The first reference to a bullfight in Vera dates back to 1537, to mark the return of Emperor Charles the fifth to Spain in a parenthesis in his wars against the king of France. Few know that the town has been linked to the national pass time for such a long time, and therefore it was thought necessary to open a museum related to the historic bullring building.
On June 15, 2002 the Bullfighting Museum was inaugurated. The great enthusiasm Vera´s people hold for the world of bullfighting managed to gather under one roof the testimony of a rich history of celebrations.
With the support of a group of people from the bullfighting world, the project took shape. Its purpose: to raise awareness of the important heritage available. A chronological journey takes one through exhibition panels and display cases that refer to the first celebrations and lead up to the festivities of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
A century later, with the arrival of a new dynasty, the Bourbons, Vera suffered a decline in bullfighting as did the rest of Spain when several prohibitions were introduced. The nineteenth century arrived as a sort of reward, bringing with it a growth in the number of followers coupled with the construction of various bullrings, including those of neo-Arabic style, like the one in which we find ourselves today.
The opening of the arena took place in 1879, but there were no celebrations in the following years until a group of residents formed the Vera Bullfighting Civil Association in 1904 to strengthen the tradition. After many vicissitudes, the last bullfight before the twentieth century renovations begun was held in 1983. Just as it did a century earlier, the momentum of popular clamor made it possible to return to the bullring its splendor, and to revive Vera´s fans latent passion and love for this celebration. Since the last renovation in 1997, everyone has been able to enjoy uninterrupted bullfighting.
