Barcelona’s biggest live music festival, Primavera Sound, has called off its edition for this year and will now instead celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022.
“It is with great sadness that we must announce that the 20th anniversary of Primavera Sound Barcelona is postponed until 2022 due to force majeure,” a statement on the festival’s website and social media channels read.
Tickets valid for this year will remain valid for 2022's edition, while refunds will also be available from Wednesday, June 2. On this same date, the lineup for 2022 will be unveiled.
The festival was planned to take place in June 2021 with headline acts announced such as Tyler, The Creator, Tame Impala, and Charli XCX among others.
Organizers say they reached the decision to cancel the festival because of “uncertainty surrounding the legal framework for large events,” coupled with the current restrictions in place to halt the spread of Covid-19 in Catalonia preventing them from working normally and preparing for the event.
The announcement comes shortly Primavera Sound unveiled “Colosseum Nights,” a series of concerts to take place in Barcelona in April.
"Although it is painful, we know that this is the right decision, especially for those of you who have to plan your trip in advance."
Festival organizers carried out a clinical trial at the Apolo venue in Barcelona last December and "have been in constant contact with the health authorities to explore all possible solutions" for making the festival viable.
"But the twentieth anniversary of Primavera Sound deserves a party like the ones we are used to, and the global situation does not seem favourable to allowing something like this to happen this summer. At least not in a way in which we can live the full Primavera Sound experience."
New restrictions from January 7 including a ban on travel outside one's town of residence.
Faced with the ever-present threat of the pandemic, the Catalan government has announced a series of measures in an effort to halt the spread of the virus, including a tightening of restrictions across Catalonia between January 7 and 17.
Authorities have called on people to limit social interactions and to avoid travel beyond their towns or cities of residence, as well as to work from home when possible.
Here is the Catalan News guide to the measures in place.
Measures in force
Bars and restaurants. From December 21 bars and restaurants can only open indoor and outdoor seating areas to the public from 7:30am to 9:30am and from 1pm to 3:30pm.
Establishments can only accommodate 30% of their regular capacity indoors while there are no limits placed on outdoor seating. Inside, only up to four people can sit at each table, except for 6 people on holidays. Everyone must wear a face mask when not eating or drinking.
Take away can be provided from 7pm to 10pm for dinner, with delivery services until 11pm, but dining areas must remain shut. Hotel restaurants, however, are allowed to serve their guests dinner.
In-person dining hours do not apply to bars and restaurants located at highway rest stops, but those inside shopping malls cannot open all.
Mobility. From January 7 people are not allowed to leave their municipality of residence without a justified reason, including work, study, returning home, going to health centers, care of dependent relatives, demonstrating and force majeure. Travel for work is only allowed when remote working is not possible.
Sporting activities can be carried out in surrounding towns.
Curfew. People must remain home between 10pm and 6am except for justifiable reasons.
Gatherings. From January 7 groups of up to six people from two bubbles may meet up.
Closed borders. Catalonia's land borders will remain shut, with exceptions for health emergencies, commuting to and from work or school, and to take care of dependent relatives.
Gyms and sports centers. From January 7 indoor gyms and sports facilities must close. Swimming pools can open to 30% capacity. Outdoor sporting activity is allowed with a maximum of six people.
Stores. From January 7 shopping malls and shops greater than 400 m2 must shut. Smaller shops can open Monday to Friday to 30% capacity. At weekends only essential stores can open. The restriction does not affect vets, hairdressers, beauty salons, gardening services and car dealers, which will be able to open regardless of their size.
Religious ceremonies. Including weddings or funerals, they have a 30% capacity limit with a maximum of 1,000 people, as long as there is sufficient ventilation and access is controlled, otherwise, the capacity remains at 500.
Remote work. Strongly advised by Catalan authorities, which companies should implement unless they are unable to do so.
Public transportation. Including services such as buses, trains, and the subway, it will continue running as usual.
Theatres, cinemas, concert halls. Open at 50% capacity with a maximum cap of 1,000 people, as long as there is sufficient ventilation and access is controlled, otherwise, the capacity remains at 500.
Museums, galleries, and archives. Can open at 50% capacity.
Post-obligatory education. Will operate remotely when possible, excluding exams and in-person activities.
Schools. Educational centers, including primary and secondary schools, remain open. The first day of classes after the winter break has been delayed to January 11.
Leisure and after-school activities for children. From January 7 after-school activities may only take place in schools and involving pupils in their usual school groups only.
Public playgrounds. Open until 8pm, to 50% capacity only.
24/7 stores. Must close by 9pm.
Gas stations. Food and beverages can no longer be consumed on-premises, including outdoor terraces.
Community centers. In-person activities are canceled, except for some essential social and educational services.
