Bullfighting is ancestral and the island maintains several active cattle ranches. The activity is divided into square bullfights and the typical rope bullfights, in which the bull runs through the streets of the town held by a long rope held by a group of men, known as the shepherds. The bull season runs from the 1st of May to the 15th of October.
Rope bullfighting in Terceira Azores
July 2025
Day 30- 18h30 – À Igreja – Fontinhas – Praia da Vitória
Day 30- 18h30 – Doze Ribeiras – Angra do Heroísmo
Day 31- 18h30 – Santo António – Fontinhas
August 2025
Day 01 – Areeiro – Fontinhas – Praia da Vitória – 6:30 PM
Day 04 – Juncal – Praia da Vitória – 6:30 PM (vacada)
Day 04 – Terreiro – Terra Chã – Angra do Heroísmo – 6:30 PM
Day 05 – Juncal – Praia da Vitória – 6:30 PM
Day 05 – Ao Arco – São Bento – Angra do Heroísmo – 6:30 PM
Day 06 – Juncal – Praia da Vitória – 6:30 PM
Day 06 – Quatro Ribeiras – Praia da Vitória – 6:00 PM
Day 07 – Rua Jervásio Lima – Praia da Vitória – 3:00 PM (bezerrada)
Day 07 – Quatro Ribeiras – Praia da Vitória – 6:00 PM
Day 08 – Caminho do Cemitério – Praia da Vitória – 6:00 PM
Day 09 – Estrada 25 de Abril – Praia da Vitória – 6:00 PM
Day 09 – Biscoitinho – São Mateus – Angra do Heroísmo – 6:30 PM
Day 10 – Areal da Praia – Praia da Vitória – 6:00 PM
Day 10 – Rua de Baixo – São Pedro – Angra do Heroísmo – 6:00 PM
Day 11 – Porto de Pescas – São Mateus – 5:00 PM (bezerrada)
Day 12 – Cambalim – São Bento – 6:30 PM
Day 13 – Canada da Junta – Feteira – 6:30 PM
Day 15 – Serra de Santiago – Vila das Lajes – 6:30 PM
Day 15 – Lameirinho – Conceição – Angra do Heroísmo – 6:30 PM
Day 16 – Canada de Santo António – Posto Santo – 6:00 PM
Day 16 – Canada dos Rabos – Ribeirinha – 6:00 PM
Day 17 – Largo da Igreja – Cinco Ribeiras – 6:00 PM (vacada)
Day 17 – Porto de Pescas – São Mateus – 6:00 PM
Day 17 – Rua da Igreja – Agualva – 6:00 PM
Day 18 – Cruzeiro – Agualva – 6:00 PM
Day 18 – Canada das Roças – Posto Santo – 6:00 PM (bezerrada)
Day 19 – Terreiro – Posto Santo – 6:00 PM
Day 20 – Cinco Ribeiras – 6:00 PM
Day 20 – Rua da Igreja – Agualva – 6:00 PM
Day 20 – Estrada Regional – Fonte do Bastardo – 6:00 PM
Day 20 – Estrada Regional – Feteira – 6:00 PM
Day 21 – Estrada Regional – Fonte do Bastardo – 6:00 PM
Day 21 – Estrada Regional – Feteira – 6:00 PM
Day 22 – Estrada Regional – Feteira – 6:00 PM
Day 23 – Ribeira do Mouro – Cinco Ribeiras – 6:00 PM
Day 23 – Rua do Regelo – Fonte do Bastardo – 6:00 PM
Day 23 – Fajã do Ficher – Feteira – 6:00 PM
Day 23 – Lameirinho – Bairro – 6:00 PM
Day 23 – Às Pias – São Brás – 9:00 PM (night bullfight)
Day 24 – Rua do Biscoito – Fonte do Bastardo – 6:00 PM
Day 25 – Às Pias – São Brás – 6:00 PM
Day 26 – Ladeira Grande – Ribeirinha – 6:00 PM (bezerrada)
Day 26 – Às Pias – São Brás – 6:00 PM
Day 26 – São João de Deus – Santa Luzia – Angra do Heroísmo – 6:00 PM
Day 27 – Ladeira Grande – Ribeirinha – 6:00 PM
Day 27 – Às Pias – São Brás – 6:00 PM
Day 28 – Às Pias – São Brás – 6:00 PM (bezerrada)
Day 29 – Rua Padre Alfredo Lucas – São Brás – 6:00 PM
Day 29 – Rua do Emigrante – São Bartolomeu – 6:00 PM
Day 29 – Largo da Igreja – Cabo da Praia – 9:00 PM
Day 30 – Outeiro Galhardo – Ribeirinha – 6:00 PM
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Rope bullfighting is considered the greatest manifestation of popular character in the Azores, being a show specific to this region, mainly from the Central Group, with particular expression on Terceira Island. Its central element is Toiro Bravo, which is idolized by our people and by all who visit us.
Rope bullfights are held on the islands of São Jorge, Graciosa, Pico and Terceira, the latter being the island with the highest number of shows per year, with more than 200 festivities.
Such is the importance of wild cattle in the popular imagination of Terceira that the victory at the Battle of Salga, on July 25, 1581, is attributed to the bulls, when they expelled the invading Castilian troops. Portuguese to resist Filipino rule. For this reason, they are also represented (bulls) in the coat of arms of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The first reference to rope bullfighting appears only in 1622, on the occasion of the celebrations, in Angra, for the canonization of São Francisco Xavier and Santo Inácio de Loyola. In these celebrations, rope bulls were “run” through the streets of the city. However, it is believed that these popular manifestations already existed much earlier.
Despite the origin of rope bullfighting being lost in the memory of the times, this spectacle of popular nature is currently duly legislated with a set of rules that guarantee its proper functioning, the health and well-being of the animal, as well as the safety of the population.
