Arenas de Barcelona

An old bullring built in 1900 by architect August Font i Carreras in Neo-Mudéjar style, the Arenas de Barcelona has had a turbulent history: bullfights, Republican headquarters during the Civil War, boxing shows, circus events, popular festivities, and even a velodrome in the 1940s and 1950s. After the last bullfight in 1977, the building was left unused until it was transformed into a modern shopping center in 2007, designed by architects Richard Rogers and Alfonso Balaguer. The historic façade was preserved, and a spectacular domed rooftop was added, open to the public. Today, the Arenas houses shops, cinemas, restaurants, and leisure spaces, while its panoramic terrace offers one of the finest views over Barcelona and Montjuïc.