Spain (Catalunya)

Tony Grant introduces a special essay from Robert Elms, on the issues of heritage, identity and animal rights surrounding bullfighting in Spain.

Barcelona, a great European city, is in the autonomous Catalan region.

It was partly a concern for animal rights which led the region's parliament to ban this controversial activity but there were also other, more human reasons.

The Catalans' desire to distance themselves from this most Spanish of activities played its part too.

Animal rights groups say they want now to get the ban extended right across the country.

But there are still many who don't want to see the end of bullfighting.

La corrida, they say, is a vital part of Spain's cultural heritage, and it should be protected.

Robert Elms considers the questions of identity, history, regional pride and artistic flair which were so much to the fore during Barcelona's last bullfight.