Billboard advertising is not permitted according to the current regulation in the European Union in motorways. This was not the case years ago and so, in Spain, there were many motorways that had many advertising impacts all through the way. It is very good to be able to enjoy just the sights without being bombarded by advertising. the Osborne bull is an exception to this rule. It is not considered advertising today, but a national icon. 

The signs were taken down years ago. There has been however one exception to this rule and it has been so not for all the cases in which that piece of advertising was shown, but just in a few, very impressive cases. We refer here to the Osborne Bull. It’s a big black silhouette of a  Iberian toro (bull), really big, with a browny back, horns, a menacing swatting tail and a pair of big family jewels…. A real macho for sure.  This silhouette can be see in the Spanish horizon in many motorways. It is for sure one of the signs that will get your attention if you enjoy a wine tour in Spain that implies driving.  It has normally been kept in the areas where the combination of bull and landscape enhances the whole. In some cases, when the sun is at dust behind the bull, the picture is simply fantastic. This silhouette is the same one you may have seen in many  popular T-shirts found over the world these days (mainly by people who have visited Spain). Many stickers are also seen in cars. The best place to learn about the history of this icon is during a winery visit at Osborne in Puerto de Santa María, sherry wine region.