The tradition, as it is practiced today, involves professional toreros (toureiros in Portuguese; sometimes wrongly called toreadors in English, which is a word made up by George Bizet for his opera Carmen), who execute various formal moves which can be interpreted and innovated according to the bullfighter's style or school, toreros seek to elicit inspiration and art from their work and an emotional connection with the crowd transmitted through the bull . Such maneuvers are performed at close range, which places the bullfighter at risk of being gored or trampled. The bullfight usually concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust which is called estocada. In Portugal the finale consists of a tradition called the pega, where men (forcados) try to grab and hold the bull by its horns when it runs at them.
Supporters of bullfighting argue that it is a culturally important tradition and a fully developed art form on par with painting, dancing and music, while animal rights advocates hold that it is a blood sport resulting in the suffering of bulls and horses.
There are many historic fighting venues in the Iberian Peninsula, France and Latin America. The largest venue of its kind is the Plaza de toros México in central Mexico City, which seats 48,000 people,[2] and the oldest is the Plaza de Toros de Acho in Lima, Peru, which was built in 1766.