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The exact origin of bullfighting in Spain is a mystery even for historians. Contradictory theories abound. A common view is that it probably goes back, at least in Spain, to Roman rule as a form of "spectacle." After all, the Roman Empire was notorious for its cruel entertainment in which gladiators and animals fought each other to the death.
At first, it was a "sport" for aristocrats, who fought the bulls while mounted on horseback. Later, bullfighting in its current form with cape and sword was introduced. The trend in how Spaniards think about bullfighting is unmistakable: the number of opponents continues to grow.
The cold numbers speak for themselves. Of the roughly 1,700 arenas in the country, more and more are being permanently closed. The number of annual fights has more than halved over the past 15 years. Increasingly, regions have even issued outright bans. Particularly the younger generation is turning away in ever greater numbers from what is described as cruel popular entertainment.
Still, bullfighting continues to have a solid following. A recent survey found that 8 of Spain’s 48 million inhabitants retain an ongoing interest in the controversial phenomenon. Special schools that teach the art of fighting also continue to thrive. Especially in Andalusia, popularity has barely been affected.
As so often, political considerations also come into play. Apart from the obvious debate about cruelty towards animals, certain groups have other reasons to be for or against it. For example, the far-right Vox party is pro, claiming the "sport" is synonymous with being Spanish. Exactly the same argument is used by many Catalans seeking independence, but in their case to argue vehemently against it.
Although it seems likely that bullfighting’s heyday is over, this does not mean the same applies to the arenas. These architecturally striking stadiums will not easily disappear from the urban landscape. In places such as Benidorm, Barcelona and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, arenas have been repurposed into cultural complexes, shopping centers or apartments. Other cities consider the constructions just as important to their urban identity as cathedrals or historic town halls.
A macabre footnote to this story is an incident in 1940. Heinrich Himmler, the “architect” of Hitler’s extermination of millions of people during the Second World War, attended a bullfight in Spain that year. He was so horrified by the cruel spectacle that he nearly fainted — hard to imagine for a man who himself was so monstrously cruel.
