The Spanish town of Albacete has long been associated with bullfighting; the earliest known reference to it is found in council documents dating from 1564. However, it took until the 18th century before the first purpose-built bullring was constructed in the town. As the population, and interest in the fighting, increased this ring proved to be inadequate and so was replaced in 1829 with a larger arena which could hold more spectators. In it's turn, it was also deemed not fit for purpose, and so a third ring (the subject of this model) was commissioned. Work began on 20 September 1916 and it's doors were ready to open to the punters on 9 September 1917. That's quick alright. Nowadays the ring is home to all sorts of civic activities such as music concerts, rallies and the like but it is given over every September to a grand bullfighting festival; eight consecutive days of spectacle featuring the very best performers.
The model is a free download from the Albacete website, that happy hunting ground of local architecture. The scale quoted is 1:500. Somebody here (wyvern perhaps?) had information that at least some of the models on the site were designed for an A3 format. As I printed mine on A4 paper the scale could be 1:1000 I suppose. Dunno. It's certainly very small, almost Micromodel-like, with a footprint measuring 18 x 13.5 cm. Some of the build was a bit of a struggle, I have to admit, but perseverance brings it's own reward, or so I'm told.
You can obtain your festival tickets here:
Albacete bullring - Bullfight tickets Albacete
Ole!