Feria of San Miguel

For hundreds of years, bullfighting has been a tradition in Spain. Especially in the most southern region of “Andalusia”, where bullfighting has ever begun. In 711, the first battle took place to celebrate the coronation of King Alfonso VII.

After the warm summer days, the Feria de San Miguel takes place again in Seville. This is the short bullfighting season in the autumn that always takes place around Michaelday on September 29. Micheal is one of the three archangels, whose name appears in the Bible. He is the guardian of police officers, firemen, grocers and military personnel.

The history of the San Miguel Fair in Seville dates back to 1875, when a commercial fair dedicated to San Miguel was established. Like all the other major events, the fair was accompanied by bullfights. Although the stock market stopped in 1970, bullfighting continued. In fact, they are one of the most important events on the Spanish bullfighting calendar.

The fighting takes place in the beautiful arena of Seville, la Real Maestranza, or known as Plaza de toros. A cycle is set up by the arena management company in which three bullfights are. A normal bullfight and two extraordinary battles, which are the last two of the Sevillian season. The novillada is made up of winners of the year and will be announced at the beginning of September.

Together with the fighting, the Abaceria San Lorenzo organizes a three-day event (25 to 27 September) with a menu of traditional meat dishes prepared by the Toro de Lidia, the unique breed of bulls bred for the fighting. These include steak tartare, bovine sirloin, beef neck with tomato, rib-eye steaks, hop, “bavillas” with saffron, and red beans with beef cheeks, cola de toro (tail), meatballs and burgers.

Morante de la Puebla, Juan Ortega and Tomás Rufo, with bulls from the house Matilla, formed the first poster of San Miguel in Seville 2022. One of the most famous toreros of the moment is Morante de la Puebla. He is a Spanish bullfighter who discovered his passion for sport at the age of five. His passion grew with the years, he learned not at the bullfighting schools but in the open field with amateur bullfighters. We now know him’s one of the greatest torero of this time. His goal is to achieve the number of battles never reached before: A hundred!

This year's fighting has been fought, but until Sunday 2 october it is still possible to visit the fair on the river and immerse yourself in Sevillan tradition! Under the Triana bridge, on the Muelle de Sal, every year during this week a feria takes place where the local gastronomy can be tried. Take a look this week!

Although bullfights in Andalucia are always very popular, sport is even more central during the Feria of San Miguel. Friends and families come from far to experience the Feria. If you want to experience the atmosphere of bullfighting or Seville yourself, come and take a look at during our bike tours.