Rope bullfighting in Terceira Azores

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.

September 2025

Day 01 – Vila Nova, À Praça – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 02 – Raminho, Campo de Futebol – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00 (Vacada)
Day 02 – Cabo da Praia, Canada do Saco – Praia da Vitória – 18h00 (Vacada)
Day 02 – Vila Nova, Terreiro Santo – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 03 – Raminho – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 03 – Cabo da Praia, Largo da Igreja – Praia da Vitória – 18h30
Day 03 – Santa Bárbara, Ladeira do Martinho – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 04 – Santa Bárbara, Rua do Açougue – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h00 (Bezerrada)
Day 05 – Vila Nova, À Praça – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 06 – Cabo da Praia, Rua das Pedras – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 06 – Santa Bárbara, Largo da Igreja – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 06 – Terra Chã, Casa Queimadas – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 06 – São Sebastião, Ribeira Seca – Angra do Heroísmo – 21h00 (Tourada Noturna)
Day 07 – Terra Chã, Fonte Faneca – Angra do Heroísmo – 15h00 (Vacada)
Day 07 – Vila das Lajes, Serra de Santiago – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 08 – São Bartolomeu, Terreiro – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00 (Vacada)
Day 08 – São Sebastião, Ribeira Seca – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00 (Vacada)
Day 09 – Altares, Achada – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h30 (Vacada)
Day 09 – Praia da Vitória, Sta. Luzia, Largo da Igreja – Praia da Vitória – 18h00 (Vacada)
Day 10 – Altares, Às Presas – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 10 – Sta. Luzia – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 11 – São Sebastião, Ribeira Seca – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 11 – Altares, Ao Lugar – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 11 – Sta. Luzia -Praia da Vitória – – 18h00
Day 12 – Sta. Luzia – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 13 – Vila das Lajes, Rua do Picão – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 13 – Conceição, Desterro – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 14 – São Sebastião, Arrebalde – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 14 – Porto Martins, Largo do Império – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 14 – Porto Martins, Estrada 25 de Abril – Praia da Vitória – 18h00
Day 15 – Serreta, Praça – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 15 – Pico da Urze, Penha de França – Angra do Heroísmo – 18h00
Day 17 – Serreta, Largo da Igreja – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30
Day 18 – Serreta, Praça – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h00 (Bezerrada)
Day 20 – Amoreiras – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 20 – São Brás, Ao Salto – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 20 – Feteira, Canada das Mercês – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30 (Vacada)
Day 20 – São Bartolomeu, Rua 11 de Agosto – Angra do Heroísmo – 16h00 (Vacada)
Day 22 – Biscoitos, Caminho do Concelho – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 23 – São Bartolomeu, Pesqueiro – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30
Day 23 – Porto Martins, Largo do Império – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 24 – Biscoitos, Caminho do Concelho – Praia da Vitória- 17h30
Day 24 – Porto Martins, Largo do Império – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 24 – São Bartolomeu, Rua 11 de Agosto – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30
Day 25 – Porto Martins, Largo do Império – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 25 – Biscoitos, Caminho do Concelho – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 25 – São Bartolomeu, Pesqueiro – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30
Day 27 – Biscoitos, Rua dos Boiões – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 27 – Feteira, Canada das Mercês – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30
Day 27 – Porto Martins, Estrada de Sta. Margarida – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 28 – Biscoitos, Porto dos Biscoitos – Praia da Vitória – 17h30
Day 28 – Feteira, Canada das Mercês – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30
Day 29 – São Pedro, S. Carlos – Angra do Heroísmo – 17h30
Day 30 – Figueiras do Paim – Praia da Vitória – 17h30

Source: Grupo – Touradas Ilha Terceira

 

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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.