>> The bullfight is highly ritualized, at the end of which the bull is sacrificed through a sword in the heart

Bullfighting or tourada, also known as tauromachia or tauromachy is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, parts of southern France and some Latin American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru), in which one or more bulls are fought in a bullring. Although it can be defined as a blood sport, within the areas where it is practiced it is not a sport. Historically it has been considered a cultural event and art form which is deeply tied to Hispanic culture and identity. There are no elements of competition in the proceedings. The bullfight is highly ritualized, at the end of which the bull is sacrificed through a sword in the heart.

Bullwrestling, Édouard Manet, 1865–1866

The bullfight, as it is practiced today, involves professional toreros (of whom the most senior, who actually kills the bull, is called a matador) who execute various formal moves which have a meaning, or at least a name, according to the bullfighter's style or school. It has been alleged that toreros seek to elicit inspiration and art from their work and an emotional connection with the crowd transmitted through the bull. The close proximity places the bullfighter at some risk of being gored or trampled by the weakened bull. After the bull has been hooked multiple times behind the shoulder by other matadors in the arena, the bullfight usually concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust, which is called the estocada. In Portugal, the finale consists of a tradition called the pega, where men (forcados) try to grab and hold the bull by its horns when it runs at them.

A bull fight in Barcelona, Spain, ca.1900

There are many historic fighting venues in the Iberian Peninsula, France and Latin America. The largest venue of its kind is the Plaza México in central Mexico City, which seats 48,000 people, and the oldest is the La Maestranza in Seville, Spain, which was first used for bullfighting in 1765.

The practice of bullfighting is controversial because of a range of concerns including animal welfare, funding, and religion. Bullfighting is now illegal in several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and Argentina, but remains legal in most areas of Spain, Mexico, and Portugal.
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