Santamaría Bullring, Bullfighting arena in La Candelaria, Bogotá, Colombia.
The Santamaría is a circular arena with Moorish architectural elements and ornamental brick details that accommodates around 14,500 spectators. The building sits between Torres del Parque and Sixth Transversal, near the Planetarium and Independence Park in the San Diego neighborhood.
The building was constructed in 1931 by engineers Adonaí Martínez and Eduardo Lazcano as the city's first concrete bullring. Its facade underwent redesign in the 1940s by Spanish architect Santiago de la Mora, who introduced Mudéjar-style elements.
The name references Santamaría, a symbolic figure in Spanish bullfighting traditions. Today, visitors encounter a space where the circular arena hosts theater productions and artistic events that draw different communities together.
The location offers good accessibility and sits within a popular cultural district with many nearby attractions. Visitors should note that the events calendar varies based on current programming and upcoming productions.
Since December 2022, the space operates as Plaza Cultural La Santamaría, hosting artistic performances instead of bullfights. This transformation shows how traditional buildings can adapt to new purposes while continuing to serve the community.
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