Starting this Tuesday, the Turó de la Rovira viewpoint will close from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Barcelonans come to the place to “say goodbye” to this place invaded by foreigners
This Monday, May 1, has been the Last day without night closure in the Carmel bunkers in Barcelona. As of this Tuesday, this Turó de la Rovira space will only be accessible from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (in winter it will only be until 5:30 p.m.). Like many other days, the viewpoint has been filled with young people with the intention of spending the afternoon enjoying the ‘skyline’ of the city. Most of them tourists; although they have also attended some Barcelonans who have watched with resignation like somehow they have lost another space in the city.
many of the visitors They were unaware that this was the “last sunset” of Turó de la Rovira. Upon learning of the new schedule, the locals show their sadness and anger that they had to get to this point. “This is the fault of the tourists, who believe that Barcelona is the city of drugs and parties. They come to make large bottles and, in the end, those of us who have been here all our lives end up paying for it,” he laments. Joana Grau (15), neighbor of Gràcia. Both her and hers friend Joan Cases (17) agree that this viewpoint has changed for the worse. “Before there were no people and now it’s full of foreigners. In summer you can’t even sit down,” they say. It’s 7:00 p.m. and they say they won’t be long in leaving, because “it gets quite busy at night and it’s not pleasant, especially if you’re a woman. The foreigners approach you and have no problem telling you anything, even if you are younger than them,” adds Joana.
They come to make large bottles and, in the end, those of us who have lived here all our lives end up paying for it”
While the young woman recounts these experiences, a large group of foreigners arrives at the venue, all equipped with bags and alcohol. Two agents of the Urban Guard who permanently monitor the place approach them to warn them that “you can’t drink in the street”. Tourists do not believe this statement and go to look for a place to sit where they are less visible to the police.
“We have come to say goodbye”
Some Barcelonans who have found out about the closure have specifically gone to the bunkers to take advantage of the opportunity. It is the case of Miriam (27) and David (26), a couple from Carmel who had not been up to this site for a long time, precisely because of the invasion of tourists. They had lost their desire, but They did not want to miss the last sunset: “We have come to say goodbye. It is very sad to have something so beautiful next to the house and not be able to go up because of this” they comment resigned. They say that, before this place became fashionable, they used to come with their friends to spend the afternoon. “You chatted while you saw the views, you took four photos and went down. Not like now, when tourists come with drinks… They have exploited it too much,” they say.
We have come to say goodbye. It is very sad to have something so beautiful next to home and not be able to go up because of this”
As this couple of friends relates, there was a time when it wasn’t all partying and hassle in Turó de la Rovira. For some it has been the scene of special appointments. “There were people who came to spend a romantic evening, with their tablecloth and bottle of wine. It was calm, not even God knew this. Then they started with the wild parties, the DJs and the noise. It’s a shame,” they explain. Joseph and Fermin Roig (64), brothers and residents of Guinardó; who also remember that, as children, they went up to play drums and that it was a “lonely” place. The complete opposite of what it is now.
For this reason, despite not officially closing the space, the Urban Police has evicted it on more than one occasion last April, when it detected that there was an “excess” influx that would “endanger” the rest of the neighbors – who have been complaining about the visitors for some time – and the integrity of the remains of the anti-aircraft batteries of the Civil War that are there. They have done so within the framework of a special device to prevent parties from being held in this place.
“Change the Audience”
From now on, the options to see the sunset in the bunkers will be reduced to a few days between the end of November and the month of December, in which sunset occurs between 5:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; time in which the authorities will proceed to evict the viewpoint in winter, and close the six gates of the fence that surrounds it. “It’s too early”, say the people of Barcelona present this Monday in the bunkers, interviewed by this newspaper.
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For the dawn yes there is no truce, since the opening hours for the whole year have been set at 9:00 a.m. Too late to see it. Too bad, since the sun rises over the sea in the Catalan capital.
The councilor of the Horta-Guinardó district – in the town hall, Rosa Alarconexplained when announcing the closure that the intention is to “change the type of public that comes to this environment”, and replace young people, music and parties with other visitors with more “cultural” purposes, focused on visiting the anti-aircraft batteries.