Barcelona is that city which, no matter how well you think you know it, always has an ace up its sleeve in the form of a sgraffito façade or an impossibly ornate wrought-iron balcony. Sometimes, to discover the true essence of our streets, we need someone to lend us a fresh pair of eyes, and that is precisely what the Institut Municipal del Paisatge Urbà proposes with its new edition of the “Rutes del Paisatge.” This is a series of guided tours —completely free of charge—that, during the weekends in April, will allow us to delve into the history of buildings that often go unnoticed in the daily hustle and bustle.
The big news this year—and the highlight many have been waiting for—is the debut of a route connecting two seemingly opposite worlds: Sant Antoni and Poble-sec. This tour offers a unique opportunity to understand how Modernism adapted to a two-speed Barcelona. While the buildings in the Eixample’s grid display wide, stately facades, on the slopes of Montjuïc architects had to perform a real balancing act to fit Modernist beauty into much smaller and more modest plots. It is, in essence, a journey from the opulence of the bourgeoisie to the ingenuity of the working-class neighborhoods.
Tour schedule and how to reserve a spot
For those who want to sign up, the April calendar is packed with options that go beyond the most canonical Modernism. The month kicks off with tours of the fascinating Julio Muñoz Ramonet Foundation, an oasis of gardens and art in the heart of the city. The following weekend, the spotlight shifts to Les Corts with its own themed tour. Mid-month, the focus shifts to a much-needed perspective with tours dedicated to the women of Roman, medieval, and working-class Barcelona. Finally, the highly anticipated debut of the Sant Antoni and Poble-sec tour will bring the month to a spectacular close.
Here is a breakdown of the scheduled tours so you can check the dates and times at a glance:
- Julio Muñoz Ramonet Foundation: Saturday, April 4 (10:30 a.m. in Catalan and 12:00 p.m. in Spanish) and Sunday, April 5 (10:30 a.m. in Spanish and 12:00 p.m. in Catalan).
- Modernist Route of Les Corts: Saturday, April 11 (10:30 a.m. in Catalan and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish) and Sunday, April 12 (10:30 a.m. in Spanish and 12:30 p.m. in Catalan).
- Women’s Route through Roman and Medieval Barcelona: Saturday, April 18 (10:30 a.m. in Catalan and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish).
- Route of the Women of Working-Class Barcelona: Sunday, April 19 (10:30 a.m. in Catalan and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish).
- Modernism Route of Sant Antoni and Poble-sec: Saturday, April 25 (10:30 a.m. in Catalan and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish) and Sunday, April 26 (10:30 a.m. in Spanish and 12:30 p.m. in Catalan).
If you’re planning to go, the usual advice in these cases is not to rest on your laurels.Registration officially opens next Tuesday, April 7, at 12:00 noon via the official website of the Institut del Paisatge Urbà. Given that spots are very limited and interest in local heritage is sky-high, the groups will likely fill up in a matter of minutes. It’s time to set an alarm and get ready to rediscover the city without spending a single euro, but with a notebook full of new stories to tell.
