The Catalan government is to introduce a law to protect historic businesses as soaring rents and the pandemic have forced many of the region’s landmark shops and bars to close.
Shopfronts and other details that are more than 100 years old are already protected but the pioneering legislation goes further, with shop owners in listed premises having to ask permission if they want to change its commercial activity. In short, if a patisserie closes it will ideally reopen as a patisserie.
