The declaration by ETA prisoners that they want to see an end to violence over the weekend still makes headlines today, and there’s plenty of coverage of what could have been Barcelona’s last ever bullfight yesterday.
The final bouts at Barcelona's Monumental arena attracted a sell-out crowd of nearly 20,000 people and drew some off the nation's best known matadors, including Jose Tomas, considered one of the best bullfighters of all time.
The crowd applauded and chanted "Freedom!" as the three matadors entered the arena to fight and kill two bulls each.
Serafin Marin, a 28-year-old Catalan who is a fierce defender of the tradition, put his hand over his heart after he killed the last bull, a 570-kilogram beast named Dudalegre.
The crowd later carried all three matadors who took part in the bullfight on their shoulders out of the arena to the applause of onlookers.
Earlier crowds had filled bars outside La Monumental before the 6:00pm start, many dressed as if going to a formal dinner party.
Fans - a number of whom had come from abroad - lamented the ban, saying it was stifling tradition and stamping on society's rights.
"This is like a dictatorship. We don't do anything wrong to anyone and we are banned from having a 300 year-old show. And in Barcelona, where there used to be three bullfighting arenas," Josep Navarro, 60, said.
But opponents of the bullfight celebrated their victory in getting the traditional spectacle banned in Catalonia and said they would continue to campaign for other regions to follow.
Many protested outside the arena, or Plaza de Toros, carrying posters reading "RIP" in blood-red lettering and blowing whistles under the watchful eyes of squads of police.
"It is a small victory, but the thought of having it in the rest of Spain and still having 'Correbous' here does not make me happy. I am here because six animals are going to be tortured here today," said an anti-bullfighting activist who gave his name as Luis.
Catalonia is the first region in mainland Spain to ban the tradition and animal rights campaigners are vowing to push for similar bans throughout Spain.
Spain's Canary Islands banned bullfighting in 1991 but the practice retains loyal followings in Anadalusia, Madrid, the Basque country and some other parts of the country as well as south-west France.
Despite the turnout on the last day, numbers have been declining over recent years.
The spectacle is seen by fans as an art, and has inspired artists such as painters Goya and Picasso and poet Federico Garcia Lorca.
But critics say the event, in which three matadors in turn face six half-ton bulls in a ritual which ends with the animal being killed by a sword thrust, amounts to torture and has no place in a modern society.
Tomas, considered one of the great matadors of all ages, was estimated to be paid 350,000 euros (480,000) for Sunday's event. Known for his courage, he has only recently returned to the ring after a goring in Mexico in April last year nearly killed him.
Bullfighting fans in Catalonia hope to reverse the decision and plan to find 500,000 backers to present their own petition to the national parliament and classify the combat as a cultural asset.
The final bullfight has been held at Barcelona's last active bullring, as a ban on the centuries-old tradition takes effect in Spain's north-eastern Catalonia region.
Bullfighting has been banned after a petition signed by 180,000 people called on the regional parliament to stop it.The final bouts at Barcelona's Monumental arena attracted a sell-out crowd of nearly 20,000 people and drew some off the nation's best known matadors, including Jose Tomas, considered one of the best bullfighters of all time.
The crowd applauded and chanted "Freedom!" as the three matadors entered the arena to fight and kill two bulls each.
Serafin Marin, a 28-year-old Catalan who is a fierce defender of the tradition, put his hand over his heart after he killed the last bull, a 570-kilogram beast named Dudalegre.
The crowd later carried all three matadors who took part in the bullfight on their shoulders out of the arena to the applause of onlookers.
Earlier crowds had filled bars outside La Monumental before the 6:00pm start, many dressed as if going to a formal dinner party.
Fans - a number of whom had come from abroad - lamented the ban, saying it was stifling tradition and stamping on society's rights.
"This is like a dictatorship. We don't do anything wrong to anyone and we are banned from having a 300 year-old show. And in Barcelona, where there used to be three bullfighting arenas," Josep Navarro, 60, said.
But opponents of the bullfight celebrated their victory in getting the traditional spectacle banned in Catalonia and said they would continue to campaign for other regions to follow.
Many protested outside the arena, or Plaza de Toros, carrying posters reading "RIP" in blood-red lettering and blowing whistles under the watchful eyes of squads of police.
"It is a small victory, but the thought of having it in the rest of Spain and still having 'Correbous' here does not make me happy. I am here because six animals are going to be tortured here today," said an anti-bullfighting activist who gave his name as Luis.
Catalonia is the first region in mainland Spain to ban the tradition and animal rights campaigners are vowing to push for similar bans throughout Spain.
Spain's Canary Islands banned bullfighting in 1991 but the practice retains loyal followings in Anadalusia, Madrid, the Basque country and some other parts of the country as well as south-west France.
Despite the turnout on the last day, numbers have been declining over recent years.
The spectacle is seen by fans as an art, and has inspired artists such as painters Goya and Picasso and poet Federico Garcia Lorca.
But critics say the event, in which three matadors in turn face six half-ton bulls in a ritual which ends with the animal being killed by a sword thrust, amounts to torture and has no place in a modern society.
Tomas, considered one of the great matadors of all ages, was estimated to be paid 350,000 euros (480,000) for Sunday's event. Known for his courage, he has only recently returned to the ring after a goring in Mexico in April last year nearly killed him.
Bullfighting fans in Catalonia hope to reverse the decision and plan to find 500,000 backers to present their own petition to the national parliament and classify the combat as a cultural asset.