Museo Taurino de Madrid
Museum of the Comunidad de Madrid beside the Las Ventas bullring, with suits of lights, paintings, posters and Goya’s prints on bullfighting.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Taurino de Madrid was created in 1951 by the Diputación Provincial (provincial council) and opened its doors on 15 May of that year. In 1988 it came under the Comunidad de Madrid, within the Centro de Asuntos Taurinos. It has undergone several refurbishments and extensions: one in 1968, another in 1991 and a complete renovation in 2011; in 2015, 105 square metres of exhibition space, a direct entrance from the street and a small projection room were added.
The museum is located next to the Patio de Caballos gate of the Las Ventas bullring, on Calle de Alcalá. Its route is organised into three main rooms: one devoted to the Las Ventas bullring itself, another to bullfighters and their suits of lights, and a third to bullfighting painting and posters, including posters for Goyesque bullfights.
Its collections include portraits of famous bullfighters, from Pedro Romero to Joselito, works by Goya, Zuloaga and Vázquez Díaz, and the complete second edition of Goya’s prints of “La Tauromaquia”. There are also suits and capes from the 19th century to the present day, among them the suit of Manolete in Linares and that of Juanita Cruz, the first woman to take the alternativa, as well as a corner dedicated to Manolete.
Highlights
- Complete second edition of Goya’s “La Tauromaquia”
- Suits of lights and capes from the 19th century, including Manolete’s suit in Linares
- Suit of Juanita Cruz, the first woman to take the alternativa
- Portraits of famous bullfighters from Pedro Romero to Joselito
- Posters for Goyesque bullfights and a projection room
Permanent exhibitions
- La plaza de Las Ventas – Room devoted to the history and architecture of the Madrid bullring.
- Toreros y trajes de luces – Suits and capes from the 19th century to the present day, portraits of famous bullfighters and a corner dedicated to Manolete.
- Pintura, grabados y carteles taurinos – Works by Goya, Zuloaga and Vázquez Díaz, the complete prints of “La Tauromaquia” and posters for Goyesque bullfights.
- Founded
- 1951
- Operated by
- Comunidad de Madrid (Centro de Asuntos Taurinos)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission, subject to capacity control. A private company (Las Ventas Tour) separately offers a paid visit with an audio guide, from €7, which includes the route around the bullring.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Metro Ventas
Metro: Ventas (lines 2 and 5). EMT buses: 12, 21, 38, 53, 106, 110 and 146.
The museum entrance is at Calle de Alcalá, 237, next to the Patio de Caballos gate of the Las Ventas bullring.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Photography | Photography inside the museum is not permitted. |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group visits require a prior appointment requested by email. Backpacks, suitcases and bags that get in the way are not permitted; bags larger than 25 × 25 cm cannot be taken into the rooms. Umbrellas are left in the umbrella stands at the entrance. Eating and drinking are not permitted. |
