At the intersection of Paseo de Gràcia and Jardinets de Gràcia, a nondescript bench has acquired an unexpected fame in Turkey. For most locals it goes unnoticed, but for Turks visiting the city it is a place of pilgrimage. Unofficially christened “Arda Turan’s Bench”, this discreet corner is about to disappear due to remodeling works in the area.
Anyone who remembers Arda Turan’s discreet passage through Barça will remember that, the discreetness of his contribution. That is why it is striking that a bench has survived him for so long. It all started years ago, when Arda Turan, then an FC Barcelona player and national star in Turkey, was photographed having a coffee on that bench after a dinner at the Japanese restaurant Parco, just across the street. The image, simple but significant for the footballer’s fans, went viral in Turkey, transforming the bench into an unusual tourist destination.
Since then, social networks have witnessed a steady stream of Turkish tourists seeking to replicate the famous photograph. Many have even left their signature on the bench, turning it into a curious symbol of collective admiration.
Goodbye to the Jardinets de Gràcia as we know them
The popularity of this bench has not saved it from the works that the Barcelona City Council will start this month to remodel the Jardinets de Gràcia, which include the replacement of all street furniture, including this bench. According to the project, the current benches will be replaced by new concrete and wood models, putting an end to the existence of the famous “Arda Turan Bench”.
Turan himself, now coach of Eyüpspor in Turkey, has acknowledged the phenomenon. During the filming of his documentary Face to Face, released on Amazon Prime last August, the former player returned to the bench to have another photograph taken, sealing his legacy in this peculiar enclave.