La Monumental facts for kids
The Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona, usually called La Monumental, is a well-known building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was once a place where bullfights were held. The building first opened in 1914 as Plaza de El Sport. It was made bigger and renamed La Monumental in 1916.
You can find La Monumental where two big streets meet: the Gran Via and Carrer Marina. This area is in the Eixample district of Barcelona. The building can hold many people, with seats for almost 20,000 visitors. These seats are spread across different levels and sections.
A Look Inside La Monumental
La Monumental was the last place in Catalonia to host bullfights. The last bullfight happened there in 2011. This was because the Parliament of Catalonia made a law to stop bullfighting. This law was passed in 2010 and started in 2012.
Later, in 2016, the ban was changed. However, no new bullfights have happened at La Monumental since then.
Who Owns and Uses the Building?
The Balañá family owns La Monumental. They let an organization called Casa Matilla manage it. This group also looks after other similar arenas. Today, La Monumental is a busy place for many different events. You can go there to see sports, music concerts, and even circus shows.
The Building's Design
The original building was designed by Manuel Joaquim Raspall i Mayol. It had a style called noucentista. Later, Ignasi Mas i Morell and Domènec Sugrañes i Gras worked on expanding it. They gave it a new look, inspired by Mudéjar and Byzantine architecture.
La Monumental is one of Barcelona's largest public venues. It can hold about 19,582 people for bullfights. For big events like rock concerts, it can fit around 25,000 people. This is because part of the arena floor can also be used for spectators.
See also
In Spanish: Plaza de toros Monumental de Barcelona para niños
- Monumental (Barcelona Metro), the metro station near the arena
