Written by BLANCA Rios Montes• 17 August, 2024• 17:10• Fairs

Bilbao: The Bulls with Prestige

HomeFairsBilbao: The Bulls with Prestige

Bilbao has always been a must-visit for aficionados with pedigree. The city offers countless reasons to explore and lose yourself in its streets, and the bullfighting offerings in 2024 are in line with its splendor and prestige. Watching bullfights in Vista Alegre has always been a noble pleasure. And a sensory one. Discover it.

Plaza de toros de Bilbao, Vista Alegre. Servitoro

Bilbao Bullfighting Fair, Bullfights and attractions in 2024

The Vista Alegre arena in Bilbao is a sturdy, austere building, but inside, it exudes elegance. It reflects the very essence of the city it belongs to. Watching bullfights in “El Botxo” is something truly unique. Since time immemorial, when it comes to bullfighting, only the best have come to Bilbao. The best from every rank and the finest bulls. This is why the Aste Nagusia, or Semana Grande in Biscay, is not only the most important summer event but can also be considered, after Madrid and Seville, the third most significant bullfighting event of the season.

The Corridas Generales attract all the attention of the bullfighting world, thanks to the plethora of top figures that participate, many of whom make more than one appearance during the event. At Servitoro, we’ll analyze the key elements of this cycle, full of attractions that invite you to either attend the entire program or choose a couple of days to lose yourself in the charms of this city and, moreover, enjoy the noble privilege of watching bullfights from the seats of Vista Alegre.

1. Enrique Ponce’s Farewell:

The bullfighter who has left the deepest mark on this arena over the past 30 years bids farewell. The master from Chiva will perform on Friday, the 23rd, alongside Roca Rey, the top figure in bullfighting, and the only one to make two appearances in the program, and Pablo Aguado, an artistic bullfighter who is rapidly rising, as demonstrated by his recent performances. The bulls will be from the Daniel Ruiz ranch.

2. Farewell of Hermoso de Mendoza

If Ponce has been the icon of bullfighting on foot in Bilbao over the past three decades, Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza has been the icon on horseback, beloved by the Biscayan fans. The Navarrese centaur will bid farewell a day after Ponce (Saturday, the 24th) in a lineup with two matadors known for their artistry: Diego Urdiales and Juan Ortega, who will fight bulls from San Pelayo on horseback and La Ventana del Puerto on foot.

3. Luque vs. Borja Jiménez Duel

This is a well-founded duel between two winners from Seville and Madrid. Luque opened the Puerta del Príncipe at the Feria de Abril, and Borja was the victor of San Isidro. They will face each other with bulls from Fuente Ymbro, one of the ranches with the best track record in this arena in recent times.

4. Roca Rey’s Double Performance

As the top figure in current bullfighting, Peruvian Andrés Roca Rey shows his status by being the only matador to perform twice at Aste Nagusia. On two consecutive days (22nd and 23rd August), first alongside Manzanares and Talavante (with bulls from Victoriano del Río), and the second in the aforementioned farewell of Enrique Ponce. On both dates, the “Limeño rooster” will once again demonstrate his prowess.

5. Dolores Aguirre

In a fair that has always highlighted its focus on the bulls, this aspect has considerably diminished in recent seasons due to a lack of interest from the audience, who have progressively vacated their seats during these events. However, the tradition is upheld with the presence of Dolores Aguirre, a ranch from the beloved Basque breeder, which is a symbol in this arena, especially after last year’s success. Robleño, Damián Castaño, and José Garrido will take the stage on Sunday, the 25th, in the final event of the series.

6. The Rest

The program is rounded off with another high-voltage lineup featuring bulls from Cuvillo, with Castella, Perera, and Emilio de Justo, as well as the novillada and the rejoneo event that kick off the festivities on the 18th and 19th, bringing together some of the most select members from both ranks. Guillermo Hermoso, Jarocho, or Javier Zulueta are just a few examples.

The program is more than intriguing, the city has a thousand and one reasons to visit, especially during such exclusive dates. Now it’s your turn, aficionado, to attend and share the experience.

Information on ticket sales Semana Grande Bilbao:

Tickets on the servitoro.com website or by calling +34 96 330 85 93 from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6:30pm, or on the WhastApp +34 647 66 93 71.