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| There is another form of entertainment that is worth a specific mention – Tourada! – in other words Bullfighting. Yes it happens here in Portugal too and during the season (April-October) there is a fight every Friday in the arena on the outskirts of Lagos. There are several differences between the Portuguese version of the sport and the Spanish version. First and foremost, in Portugal there is a ban on the public killing of the animal (although it is usually slaughtered outside the arena shortly after the spectacle). |
| The fight begins with a cavaleiro, a horseman dressed in colourful 18 century costume complete with frills and three cornered hat. He parades around for some minutes saluting the crowd, before the bull is unleashed into the arena. With a great display of elegant horsemanship the cavaleiro sticks the bull in his back with a series of bandarilhas (ornate spears). Next comes the pega, the part of the show involving a team of eight men, forcados, all dressed in knee length breeches, baggy shirts and tasselled caps. |
| The leader of the forcados squares up to the bull and charges him, launching himself on to the bull’s head and, holds on to the horns, whist the other seven forcados leap on the animal and try to pull the animal to the ground. The spectacle finishes when the bull has been overpowered in this way. |
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Algarve Guide