As you walk towards this centro commercial (shopping centre) you cannot but wonder if it is a stadium - an ancient one at that. It is only too good to step inside it though. Air conditioning... A relief from the heat and humidity outside... This new mall with contemporary designs and all the brand name shops you will find in the rest of the world is a very different mall though. It is what used to be a bull fighting arena. Bull fighting is no longer permitted in the region of Catalunya (the province Barcelona is in). The shopping centre is called Las Arenas - the Arenas. It was used to host bull fighting in Barcelona until only recently - when bullfighting was outlawed.
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| Las Arenas - once an arena, now a mall |
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| Views of Plaza Espanya from above |
The mall is a busy place which is located on the Plaza Espanya. It gets lots of tourist traffic because it is a "shopping must" for the shopping types but it also has a rooftop deck with restaurants and picturesque views over the city.The arena was earmarked for demolition but some genius architect came up with a plan at the last minute. His idea was to save the building from demolition by keeping the shell and transforming the inner part into a mall. The upper level of the mall is an open deck which you can walk around and get 360 degree views of the city. You look onto the surrounding hotels and apartments and can take a peek at who is doing what. It is a unique place which seems very popular at all times of the day and night. Expensive but very extraordinary.
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| People bathing on a rooftop pool next to the mall |
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