La Monumental facts for kids
The Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona, usually called La Monumental (Catalan pronunciation: [lə munumənˈtal]), is a famous building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It used to be a place where bullfighting events were held. It was the last bullfighting arena that was still open for business in Catalonia.
La Monumental first opened in 1914. Back then, it was called Plaza de El Sport. It was made bigger and renamed La Monumental in 1916. You can find it where two big streets meet: the Gran Via and Carrer Marina. This area is part of the Eixample district in Barcelona. The building can hold almost 20,000 people. It has 26 rows of seats, special boxes, and an upper level.
History of La Monumental
La Monumental was the last place in Catalonia to host bullfights. The very last bullfight happened there in 2011. This was because the Parliament of Catalonia passed a law in 2010. This law made bullfighting illegal in Catalonia starting in 2012.
Even though the ban was later changed in 2016, no more bullfights have taken place at La Monumental. As of July 2020, the arena is not used for bullfighting anymore.
Who Owns La Monumental?
The Balañá family owns La Monumental. They have given control of the arena to Casa Matilla. This group manages many bullrings. Today, La Monumental is used for different kinds of events. You can go there to see sports, music concerts, and even circus shows.
Building Design and Size
The original building was designed in a style called Noucentisme. This work was done by Manuel Joaquim Raspall i Mayol. Later, the building was made larger. Ignasi Mas i Morell and Domènec Sugrañes i Gras worked on the expansion. They gave it its unique look. This new design was inspired by Mudéjar and Byzantine architecture.
La Monumental is one of the biggest public arenas in Barcelona. It can hold about 19,582 people for bullfighting events. For big events like rock concerts, it can hold around 25,000 people. This is because part of the arena floor can be used for standing spectators.
See also
- Monumental (Barcelona Metro), the metro station that serves the arena
