Barcelona never ceases to surprise us and show us that anything is possible. After hosting Formula 1 in Paseo de Gracia or starting the Tour de France (from Spain), Barcelona is preparing to achieve a long-cherished dream: to host the Winter Olympic Games.
The City Council has announced a plan that sounds like something out of a science fiction movie or a wet (and very cold) dream of any fan of the Pyrenees: Collserola will become a full-fledged ski resort.
The aim is none other than to postulate the city as the main venue for a future Winter Olympic Games, moving the competition from the peaks of Baqueira directly to the foothills of our mountain range.
The project, which is already circulating in the offices of Plaça Sant Jaume, contemplates the creation of seven ski slopes distributed along the shady side of the mountain. To make this possible in a city where seeing a snowflake is almost a national event, the plan calls for the installation of state-of-the-art cannons capable of spitting out 50 tons of artificial snow a day. If it was already difficult for us to go up to the Aigües road on a Sunday morning, now we will have to do it with the ski pass in our mouths.
The City Council affirms that the project “will be a historic boost for sport” in the city and will help to consolidate the Barcelona brand as an international reference in sporting events.
A chairlift from Vall d’Hebron to the Collserola Tower
The logistics of this beach Baqueira is not far behind. To avoid the collapse of the Ronda de Dalt, the construction of a high-capacity chairlift is planned that will directly connect the Vall d’Hebron area with the area around the Collserola Tower. The slopes will take advantage of the current orography, transforming some of the most popular trails into slalom descents that will end, curiously enough, near the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat stops.
Sources close to the project assure that the technology used is inspired by the venues of the last Winter Games in Beijing, where the snow was entirely manufactured. However, in Barcelona the challenge is greater due to our Mediterranean humidity. To combat this, gigantic cooling towers will be installed hidden among the pine trees to lower the ambient temperature just enough so that the ice does not turn into lemon slush before the first skier arrives.
The council states that this installation will be carried out in a sustainable manner and respecting the natural environment of the park, using aerothermal technology that will allow the snow to be maintained without affecting the surrounding nature.
Après-ski with sea views
As no ski resort is complete without a relaxing moment, the plan also includes themed restaurant areas, which will be installed on the esplanade of the Parc del Tibidabo, and will be run by some of the city’s renowned chefs. The idea is that locals can enjoy a fondue or mulled wine with panoramic views of the Mediterranean, finally uniting the concept of beach and mountain in the same package. Rumor has it that even some historic farmhouses in the area could be converted into luxury mountain refuges for international delegations.
Although the news has fallen like a bucket of cold water (or rather, of freshly made snow), the reality is that today is December 28th. And like every April Fool’s Day, at Barcelona Secreta we like to dream big, even though we know that, for now, the most we will dodge in Collserola will be wild boars and mountain bikes. For now, the skis can stay in the storage room, because to see real snow we still have a short drive to the north.
Can you imagine yourself going down the Tibidabo doing a wedge while you see the Hotel Vela in the background? Maybe someday, but today, happy April Fool’s Day!