Parks and gardens. They must be closed by 8pm.
October has seen the international arrivals plummet in comparison to the same month last year (86.2%), whilst the income from the industry fell by 92.8% to 135 million euros.
This is according to the Statistics of Touristic Movements (Frontur) and the Tourist Expenditure Survey (Egatur), published by Spain’s Institute of Statistics (INE, in Spanish) on Wednesday. They also reported that French tourists make up the bulk of these visitors, representing 59.6%.
Usually, the top spenders in the area are France, Germany and the United Kingdom, all countries which are facing extreme travel restrictions, including a 14 day quarantine when returning from Spain in the latter.
An extra problem now is that Spain requires a negative PCR test from many countries 72 hours prior arrival in order to enter the country.
Although still a significant decline, July and August experienced a slightly smaller 80% drop in global travellers.
The tourism industry made up 12.9% of Catalonia’s GDP only last year, but now it represents only 3.1% according to the Official Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.
Despite this, Catalonia remains the main tourist destination in Spain, drawing in 22.6% of all visitors.
Longer stays
Another changing factor is the average duration of stays, which have lengthened by 9.9%, an average of 5.6 days per person.
Overnight stays however have dropped by 84.9%, reaching only 1.17 million during October.
The Catalan government plans to delay the nightly curfew to 1.30am on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
The cabinet also expects to allow one extra hour, until 11pm, on January 5, the eve of the Three Kings Day.
On Wednesday, the interim president, Pere Aragonès, said in parliament that a "flexibilization" of measures in the key nights of the festive season is planned.
This also includes gatherings of up to 10 people - this could be the same as the rest of the Christmas holidays, because if Catalonia moves forward in the plan of reopening social life phases every two weeks as expected, the cap on gatherings will increase from 6 to 10 from December 21.
Mobility
In terms of mobility, December 24, December 31 and January 5 will follow the rules applying to the de-escalation phase in force at that time.
If there are no delays in moving phases due to a worsening of the pandemic, from December 21 Catalonia's borders will be open without restrictions, except for the nightly curfew, as phase 3 provides.
If still in phase 2, its borders would still be closed - and from Friday 6am to Monday 6am, people would only be able to move within their county.
Phase 1, currently in force, provides that Catalonia's borders are still closed and during the weekend, people cannot leave their municipality.
For the second time in 2020, T2 at Barcelona–El Prat airport is closing its doors to passengers due to a lack of flights because of the coronavirus pandemic.
From Tuesday, all flights will operate from T1, as the airport streamlines its operations.
Airlines that normally use T2 have been migrating gradually to T1 since November 19, with Ryanair the only company still operating flights out of T2 on Monday.
A total of 49 companies are affected by the decision to close the terminal, including Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Aer Lingus, Transavia and Volotea. Norwegian also usually operates from T2 but it has suspended all its flights to and from the Catalan capital until February.
T2 closed during the first wave of the pandemic in March, before opening again in July. Since November 23, arrivals from high risk countries have had to produce evidence of a negative PCR test.
Barcelona airport passenger numbers for October this year fell 85% compared to 2019.
Transport links
The airport will also stop providing a bus service between the two terminals.
Passengers arriving by train at T2 using the Rodalies will be able to travel to T1 by metro or bus – Line 46 will have a new stop next to the T2 train station.
Mixed picture with busy bars in some Barcelona neighborhoods but lack of custom elsewhere.
Across Catalonia on Monday, many premises opened their doors for business again as restrictions eased.
In Barcelona, plazas filled with the sound of conversation and the clink of cutlery as people came out in the weak autumn sunshine to take advantage of the reopened bars, cafes and restaurants.
All in all, 70% of bars and restaurants reopened in the Catalan capital on Monday.
One third of those who remained shut do most of their trade later in the evening, and were put off from opening by the mandatory closing time of 9.30pm, explained industry representative Roger Pallarols.
While in many city neighborhoods staff and customers alike were glad to be back, some establishments in parts of the Old Town who rely more heavily on tourists declined to open.
Meanwhile in the Pyrenees, the freezing temperatures meant sitting outside wasn't an option, prompting the sector to demand a rethink of the 30% cap on customer numbers.
Anselm Angrill, a restaurant owner in the tiny village of Ogern, also explained that it will be very difficult for his business to survive as long as the travel restrictions at weekends remain in place.
Shoppers turned away
Shopping malls remain closed, but that message hadn't got through to the many bargain hunters who turned up at the Fira Shopping Mall in the southern city of Reus on Monday morning.
As security let the eager shoppers down gently, the mall's manager Mayte Forján expressed her unhappiness at the ongoing disparity between high street shops and shopping centers.
