Montoro Casinos (Círculo Primitivo and Casino de la Unión)
The 19th century brought the generalization of gambling and the creation of places, colloquially called casinos, for the gathering of people who generally shared the same social status.
The Círculo Primitivo (Primitive Circle), the first of them built in Montoro, was built on some of the spaces of the confiscated San Juan de la Cruz convent, specifically using the arcades of the cloister. It is decorated with polychrome plasterwork in neo-Arabic style and ironed grilles and glass with Art Nouveau decorative motifs.
The Casino de la Unión (Union Casino) – commonly known as the Casino de los Pobres (Casino for the Poor) – is, on the other hand, a more modest building linked to popular architecture and intended for the gathering of farmers. The most remarkable thing is that both casinos are located in the same square, showing the leisure places for society in its different social and economic status.
