The Festival of the Tied Bull in Benavente, Zamora

This traditional bull running festival in Benavente is safe because the bull is tied up / PxHere

18 May 2018, 11:36

The fiesta del Toro Enmaromado

When: 30th May 2018
Where: Benavente, Spain
Website: https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/en/art-culture-heritage/festivals/festival-tied-bull
More Spanish festivals: May 2018

The festival of the Toro Enmaromado (the Tied Bull) in Benavente, Spain, also known as the Traditional Bullfighting Festival or the Fiesta of the Toro Enamorado (the Bull in Love), is one of the popular festivals in Spain which has been declared to be of Regional Tourist Interest. This celebration lasts for about a week, with one of the days being more important than the others.

This is the day when the young men of the town run through the streets of Benavente, following an itinerary fixed every year, with a bull whose horns are held in place by a long rope. All of this is accompanied by a festive atmosphere made up of music and good vibes, open-air parties and bands playing in the street.

A few reasons to visit Benavente

Benavente is a municipality located to the north of Zamora in the Autonomous Community of Castile and León. One of the most characteristic buildings in the small city, a local landmark for its citizens, is the Fernando II Parador Hotel. In fact, the Torre del Caracol (Snail Tower), a restored 16th-century castle, along with other buildings, is integrated into the inn.

Other points of interest for tourists to see in Benavente include the church of San Juan del Mercado, the Hospital de la Piedad, which has housed many pilgrims over the years, and the church of Santa María de Azogue.

The festival of the Roped Bull: bull running tradition in Spain

In the afternoon of Wednesday 30th May, the famous race takes place after the sound of three rockets announcing the start of the popular festival. The people who don’t participate and prefer to watch from a distance can do so from the many different balconies along the route the runner follow.

It starts when a long rope is placed on the bull's horns. That way, runners can handle the animal to avoid major accidents. When the bull is released, there’s a spectacular rush of emotion from the participants as they try to avoid the raging beast. In spite of the rope, several people are wounded each year in the race. Once the run is done, the young men then use the rope to lead the bull to the slaughterhouse.

The Benavente Fiesta del Toro Enmaromado takes place on the eve of Corpus Christi, a festival that has been celebrated in the town since the 15th century. However, it was not until two centuries later that a similar bull festival was recorded. It was in the 18th century that the name of the "roped bull" festivity appeared.

This traditional feast is celebrated every year on the occasion of Corpus Christi and is not usually held outside this religious feast, except on rare occasions. In any case, throughout its history there have been particularly difficult moments, such as during the Spanish Civil War when it struggled to survive.

During the week of the festivities, different bullfighting events are organised, including bullfights, fights with calves and, of course, the famous Toro Enmaromado.

It’s not only about bullfighting, though. At the same time, as it is one of the most important popular festivals that takes place in the town of Benavente, there are always plenty of other events like fireworks, food, sports, culture and music.