Plaza de Toros (Tangier)Tangier, Morocco
The Plaza de Toros, which opened on 27 August 1950, is one of only 6 bullfighting arenas left in Africa. It had a capacity of 13,000 people and operated until Moroccan independence in 1956. It was established by local businessmen Jalid Raisuni and José Beneish, and engineer Francisco Rodrigálvarez López. it contained stables, corrals, and pens for the horses and bulls, as well as a chapel, medical and veterinary facilities, restrooms, dressing rooms, and the custodian's residence. The torera Conchita Cintrón, born in Chile as Concepción Cintrón Verrill and often referred to as La Diosa de Oro (Golden Goddess), fought in the arena at a time when women were still prohibited from participating in bullfighting in Spain. (Cabaleiro 2021).
After independence, it was used for other sporting and cultural events. During the last two decades of the 20th century, if was used as a detention center for sub-Saharan immigrants (Cabaleiro 2021).
In 2016 it was declared a National Historic Monument of Morocco, and in 2021 plans were announced for renovation by the architects Hicham Khattabi, Jaouad Khattabi, and Younes Diouri. The arena will include an open-air space for art exhibitions, a covered exhibition hall, a 7,000-seat theater, restaurants, and stores. A public square with a fountain and parking facilities are also part of the renovation planning, with a total cost of MAD 50 million ($5.6 million), according to Safaa Kasraoui of Morocco World News.
Restoration architect Younes Diouri told La Razón:
Teníamos en la cabeza recuperar la expresión arquitectónica original del edificio y renovarlo con el ladrillo natural rojo típico de la arquitectura española de la época, que estuvo oculto por un revestimiento que desnaturalizó la expresión de la construcción. Se trataba de devolverle sus letras de nobleza a un edificio ya cargado de historia.
We plan to recover the original architectural expression of the building, renovating it with the natural red brick that was typical of Spanish architecture at the time, but which has been hidden under a revetment that obscured the original architectural experssion. It was about restoring the noble character of a structure already steeped in history.
The project is one of many renovations of historic structures across the city of Tangier that has taken place in recent decades.
-Michael A. Toler, Archnet Content Manager, 7 November 2021
Sources:
Cabaleiro, Jesús . 2021. “La Histórica Plaza De Toros De Tánger Inicia Sus Obras De Rehabilitación.” . June 9, 2021. http://diariocalledeagua.com/es/actualidad/la-hist%C3%B3rica-plaza-de-toros-de-t%C3%A1nger-inicia-sus-obras-de-rehabilitaci%C3%B3n. Archived at https://perma.cc/52R9-NPAU.
Kasraoui, Safaa. 2021. “Morocco To Renovate, Rehabilitate Historical Plaza De Toros In Tangier.” Morocco World News. May 4, 2021. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/05/341408/morocco-to-renovate-rehabilitate-historical-plaza-de-toros-in-tangier. Archived at https://perma.cc/7PT8-W3EV.
Novarro, Antonio. 2021. “Marruecos Recupera La Plaza De Toros De Tánger.” La Razón. October 4, 2021. https://www.larazon.es/internacional/20211004/at7xf4mo2na5rg4cft5i3zjjwq.html. Archived at https://perma.cc/8GKY-LBHN.
The Plaza de Toros, which opened on 27 August 1950, is one of only 6 bullfighting arenas left in Africa. It had a capacity of 13,000 people and operated until Moroccan independence in 1956. It was established by local businessmen Jalid Raisuni and José Beneish, and engineer Francisco Rodrigálvarez López. it contained stables, corrals, and pens for the horses and bulls, as well as a chapel, medical and veterinary facilities, restrooms, dressing rooms, and the custodian's residence. The torera Conchita Cintrón, born in Chile as Concepción Cintrón Verrill and often referred to as La Diosa de Oro (Golden Goddess), fought in the arena at a time when women were still prohibited from participating in bullfighting in Spain. (Cabaleiro 2021).
After independence, it was used for other sporting and cultural events. During the last two decades of the 20th century, if was used as a detention center for sub-Saharan immigrants (Cabaleiro 2021).
In 2016 it was declared a National Historic Monument of Morocco, and in 2021 plans were announced for renovation by the architects Hicham Khattabi, Jaouad Khattabi, and Younes Diouri. The arena will include an open-air space for art exhibitions, a covered exhibition hall, a 7,000-seat theater, restaurants, and stores. A public square with a fountain and parking facilities are also part of the renovation planning, with a total cost of MAD 50 million ($5.6 million), according to Safaa Kasraoui of Morocco World News.
Restoration architect Younes Diouri told La Razón:
Teníamos en la cabeza recuperar la expresión arquitectónica original del edificio y renovarlo con el ladrillo natural rojo típico de la arquitectura española de la época, que estuvo oculto por un revestimiento que desnaturalizó la expresión de la construcción. Se trataba de devolverle sus letras de nobleza a un edificio ya cargado de historia.
We plan to recover the original architectural expression of the building, renovating it with the natural red brick that was typical of Spanish architecture at the time, but which has been hidden under a revetment that obscured the original architectural experssion. It was about restoring the noble character of a structure already steeped in history.
The project is one of many renovations of historic structures across the city of Tangier that has taken place in recent decades.
-Michael A. Toler, Archnet Content Manager, 7 November 2021
Sources:
Cabaleiro, Jesús . 2021. “La Histórica Plaza De Toros De Tánger Inicia Sus Obras De Rehabilitación.” . June 9, 2021. http://diariocalledeagua.com/es/actualidad/la-hist%C3%B3rica-plaza-de-toros-de-t%C3%A1nger-inicia-sus-obras-de-rehabilitaci%C3%B3n. Archived at https://perma.cc/52R9-NPAU.
Kasraoui, Safaa. 2021. “Morocco To Renovate, Rehabilitate Historical Plaza De Toros In Tangier.” Morocco World News. May 4, 2021. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/05/341408/morocco-to-renovate-rehabilitate-historical-plaza-de-toros-in-tangier. Archived at https://perma.cc/7PT8-W3EV.
Novarro, Antonio. 2021. “Marruecos Recupera La Plaza De Toros De Tánger.” La Razón. October 4, 2021. https://www.larazon.es/internacional/20211004/at7xf4mo2na5rg4cft5i3zjjwq.html. Archived at https://perma.cc/8GKY-LBHN.