Saúl Jiménez Fortes prepares for a decisive performance at San Isidro in Madrid. On May 15, Saúl Jiménez Fortes will perform at Madrid's main arena on San Isidro Day. The torero is aiming for the Puerta Grande, a triumph that has eluded him so far. Special attention is expected to be focused on the corrida that day.
On May 15 in Madrid, the day of the city's patron saint, one of the most anticipated bullfights of the Feria de San Isidro will take place at Las Ventas arena. The spotlight is on Malaga-born matador Saúl Jiménez Fortes, who will once again attempt to achieve the elusive Puerta Grande at this venue. He will be joined in the ring that day by Diego Urdiales and Fernando Adrián.
According to Telemadrid, this appearance at Las Ventas holds special symbolic meaning for Fortes: it is the first time his performance coincides with May 15, although he has participated in bullfights in Madrid several times before. The matador notes that this day carries special significance for him, and he considers the opportunity to perform in the city’s festival a stroke of luck. Despite his experience and notable performances in the capital, Puerta Grande—the traditional symbol of success at Las Ventas—remains beyond his reach. Fortes emphasizes that achieving this milestone is a duty to himself and his team.
Saúl Jiménez Fortes’s path in bullfighting has not been easy: over his career, he has suffered two serious neck injuries, but he continues to perform, openly acknowledging that he accepts all the risks of the profession for the love of the art of bullfighting. According to him, only passion for the corrida and acceptance of circumstances allow him to move forward despite the challenges.
This year, Fortes will get another chance to prove himself at the Feria de San Isidro—his performance is also scheduled for May 24. Interest in the San Isidro festival in Madrid is traditionally high: the city fills with cultural events, concerts, and exhibitions, and the authorities expand the program for residents and visitors to the capital. As noted by RUSSPAIN, during these days, large-scale street events and free museum admissions take place in Madrid, making the festival especially notable for locals.
Saúl Jiménez Fortes is a representative of a renowned bullfighting family: his mother, Mari Fortes, was a novillera, and his father, Gaspar Jiménez, worked as a banderillero and organized bullfights. This year, particular attention is on Fortes’ performance at Las Ventas: for many bullfighting fans, his possible success will be one of the main highlights of the Feria de San Isidro.
