Plaza Monumental

The Plaza de Toros Monumental opened in 1914 as one of three bullrings in central Barcelona; it's the only one of the three still standing. The architecture is the most interesting part of the building: a Moorish-Modernista hybrid by Ignasi Mas and Domènec Sugrañes (the latter took over the Sagrada Família project after Gaudí's death), with a brick-and-tile facade, two ceramic-tiled domes flanking the main entrance, and a circular tile mosaic over the doorway. From the outside it looks more like a Moroccan palace than anywhere you'd watch bullfighting.

Catalonia voted to ban bullfighting in 2010 and the last corrida was held here on 25 September 2011. The building has been an event venue ever since — concerts, conferences, occasional religious gatherings — but the original ring, the wooden bullpen, and the small museum at the back are all preserved. Tour access depends on what's booked the day you visit; in quiet weeks you can walk straight in for €12.

Whether you're interested in bullfighting's history or not, the architecture alone makes it worth a stop if you're already in the area. It's on Gran Via at the corner with Marina, ten minutes' walk from Sagrada Família or the Encants flea market. Combine it with a Sagrada visit and you've made a coherent half-day around the Eixample's east side.

The neighbouring streets in eastern Eixample have remained relatively untouristed and have some of Barcelona's best mid-range tapas (Cervecería Vaso de Oro, Bodega 1900, etc.) — a useful note if you've been queueing all morning.