Historic architecture, famous local artists, a great food and wine scene, beautiful views and resplendent sands. Barcelona has been touted as the perfect tourist city for decades. A city break with a beach – what could be more enticing?
Unfortunately, tourism has outgrown the city, making life more expensive for the people who live and work there. Some 26 million people visited Barcelona last year according to the tourist board. When protests spring up in response, the headlines back in the UK can be confusing. What are they protesting? Who are they angry at? If you ask anyone on the ground, they will tell you the same thing. Nobody hates the tourists. They’re just tired of their unique city being treated like a theme park.
