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In La Vanguardia's Readers' Photos we can see images, by night and day, of the Old Bullring in the Zaragoza town of Tarazona, the only one where you can hang your clothes?
This is because, in reality, it houses a complex of 32 homes with an interior patio where bullfighting activities were carried out, visible from the balconies.
They consisted of a ground floor and three floors, with windows on the outside and large arches on the inside on octagonal pillars. For many years these arches were blinded because they were homes, but today, after the comprehensive restoration in 1998, they have come to light again.
The construction of the bullring began in April 1790 and the works were completed in September 1792, according to the Tarazona Monumental Foundation.
It was probably inaugurated on San Atilano's Day in 1792 with the celebration of bullfights. It was given the name Plaza Nueva, but later, when the current bullring was built in 1870, it changed its name to Plaza de Toros Vieja.
Currently the homes are still inhabited. In fact, in the photographs you can see the detail of the clothes hanging, but numerous cultural activities are also carried out throughout the year.
The square has an octagonal plan that occupies an area of 1,465 square meters. Masonry, rammed earth and brick and Arabic tiles were used for its construction.
The year 1868 was the last year in which the people of Turiason were able to attend a bullfighting celebration in this square, which, however, then hosted the livestock fair that took place during the San Agustín festivities. Of course, in 2006, a bullfighting celebration was held punctually in this old square.
The Old Bullring of Tarazona was declared by the Government of Aragon as a Site of Cultural Interest with the category of monument in 2001. It is part of the Union of Historical Plazas of Spain, which also includes those of Almadén, Aranjuez, Béjar, Campofrío and Santa Cruz de Mudela.
