Last bullfight in Barcelona sells out as Spain marks end of 600 years of history

Fans spend up to eight times face value for tickets to see the final fight before practice is banned in Catalonia • The last bullfight in Barcelona – in pictures It was the end of more than 600 years of history. On Sunday evening, amid the cheers of fans and the bloody death throes of fighting bulls, Barcelona hosted its last-ever bullfight. As dusk fell in the Catalan capital, sequin-clad local matador Serafín Marín dispatched the last of six bulls on the sand of the packed La Monumental bullring – where touts had been offering tickets at eight times their original price. With bullfighting banned in Catalonia as of next year – and with Sunday’sfight marking the end of the season in Barcelona – no Spanish fighting bull will be killed in the city in the name of sport or art for the foreseeable future. Supporters denounced the ban as an infringement of civil liberties. Opponents declared it an enlightened move away from mindless barbarity. “We have won the war, but today we will lose a battle as six animals will die,” said a 32-year-old protester who gave only her first name, Montserrat. “They are pigs,” said Antonio, 70, an elegant white-suited fan, pointing to the small crowd of animal rights protesters gathered outside La Monumental. Either way, it was a historic moment. An 18,000-strong crowd packed into the stands to watch the matadors in their shiny “suits of lights” step out for the last time to the sound of trumpets and a

Posted by on September 25, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.