The Ondara bullring is the only one currently built in the Marina Alta region. Built as a bullfighting venue in the 20th century, the site is part of Ondara's historical heritage and is one of the most emblematic places in the municipality. Over the years, it has become an open space for arts and culture, to the detriment of bullfighting.
Next you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with.
Where is
The Ondara Bullring is located on Doctor Fleming Avenue, surrounded by General Bosch, Pintor Segrelles and Zurbarán streets.
Origin of the Ondara Bullring
Experts in the history of Ondara point to the prosperity of the raisin business in the town as one of the main reasons for the population growth and urban transformation between the 19th and 20th centuries. The Ondara Bullring was one of the hallmarks of the good times of the aforementioned period.
There are several explanations for the square's purpose. On the one hand, the annual Ondara fair, dating back to 1690, had fallen into decline and was having difficulty attracting visitors.
According to experts, political leaders considered that a bullring would help revive it and attract more public. Ondara Fair It was, among other things, a livestock festival, which is why successful bullfighting shows were also held as entertainment during the days of celebration.
Other possible reasons for deciding to build a bullring were that there was no other between Valencia and Alicante, that the local economy was prosperous before the decline of the raisin trade, or that the announcement caused so much enthusiasm among the population that it was an essential objective for the town.
When is it built?
In March 1901, the public limited company “Sociedad Taurina Ondarense” was established to acquire land, build and operate the Ondara Bullring. The capital was 40.000 pesetas, which was later increased by 15.000 more. The first president of this company was Vicente Soler Durà. Vicent Giner Gadea was the secretary and Francisco Martínez Iñareta the treasurer.
Construction work began in April 1901 on the land they had acquired, known as the “bancalets de la Mare de Déu”. Just six months after the start of construction, on 20 October 1901, the Ondara bullring was completed.
Style and features
The architect Luis Santonja was the author of the project for the Ondara square and director of the subsequent works, which were carried out by the contractor Antonio Torres. With a diameter of 42 metres and capacity for 6.000 spectators, it was in the Mudejar style, with 14 boxes and the presidential box, a barrier, counter-barriers with 10 tiers, four corrals, a horse yard, stables, a concierge, administration and an infirmary.
Opening
A few days after the completion of the works, the opening was scheduled with two consecutive days of bullfighting shows on October 27 and 28. A company from Valencia had leased the square for its use for four years. However, the opening was jinxed and could not take place as planned.
The rain was the cause of the delay in the opening ceremony, which was postponed to October 28. The next bullfight scheduled for the opening was also postponed to September 3. However, this one also had bad luck with the weather and had to be postponed a day later.
Crisis and Civil War
The arrival of the phylloxera plague severely punished the Marina Alta, dedicated to the cultivation of vines and the trade of raisins. The residents of Ondara, as in the rest of the municipalities, were affected by economic problems in order to cope with day to day life. The shareholders of the «Sociedad Taurina Ondarense» suffered the consequences and it had to be dissolved in 1910. The debts led to the intervention of the Treasury, which first seized the bullring and then auctioned it off. In 1918, the residents of Ondara José Bosch Martí de Veses and Bautista Vives Terenti acquired it.
The Civil War also marked a turning point for the emblematic building in Ondara. It was looted after being requisitioned by the UGT in 1937. Many materials necessary for the Republican army were taken from there. In 1938, due to the deterioration and danger that the building entailed, the City Council decided to demolish the most ruined parts. After the war, the passage of time caused a good part of the remaining structure to collapse on its own.
The resurgence of the bullring in the 50s
In 1942, the Ondara Town Council opened proceedings to expropriate the bullring, but the owners appealed. It took ten years of legal proceedings until María Luísa Bosch Bosch, daughter of José Bosch Martí de Veses, and Bautista and José Vives Terenti were finally recognised as owners of the bullring. In 1955, the Town Council managed to buy the building, on the condition that the bullring be rebuilt within a maximum of ten years.
A year later, the City Council put the reconstruction of the building up for auction with the intention that a private initiative would take charge of both the work and the subsequent operation. This second project for the Ondara bullring was commissioned to the architects Juan Vidal Ramos and Julio Ruíz.
Bad luck continued to follow the building, as the first auction was deserted. The second auction was almost cancelled. However, shortly before the deadline for submitting bids, the mayor Juan Garrido Ginestar, his brother Vicent Garrido Ginestar and Juan Noguera Fornés presented a proposal.
Reconstruction works
Work began in February 1957 with the contractor Juan Gasent Barber. During the reconstruction, both new materials were used as well as some that were left in the half-collapsed square itself. The work was also completed in record time, just three months later, in June of the same year.
The new square was rebuilt to imitate the old one as closely as possible. Its facilities were also improved. A bar, a well for extracting water, tanks, a lighting system and ceramic finishes were added, among other things. On this occasion, the square had a capacity of 4.074 spectators.
From Levantine Jewel to Jewel of Culture
In the new phase of the Ondara Bullring, the tenants of the building christened it Joya Levantina. After the reconstruction, the bullring would no longer only host bullfighting shows, but would also be used for other types of cultural events such as film, singing, dancing or presentations, among others.
It was in 1985 when the concession holders of the square terminated the contract early and the reversion materialised in 1986 in favour of the municipality itself. Later, in 2001, the architectural complex was declared a Site of Local Interest.
Today, the roof has been restored and the residents of Ondara enjoy the Ondara Bullring as their ancestors did. However, according to the current Government team (2024), bullfights have not been held in the building since 2008. Thus, the square has been renamed Joia of Culture, reserving its usefulness only for cultural meetings and local celebrations.
Recently, for September 8, 2024, the Department of Culture and Sports of the Generalitat Valenciana, has organized a bullfight with picadors in the Ondara Bullring, despite the discontent of the City Council.
Bibliography
- Miralles, R. (2012). Gènesi i (quasi) mort of the Plaça de Bous d'Ondara. In Peña Bullfighting "Maestranza" Dénia (Ed.), Bulls in Denia and Marina Alta (pp. 114-119). García Contrí Graphics.
- Miralles, R. (2012). The Plaça de Bous d'Ondara. From reconstruction to the present. In Peña Taurina "Maestranza" Dénia (Ed.), Bulls in Denia and Marina Alta (pp. 120-126). García Contrí Graphics.
