It can be fun to nab a tea towel or cheesy fridge magnet to prove you’ve been somewhere, but souvenir shops do have a tendency to lean into the tacky, often cluttering what were once gorgeous, historic streets.
And, Barcelona, one of Europe’s most tourist-dense cities, has had enough. In 2018, the Catalan capital began the process of modifying the Special Plan for the organization of shops selling souvenirs in the city. The goal was to maintain a balance between the needs of residents and the influx of tourists in high-traffic areas.
Part of the reform meant expanding the city’s ‘protected zones’ – areas where souvenir stores are restricted – to include the area around Sagrada Familia and Sant Antoni in Eixample; Camp Nou in Les Corts; Park Güell in Gràcia and Horta-Guinardó; and Casa Vicens in Gràcia.
And now officials are taking further action by planning new regulations to ban the display and sale of offensive tourist products.
They claim that sexist and homophobic messages on souvenirs tarnish Barcelona’s image – shocker – and it means that shops, particularly in areas like Ciutat Vella, will no longer be able to sell or display such products.
So, what kind of stuff does the council want to ban? Well, according to ERC’s deputy spokesperson Jordi Coronas: ‘Penises with the Barcelona Brand, T-shirts with sexist or homophobic comments, or simply comments that, when displayed on these products, devalue Barcelona.’
If you ask us, it’s a pretty solid idea. There are plenty of places to buy authentic souvenirs from the city – just last week we reported that the ‘Most Sustainable Souvenir Shop in the World’ opened in Barcelona, which sells only biodegradable, locally-made products. That’s a pretty decent alternative to mass-produced tat, right?
Did you see that this is the official opening date for Time Out Market Barcelona?
Plus: Why is Barcelona banning holiday apartments?
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