Museo Taurino de Valencia

Museo Taurino de Valencia is a bullfighting museum in Valencia, tucked into a side passage right next to the city's bullring in the historic centre.

Where is the museum and what is it?

The museum sits at Pasaje Doctor Serra 10, literally against the walls of Valencia's bullring. It is one of the oldest and most respected museums of its kind in Spain, founded in 1929, and it has been gathering objects tied to the world of bullfighting ever since. Today it works not just as a display space but also as a research and outreach centre dedicated to this tradition.

How did the collection come together?

The founding funds came from the estate of Luis Moróder Peiró, a passionate early-20th-century enthusiast of bullfighting, combined with the private collection of the matador José Bayard, known by the nickname "Badila". Building on that base, the museum expanded its holdings over the following decades into one of the richest bullfighting collections on the Iberian Peninsula.

What can visitors see inside?

The permanent collection holds roughly 2,500 items tracing how the spectacle evolved across the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Among the pieces on display are:

• paintings and drawings depicting scenes from the ring
• sculptures and commemorative medals
• photographs documenting famous fights and famous bullfighters
• trajes de luces, the elaborately embroidered suits worn by matadors
• mounted bull heads kept as trophies
• historic posters and playbills announcing past fights
• personal objects connected to well-known figures from this world

Walking through the rooms, visitors can follow how costume, equipment and the visual style of bullfighting changed from the Enlightenment era through the 20th century.

What is the neighbouring Plaza de Toros?

The museum is closely tied to the arena beside which it stands. Valencia's Plaza de Toros was built between 1850 and 1859 to a design by local architect Sebastián Monleón Estellés and opened in 1859. The building follows a neoclassical style, and its architect drew on Roman civic architecture for inspiration, particularly the Colosseum in Rome and the arena at Nîmes. Since its opening, the bullring has remained a gathering place for the city and the setting for many significant moments in Spanish bullfighting history.

Who is this museum for?

The museum appeals to anyone curious about Spanish history and culture, including visitors who want to understand the phenomenon of bullfighting regardless of their personal stance on the tradition. The collection carries historical and artistic value beyond the spectacle itself — it showcases craftsmanship, tailoring, painting and period photography. It also makes a convenient stop for anyone exploring central Valencia, since the museum sits close to several other city landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Museo Taurino de Valencia located? The museum is at Pasaje Doctor Serra 10, in a side passage next to the Plaza de Toros de Valencia, in the city centre.

When was the museum founded? It was established in 1929, funded by the estate of Luis Moróder Peiró and the private collection of matador José Bayard, "Badila".

How many objects does the collection include? The permanent exhibition holds around 2,500 items, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, matador costumes, posters and bull-head trophies.

What is the neighbouring Plaza de Toros bullring? It is a neoclassical arena built between 1850 and 1859 by architect Sebastián Monleón Estellés, inspired by the Roman Colosseum and the arena at Nîmes, and opened in 1859.