commemorative plaque to the Puerta de Alcalá bullring

The commemorative plaque to the Puerta de Alcalá bullring sits in Madrid at the corner of Calle de Alcalá and Calle de Claudio Coello, marking the exact spot where one of the city's most important bullfighting arenas once stood, from the mid-18th century until the last quarter of the 19th. For visitors walking from the Puerta de Alcalá toward Plaza de Cibeles, it's an easy-to-miss detail on an otherwise ordinary building — but it points to a chapter of Madrid's history that shaped the city's bullfighting tradition for generations.

What does the plaque actually say?

The inscription records that the Plaza de Toros de la Puerta de Alcalá stood on this site between 1749 and 1874, hosting bullfights for 125 years. It also links the venue to the work of Francisco de Goya, noting that the arena was a source of inspiration for the artist. The plaque was placed by the city as a way of preserving the memory of a building that no longer physically exists — after the ring was demolished, the plot was absorbed into the residential and commercial architecture typical of this stretch of Calle de Alcalá.

Why did this bullring matter so much to Madrid?

For over a century, the Plaza de Toros de la Puerta de Alcalá was the city's main bullfighting venue, standing just beyond the monumental Puerta de Alcalá gate, where Calle de Alcalá opens toward what is now Retiro Park. This is where Madrid's most important bullfights took place, drawing large crowds and establishing the capital's reputation in the sport. When the arena closed and was torn down in 1874, its role passed to the newly built Plaza de Toros de las Ventas, which still functions as one of the largest and most prestigious bullrings in the world today.

What is the connection to Francisco de Goya?

Goya, who lived and worked in Madrid through the second half of the 18th century and into the early 19th, returned repeatedly to bullfighting as a subject in his graphic work, including a series of prints devoted to tauromachy. Arenas like the one at Puerta de Alcalá gave him direct access to the gestures, crowds and drama he later translated onto paper and canvas. The plaque nods to exactly this — not just the lost building, but its role in the visual culture of the period.

Where exactly is the plaque located?

It's mounted on the building at Calle de Alcalá 75, at the intersection with Calle de Claudio Coello, along the route between the Puerta de Alcalá and Plaza de Colón. The location fits naturally into a walk through the elegant Salamanca district or a route linking Retiro with the city center. There's no dedicated viewpoint or tourist infrastructure here — it's an ordinary apartment building, and the plaque is a modest but integral part of its facade.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to the bullring after 1874? The building was demolished, and its function was taken over by the new Plaza de Toros de las Ventas, built elsewhere in Madrid and still in operation today.

Is the plaque easy to find on your own? Yes — it's on the facade at Calle de Alcalá 75, on the corner with Claudio Coello, within easy walking distance of the Puerta de Alcalá.

Are there any physical remains of the old bullring at the site? No, nothing of the original structure survives; the plot is now occupied by ordinary city buildings, and the plaque is the only visible trace of its history.

Why is Goya specifically mentioned on the plaque? Because the bullfights held at this arena were a real source of inspiration for his tauromachy-themed work, making the site a meaningful reference point in the art history connected to Madrid.