Bullfighting Museum of Las Ventas

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Located in the Patio de Caballos, it offers its visitors an attractive tour through the history of bullfighting, demonstrating the relevance of bullfighting in the history and culture of Spain. Free access, eighth most visited monument in the Community of Madrid, in this space you can see prints of Goya, dresses, monteras and capes for walk of great bullfighters of the twentieth century or a corner dedicated to the figure of Manolete.

Where are we?

Schedule Access

Visiting hours to the Museum of 10 a.m. to 19 p.m. during summer time.

Business November to March de 10 to 18 hours uninterruptedly.

Visits will be made every day of the year except the 25 in December and the 1 in January.

On days when celebrations of any kind are held at the venue, visits will end 2 hours before the start of the show.

The entrance to the Bullfighting Museum of the Community of Madrid is located next to the door of the Patio de Caballos of the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas, on Calle Alcalá, number 237.

Public transport:

Metro: Line 2 and 5 (Sales Station)
EMT buses: 12 - 21 - 38 - 53 - 106 - 110 - 146

Contact:

Telephone: 91 276 12 87
E-mail: museotaurinolasventas@madrid.org

Group visits: request an appointment in the email museotaurinolasventas@madrid.org

The objects on display are part of Madrid's cultural heritage, for their conservation there is an access regulation:

The entrance is free and free with capacity control.
Access to the Museum is not allowed with elements that hinder mobility or disturb other visitors (backpacks, suitcases, bulky bags ...). Do not bring backpacks or packages of more than 25x25cm that cannot be brought into the rooms.
Do not touch the Museum pieces or lean against the showcases.
Access with animals is not allowed except for guide dogs.
Mobile phones and other devices should be muted.
You cannot take photos inside the Museum.
Eating and drinking is prohibited in the Museum facilities.
The umbrellas must be deposited in the umbrella stands that exist in the entrance access.
The Museum is not responsible for personal items that are lost or damaged in its facilities.
Failure to comply with these rules will lead to suspension of access to the Museum.
The presentation of complaints, claims or suggestions will be made on line -click here-

Las Ventas, Alcalá 237

The secrets of the Bullfighting Museum

The Bullfighting Museum is divided into three large rooms dedicated to the Las Ventas bullring; bulls, bullfighters already dressed to fight; and finally, a room dedicated exclusively to bullfighting painting and the original posters of the works that have announced the Goya bullfights on May 2 and Beneficencia, under the signature of Barceló, Arroyo, Úrculo, Pérez Villalta, Manuel Alcorlo and Alicia Ochoa, among others.

Painting and sculpture

The collection of portraits takes us to different periods in the History of Bullfighting, from Pedro Romero to José Miguel Arroyo "Joselito", passing through the faces of Joaquín Rodríguez "Costillares", José Delgado "Pepe Hillo", Francisco Montes "Paquiro" , Frascuelo or Lagartijo, all pioneers in the art of fighting with a crutch. The portrait of José Gómez Ortega "Gallito", drawn by Manuel Benedito, is one of the most fortunate that remains of him; and one of the best works in the Museum is the portrait that Daniel Vázquez Díaz made of Juan Belmonte in 1934. Of the unforgettable Manuel Rodríguez "Manolete", this space preserves notable memories, such as the bronze bust of Joaquín Roca Rey or the portrait of Oil of Espinosa, dressed in pure and gold. Among the authors, both in the painting and sculpture collections, in addition to those already mentioned, the names of notable artists such as Ignacio Zuloaga, Roberto Domingo, Ruano Llopis, Andrés Martínez de León, Eduardo Arroyo, Miquel Barceló, Diego stand out. Ramos, Julio Antonio, Mariano Benlliure, Sebastián Miranda, Luis Sanguino or Pablo Lozano. In addition, the complete series of the second edition of prints of "La Tauromaquia" by Goya, engraved in etching, is on display.

Costumes of lights

In the showcases of the Museum there is a rich collection of bullfighting dresses and walking capes. Through these dresses and their accessories you can see the changes that have been taking place in them from the 66th century to the present. The oldest garment in the collection is a José Rodríguez “Pepete” vest, precisely the one he wore when he was wounded by the bull Jocinero de Miura. Another of the oldest pieces is an elegant walking cape by the Basque matador Luis Mazzantini, made of blue silk and richly embroidered in gold. Other more modern walking capes are displayed in the Museum, such as that of Juan Belmonte, on loan from Gregorio Marañón. Joselito also conserves the scarlet and gold vest that he wore on the tragic afternoon in Talavera de la Reina. The greatest impression on visitors is the pale pink and gold dress that Manolete wore the day he died in Linares; while the dress and accessories of the Madrid bullfighter Juanita Cruz form a unique set because this is the first woman who took the alternative. The collection is completed by other dresses that belonged to closer right-handers in time, such as Antonio Chenel's lilac and gold suit "Antoñete", with which he left the Puerta Grande de Las Ventas when he was XNUMX years old.

History of the Museum

Birth and evolution

The Bullfighting Museum of Madrid was created in 1951 by the Provincial Council under the presidency of Don Mariano Ossorio Arévalo, Marquis of Valdavia, and inaugurated on May 15, 1951, the feast of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of the city.

The initial distribution of rooms and objects was maintained until 1968, when a first reform was carried out, which was extended in 1991, under the auspices of the Community of Madrid, from which it became dependent in 1988 and included organically in the Center of Bullfighting

The Museum was completely renovated in the 2011 year to modernize its air conditioning, its exhibition elements and security, incorporating both a thematic and chronological criteria and installing a room dedicated to projection, showing with images and texts the history of bullfighting and its culture.

Extension of the Museum

At the end of the 2014 season, the Community of Madrid decided to undertake new works to expand the facilities of the Bullfighting Museum that have allowed to reopen it to the public in the 2015 season.

Access directly from the outside has been included in the remodeling, without going through the Patio de Caballos. In addition, an exhibition area of 105 square meters has been gained on the upper floor, which has been dedicated to exhibiting more pieces and objects. Also, on the ground floor, a small projection room has been installed to view films, documentaries and reports.

One of the main novelties has been the creation of a corner specially dedicated to the figure of Manuel Rodríguez "Manolete", in which several of his dresses are exhibited and, among them, the one that Linares wore on the unfortunate afternoon of August 28, and a new one deposited by the family of the Cordovan right-hander.

With these works, the Community of Madrid has increased the number of visitors who come to the Bullfighting Museum, and in the last year has registered figures of around 70.000 people, allowing the public to observe and learn more about pieces and objects that are part of the history of Bullfighting.

It is also the intention of the Center for Bullfighting Affairs that, with this expansion of facilities, the donation of objects and memories of different figures of contemporary bullfighting is promoted, with the purpose of updating and modernizing the history of Bullfighting through its protagonists.