{"id":571335,"date":"2025-03-18T17:44:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.locabarcelona.com\/?page_id=571335"},"modified":"2025-03-18T17:44:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:44:38","slug":"monumental","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.locabarcelona.com\/en\/living-in-barcelona\/history-architecture\/monumental\/","title":{"rendered":"La Monumental in Barcelona"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Inicio<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Everything you need to know for your visit to Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

La Monumental was, for more than 30 years, the only active bullring in Barcelona. However, its function in the city has been much more than that. Below, we will discover its history and how to enjoy it today.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

History of the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"plaza\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona, originally called Plaza el Sport, was inaugurated in 1914 in the neighborhood of Fort Pienc, in l’Eixample. Although it was the third-largest bullring in Barcelona at the time, it was so successful that two years after its inauguration it was remodeled to expand the capacity to 24,000 people, making it one of the largest bullrings in the world and giving it the name La Monumental.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

However, for several years, this building lost its function as a bullring. During the Spanish Civil War, the plaza was used for Republican rallies, since at that time, most bullfights were held in Las Arenas<\/span><\/a>. Years later, it was used as a garage, and it was not until the 1940s when it recovered its original function, having up to three bullfights a week.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

In the late 1970s, after the last bullfight in Las Arenas, La Monumental became the only bullring in existence, but at that time, bullfighting was losing popularity in Barcelona. In 2007, the now retired bullfighter Jose Tomas held a bullfight in the arena that brought bullfighting back to popularity in the city for a while.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Even so, in 2011, due to the abolition of bullfighting in Catalonia, a last bullfight was held in the Monumental.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Musical events<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Over the years, there have been several iconic musical events in the Monumental. Notably, in 1965, the Beatles gave their only concert in Barcelona. Other artists who have played at La Monumental include The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Tina Turner and Bruce Springsteen.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

In addition to concerts, the square has also held sporting events such as boxing tournaments or hosted circuses.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Current state of the square after closure<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In addition to holding music festivals, the bullring hosts the Monumental Club. This gastronomic festival takes place one weekend a month and celebrates street food with live music, children’s activities and other artistic events.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Part of the space of La Monumental is dedicated to the headquarters of the bullfighting museum of Barcelona. This museum, inaugurated in 1969, displays the typical costumes worn by bullfighters, bulls’ heads, old posters, and many other documents related to the world of bullfighting.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Although the future of the square is uncertain, there are several projects that want to be carried out. One of the most popular is to convert the square into a shopping center, similar to that of the Las Arenas bullring.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Find your dream apartment in Barcelona<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your project.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

How to get there<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow can I go to La Monumental?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t