La Petatera is a bullring which is installed each January in Villa de Álvarez (state of Colima, Mexico) and dismantled at the end of February. Its name comes from the petates - strips of material - which cover and protect a structure of
potates - poles - made of guadua, which is a thick and high cane, and different types of wood from the area. These are used because of their portable and resistant qualities and support themselves using neither joins nor fittings, but exclusively
rope moorings made of ixtle. Although its origin emerged when the fiestas of San Felipe de Jesus (the Patron Saint of Colima)
were established in 1658, the oldest known documentation is from 1854. Nowadays it has a capacity of 5,000 spectators and encircles the arena, the diameter of which is some seventy metres. The architectural ensemble is completed with bullpens and stables, constructed using the same methods and materials as the bullring.
potates - poles - made of guadua, which is a thick and high cane, and different types of wood from the area. These are used because of their portable and resistant qualities and support themselves using neither joins nor fittings, but exclusively
rope moorings made of ixtle. Although its origin emerged when the fiestas of San Felipe de Jesus (the Patron Saint of Colima)
were established in 1658, the oldest known documentation is from 1854. Nowadays it has a capacity of 5,000 spectators and encircles the arena, the diameter of which is some seventy metres. The architectural ensemble is completed with bullpens and stables, constructed using the same methods and materials as the bullring.
