CATALÀ
Antigament, la plaça de les Arenes era una plaça de toros. Va ser construïda per iniciativa de Josep Marsans, fundador de la Banca Marsans i Viatges Marsans. Les Arenes es va inaugurar el 1900. La construcció d'aquesta plaça permetia substituir la plaça del Torín de la Barceloneta que havia quedat petita. El 1977 s'hi va celebrar l'última corrida de toros.
El 1988 la Fira de Barcelona va plantejar d'enderrocar-la per construir-hi un pavelló, cosa que finalment no es féu a causa del litigi sobre la preservació de l'edifici. El 1999, una empresa privada va comprar la plaça per construir-hi un centre d'oci. La compra es va realitzar per 2.000 milions de pessetes (12 milions d’euros).
La reforma es va enllestir al 2009. Es va mantenir la façana original, d’estil neo-mudejar, que actualment és sostinguda per enormes pilars metàl·lics que aixequen l’antiga estructura. També es va afegir una cúpula i un terrat des del qual hi ha unes vistes impressionants de la ciutat.
Font: Wikipedia
ENGLISH
The Plaça de les Arenes used to be a bullfighting arena. It was built on the initiative of Josep Marsans, a catalan banking and travel agency businessmen. Les Arenes opened on 1900. It was aimed at substituting another plaça that became too small (Plaça del Torín, in la Barceloneta area). The last bullfight was held on 1977.
In 1988 Les Arenes was close to be demolished in order to build a new pavilion for Fira Barcelona (the trade fair organization which is also located in Plaça Espanya). The demolition plan was not executed due to the dispute over the preservation of the building. In 1999, a private company bought the plaça to build a leisure center. The acquisition price was 2.000 million pessetes (12 million euros).
The renovation works finished in 2009. The original facade, which is neo-mudejar style, was kept intact. In the current building the facade lays on metallic pillars which elevate it over the ground floor. A dome and a terrace were also added to the building, which offer a stunning view of the city.
Source: Wikipedia
