Plaza de toros de las Arenas facts for kids
The Plaza de toros de las Arenas was once a famous bullring in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. A bullring is a special arena where bullfights are held. Over the years, many famous musicians performed there. These included Carlos Santana and Paco de Lucia in 1977. The building first opened on June 29, 1900. Its last bullfight happened on June 19, 1977. In 2011, the building reopened as a modern shopping mall. It is now called Arenas de Barcelona.
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History of the Arenas
The Plaza de Las Arenas opened its doors in 1900. At first, it was mostly used for sports like boxing or free fights. In 1927, a rich businessman named Pedro Balañá bought the Arenas. He had it changed into a place for bullfights.
During the Spanish Civil War, groups fighting against fascism took over the building. Bullfights continued during the time of Franco's rule. In the 1960s, many tourists from North America and Europe came to Spain. They were interested in watching bullfights. The very last bullfight at the Arenas took place in 1977.
A famous musician, Bob Marley, performed there with The Wailers. This concert was on June 30, 1980. It was part of their Uprising Tour in Europe.
In 1989, the first campaign against bullfighting started in Catalonia. By 2004, more people in Barcelona supported stopping bullfighting. In 2010, a law was passed to make bullfights illegal. However, this law was later changed in 2016.
Modern Makeover: The 2011 Remodeling
Work to change the old bullring began in November 2009. The company in charge, Metrovacesa, spent 70 million euros on the project. The main architects were Alonso y Balaguer and Richard Rogers. The building work was done by Dragados.
A special walking area was added on the top floor. This area goes all around the building. It offers amazing 360-degree views of the city. This viewing spot is called the mirador. The Arenas officially opened as a new shopping mall in March 2011.
What the Arenas is Like Today
Today, the Arenas de Barcelona is a large shopping center. It has a commercial area of 31,918 square meters. There are about 100 stores spread across 6 floors. In 2015, the mall had a huge number of visitors. About 10.5 million people came to shop and explore. The building also has a very tall dome, which is 27 meters high.
See also
In Spanish: Plaza de toros de las Arenas para niños
