Triumphant Returns and New Challenges at the Feria de San Isidro Arena. On May 21, Madrid will host the twelfth corrida of the Feria de San Isidro. The Las Ventas arena will see performances by Manzanares, Juan Ortega, and Pablo Aguado. The lineup features bulls from Puerto de San Lorenzo and La Ventana del Puerto.
On May 21 in Madrid, the twelfth Feria de San Isidro corrida will take place at Las Ventas arena, featuring three renowned toreros: José María Manzanares, Juan Ortega, and Pablo Aguado. Organizers have chosen bulls from Puerto de San Lorenzo and La Ventana del Puerto for the evening, adding intrigue and anticipation to the event.
José María Manzanares will open the evening. His career began with his alternativa in Alicante in 2003, where he was supported by Enrique Ponce and Francisco Rivera Ordóñez. In Madrid, Manzanares confirmed his status in 2005, and has twice exited through the Puerta Grande at Las Ventas, most recently in June 2016 after a successful performance with a Victoriano del Río bull. His experience and achievements make him one of the most anticipated participants of the evening.
Juan Ortega will take to the ring for the second time at this Feria de San Isidro, following his performance on May 8. His alternativa took place in 2014 in Pozoblanco, where his padrino was Enrique Ponce and his testigo was José María Manzanares. That day, Ortega received two ears for his second bull. In Madrid, he confirmed his alternativa in 2016, and in August 2018 he distinguished himself by taking an ear from a Valdefresno bull. His return to the Las Ventas arena is of great interest to the public, given his previous successes.
The evening will conclude with Pablo Aguado, who received his alternativa in Seville in 2017, with Enrique Ponce and Alejandro Talavante as padrino and testigo. In Madrid, Aguado confirmed his status in 2018, performing with bulls from Victoriano del Río and Toros de Cortés, where he received an ovation and an ear. His style and technique attract the attention of bullfighting aficionados.
The Feria de San Isidro traditionally brings together not only fans of bullfighting at Las Ventas, but also those who follow the evolution of Spanish traditions. This year, the organizers are betting on a mix of experience and fresh names. It is worth noting that interest in such events in Spain remains consistently high, and the toreros themselves often become national newsmakers. For comparison, the passion and intensity in the arena can be likened to the emotions of football matches, such as the recent clash between Junior and Sporting Cristal, where the outcome was decided in the final minutes — you can read more about this in the article on the tense battle in the Copa Libertadores.
Las Ventas is the largest arena in Spain, with a capacity of over 23,000 spectators. The Feria de San Isidro is considered the main event of the season for Madrid's bullfighting enthusiasts. In recent years, interest in traditional Spanish festivals has remained strong, despite ongoing debates about the practice itself. For many people in the country, such evenings remain part of the cultural code and a topic for discussion in the media and on social networks.
