Plaza de Toros de Albacete facts for kids
The Plaza de Toros de Albacete is a famous bullring located in the city of Albacete, Spain. It's in the Castilla-La Mancha region.
Many people call it "La Chata," which means "The Snub-nosed One." A famous writer, José Maria de Cossio, once said it was "one of the most excellent bullrings of Spain."
Contents
History
Early Bullfights: The Altozano Square
The city of Albacete has a long history of bullfighting. Records from May 29, 1564, show that bullfights were held. These events took place in the main square, called Plaza del Altozano. They were part of celebrations for Saint John the Baptist, the city's patron saint.
The very first bullring in Albacete was built in the late 1700s. It was located near the Fairground promenade. People often called it "Caulín" after its main supporter.
The Second Bullring (1800s)
As more people became interested in bullfighting, Albacete needed a bigger bullring. So, a second one was built. It opened on September 9, 1829. Two bullfighters, Juan Jiménez “El Morenillo” and Manuel Lucas Blanco, performed at the opening.
This new building was round and measured 34 meters across. It had two levels. The first level was mostly for people standing, with some seats. The second level had special reserved areas and boxes. It was built using stone, earth, and brick. Albacete had about 17,000 people at the time. The bullring could hold 7,400 spectators.
It had four entrances for the public and ten stairways leading to the seats. Below the stands were three stables for horses. There were also two holding pens for bulls and an infirmary with three beds. The building also had meeting rooms and offices. One office was even used as a chapel for the bullfighters. Over time, the bullring started to wear out. In 1916, the mayor, Francisco Fontecha, suggested building a new one. Despite some repairs, it was torn down that same year.
The Current Bullring
On September 20, 1916, city officials met to discuss a new bullring. They agreed to build one for safety and to attract more visitors. Many people at the meeting supported the idea right away. They raised 338,250 pesetas, even though times were tough.
A special company, Taurine Albacete, was created to build the arena. Julio Carrilero was chosen as the architect. Construction started on February 17, 1916. It was finished very quickly, opening on September 9, 1917. Don Fernando Villalon provided the bulls for the first show.
In 1918, the seating areas were updated with special stone from Novelda. This stone is still there today. In 1921, the roof was changed. In the late 1980s, the bullring was made even bigger. Today, it can hold up to 12,000 people.
See also
In Spanish: Plaza de toros de Albacete para niños
