BARCELONA – If you want to have a spectacular view of the city in Barcelona, go to the viewpoint Turó de la Rovira. It has become one of the most visited points. However, its great popularity led the municipality to build a high fence. That fence must stop the mass influx of people and control the space around the famous mirador.
According to the newspaper El Periódico, the installation of the fence with a height between 2 – 2.20 metres and a circumference of 480 metres started in September 2022 and is expected to be completed in May.
The space from which the view of Barcelona is breathtaking must be protected by the fence. There are remains of anti-aircraft guns from the Civil War. In this way, the city council wants to control the capacity and eventually replace partygoers (young people also like to host their ‘bottellónes’ there) with cultural tourists who want to get acquainted with the history of the so-called Carmel Bunkers.
Neighbourhood opposition
However, the proposal does not convince neighbourhood associations. They believe that it will not stop the “invasion” of tourists. In addition, they fear that the fence will cause visitors to spread through their neighbourhood, causing even more disturbance. “Our fear is that tourists will also occupy the area that we now have for ourselves,” said the president of the Carmel neighbourhood association, Montse Montero, to the above-mentioned newspaper.
There is also a fear that the space that is public and belongs to the residents will slowly be privatised. That would be a repeat of situations such as those that occurred with Parc Güell. Since 2013, tourists there have to pay €6 to visit.
Protests
The rejection of the neighbourhood association is such that they demand the work be stopped. Every Friday, the association organises protests with marches to the mirador. Once there, manifests are read in English, Spanish and French to make visitors aware of the uncomfortable situation.
