The tourada à corda is Terceira's most distinctive cultural event and one of the Azores' most photographed experiences. From May 1 to September 30, bullfights take place almost daily in villages across the island — sometimes two or three in a single day during the festival season. Unlike mainland bullfighting, the bull is not killed; instead, it is controlled on a long rope by teams of men in traditional dress (black waistcoats, embroidered shirts, and coloured caps) who manoeuvre it through the streets while forcados and cavaleiros taunt it.
The events take place on village streets rather than in dedicated arenas, and the spectators stand on the raised stone pavements watching from a few feet away. It is loud, chaotic, and oddly festive. The Sanjoaninas festival in late June — the biggest festival on the island — includes multiple touradas and is the peak of the season. If you're on Terceira between May and September, it is worth going to at least one event.