedstandstotheleftandtheyoungestbullfighterstandsin-betweenthem.

Nextcomethecuadrillas(bullfighters’teams)ofbanderilleros.Thewaytheypositionthemselvesalsodependsontheseniorityofthebullfightertheyareworkingfor.Thencomethepicadors,eachbullfighterwas2(oneforeachbull).Thepicadorsarealwaysaccompaniedbythemonosabioswhocareforthehorsesandassistthepicadorswhilsttheywork.

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TheBull29-Howmuchdoesabullweigh?nMadrid,thebullfightinglegislationstatesthatabullshouldwaynolessthan460kilosandnomorethan700.

30-Howdobullslivebeforethebullfight?Theyliveoutinthefreedomofthedehesa-vastnaturalpasturesrichinMediterraneanfloraandfauna.Thismakesthemaveryprivilegedspecies.31-Whatisafightingbull?Torodelidiaortorobravoreferstothemaleofabovinespeciesthathasbeendevelopedthroughselectivebreedingforitsuseinbullfightingevents.ThefightingbullisanindigenousbredontheIberianPeninsulaandisknownforitsfierce,temperamentalcharacter,referredtoas“bravura”,forwhichtheyareselectedforbreeding,aswellasphysicalattributessuchaslargeforwardpointinghornsandhighlydevelopedlocomotivesystem.

Thisbreedwouldbeextinctifitwasn’tforbullfighting.32-Atwhatagedobullsgotothe32-ring?Mostbullsaresenttotheringbetween5and6yearsofage.33-Howmuchdoesafightingbullcost?Dependingonthepopularityofthebreederandtheconditionofthebull,theycancostanythingbetween3,000and18,000euros.34-Doesthebullalwaysdie?No,itispossibleforabulltoreceiveanindulto,whereitissentbacktotheranchtolivetherestofitslifeinpeace.35-Whencanabullreceiveanindulto?Whentheanimalhasdisplayedextraordinaryqualitiesforthebullfightandformidableaggression.Itmustnotbeforgottenthatrespectandadmirationforthisanimalarefundamentalinthebullfight.

36-WhichistheonlybulltoreceiveanindultoinMadrid?HisnamewasVelador,heistheonlybulltoreceiveanindultoinMadridandwasfoughtbyOrtegaCano.This,however,hashappenedtomanyotherbullsinbullfightsaroundtheworld.37-Whathappenstoabullafteranindulto?Whenabullreceivesanindulto,aswellasreceivingthebestcareontheranch,hespendstherestofhislifewiththecowsasabreedingstud.38-Whathappenstobullskilledinthering?ThemeatisusedforawidevarietyoftraditionalSpanishdishes.Asfightingbullsliveonopennaturalpastures,eatingnaturalfoodandexercising,theirmeatisofhighquality.

39-Whathappenstothebullfighterifthebullreceivesanindulto?Thisisoneofthegreatestthingsthatcanhappentoabullfighter,asagoodbullwillusuallylethimputonafantasticperformance.Thebullfighterisusuallyawardedtrophiesandleavesthroughthemaingate,however,inthecaseofVelador,peopleweresofocusedonwhathadhappenedtothebullthatOrtegaCanoreceivednoawards.40-Whomakesthefinaldecision?Thepresident,whohasmaximumauthorityatthebullfight.

LAPRESIDENCIA

41-Whoisthepresident?Thepresidenthasthehighestauthorityinthebullringandisresponsibleformakingsurethatbullfightinglegislationisfollowedandformakingsurethatthebullfightrunscorrectly.InMadridthepresidentisapoliceinspectorandheisaccompaniedbyaveterinaryadvisorandanartisticadvisor,whoisusuallyaretiredbullfighter.

42-Whencanabullfighterreceiveanear?-Thefirstear,accordingtobullfightinglegislation,isawardedwhenthemajorityofthecrowdrequestit.Theawardingofthesecondtrophy(althoughthecrowddemandit)isleftentirelytothepresident’sdiscretion.Sometimestheopinionofthepresidentandthatoftheaudiencewillnotcoincide,ontheseoccasionsthecrowdwillmaketheirfeelingstowardshiscriteriaveryapparent.

Photo:doctorsoffice.

LAENFERMERÍA44-Whatisthesignificanceofthe

handkerchiefs?

Withthewhitehandkerchiefsthepresidentsignalsthestartingofthebullfight,thereleasingofeachbull,thechangingoftheactsandtheawardingoftrophies(earsandtails).

Withthegreenhandkerchiefthepresidentconfirmsthereturningofabullthatisconsideredinaptforthebullfighttothecorals,sothatitcanbereplacedwithasparebull.

Withthebluehandkerchiefthepresidentawardsthedeadbullwithalackaroundtheringinhonourofitsgoodperformanceinthering.

Theorangehandkerchiefisusedtoawardthebullwithanindultoforitsexcellentqualitiesthroughoutthefight.

Theredhankechiefisusedtosignaltheuseofblackbanderillaswhenabullhasshownalackofaggressionandbraveryinthefirststage,refusingtochargethepicador.

45-Whathappenswhenabullfightergetscaught?

Theyaretakentotheinfirmary,thecoldestpartofthebullringbutoneofthemostimportant.Here,thedoctorstreatandsometimessavethelivesofthebullfighters.AtLasVentas,theinfirmaryismadeupoftwooperationtheatres,twoinjuryrooms(forverysevereandlesssevereinjuries)andadoctor’soffice.

InformaciónandReservativosinfo@lasventastour.com687739032