All over Spain, you see massive bulls that stand by the motorways. The bulls have become an iconic symbol of Spain.
They were erected in the 1950’s for an advertising campaign for the Osborne sherry company. Some 500 Osborne bulls appeared and are seen as an important symbol for the Spanish and were a very daring design for the 1950´s.
In 1988 the Roads Ministry ordered the bulls to be removed due to the fact that they were a distraction to motorists. There was a massive public outcry and a save the bulls campaign began.
Opinion polls found that 75% of people thought the bulls were a Spanish icon and they did not consider them advertising. Osborne removed their advertising wording from the bulls and the Supreme Court ruled the bulls as of “aesthetic and cultural” interest to Spain.
How many have you seen?