"We have worked really hard on all the protocols and possible measures; we are a safe space like any other," Forján said, keen to point out that it wasn't just big chains who had premises in malls, but smaller businesses too.
Challenges remain for movie theaters and gyms
Gyms across Catalonia opened their doors once again, but with capacity limited to 30% indoors, for many, like Ramon Urgell of DIR clubs, "the business is not profitable."
Most cinemas are not expected to take advantage of being allowed to reopen until later in the week, according to Camilo Tarrazón, head of the Association of Catalan Cinemas.
Mondays are generally a quiet day for movie theaters but Tarrazón says several challenges will remain even at weekends. As well as the limits on capacity, there has been a lack of new releases, while he's disappointed that weekend travel restrictions haven't been eased, given that many cinemas he represents "serve more than one municipality."
Change in atmosphere
And will the reopening of bars and restaurants have a positive knock-on effect for high street retailers? Magda Ribot, who owns a clothing store in Tarragona, says she noticed a big change in the atmosphere on the streets, but no surge in sales yet. "Maybe they are all in the bar," she quipped.
Passengers tell of chaotic scenes at their airports of origin as travel restrictions come into force.
On the first day of Spain requiring negative PCR tests for all passengers entering the country via air or sea, Barcelona airport was quiet with little activity, and many areas of the facility completely shut off from access or use.
The latest figures on activity in Barcelona airport show that 85% fewer passengers came in and out of Catalonia in October compared with the year before, and the lack of life in the transport hub could be clearly felt.
In fact, fewer people managed to walk through the doors of the airport than what would have expected to, as some passengers were left in their countries of origin after not being allowed on to the aeroplane when they didn’t have negative PCR tests to present upon boarding.
A group of people working for an international cruise line that travelled from Milan to Barcelona on the first day the new restrictions were introduced. They explained scenes of chaos as “half the flight was left in Italy,” with security staff not letting them board as they didn’t know about the new regulation.
The group complained about the situation the passengers were left in, stranded in Milan with no help from Spanish authorities and no information shared. They acknowledged they were lucky enough to get their PCR tests from their company, but said that without that option, it would have been more complicated.
Confusion among passengers
Another traveller, a Catalan woman coming from Munich to be with her family following the death of her mother-in-law, also spoke about the poor procedure in place.
She took a PCR test at the airport in Munich the day before travelling, but she mentioned that others were only able to get their test on the day of travelling. She complained about the organisation of the process, which led to another would-be passenger on her flight to discover they were Covid positive in Germany. Naturally, they were then forbidden from making the journey to Catalonia.
Another person, a student-athlete from Castellón, made the journey from Lisbon to Barcelona today. He said it was important to get the timing of the test right, given the strict deadline of having to test negative within 72 hours of the flight. He had no difficulty acquiring the test, as he is tested weekly at his university in the United States.
Pedro Sánchez's government proposes meetings of up to six people during December festive season
Spanish government proposed meetings of up to six people for Christmas on Tuesday.
The cabinet, led by Pedro Sánchez, also wants to delay the curfew to 1am on December 24 and 31, Christmas' Eve and New Year's Eve, respectively.
If the measure comes into force, in Catalonia it would mean that residents would not be able to leave their homes from 1am to 6am.
Currently, the stay at home order is from 10pm to 6am stay-at-home order, which has been in place since the measure was approved in late October.
Potential contradiction with Catalan reopening plan
As for the cap in social gatherings, the maximum of six people could clash with the Catalan four-phase scheme to progressively reopen social life.
Phase 3 sees an increase of the cap from six to ten, which could be in effect from December 21.
The plans are part of a Spanish government draft for measures to implement for Christmas, which is expected to be discussed in a meeting between the Socialist-led executive and regional health ministries, like Catalonia's.
Faced with a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, the government announced on October 14 a new raft of measures across Catalonia, followed by additional restrictions on October 19 and a 10 pm to 6 am curfew in place since October 25.
These replaced the patchwork of local restrictions that were in operation over the previous few months.
General measures already in place remained in force, such as the obligatory wearing of face masks, a maximum of six people at social gatherings, and restrictions on smoking in public.
The government also called for people to make an effort to limit their movements and social contacts, avoid travel outside the municipality where they live, and work from home where possible. Universities were asked to move fully to online classes, as had already been agreed.
On October 14, the following measures were announced.
Bars, cafes, and restaurants: Open for takeout or delivery only. No eating or drinking on premises, including outside terraces.
Hotels: Only guests allowed to enter. Capacity of communal areas limited to 50%.
Shops, markets, and shopping centers: Capacity limited to 30%.
Sport: Catalan competitions of all kinds suspended, whether federated, schools, or private.
Gyms: Capacity limited to 50%.
Congresses, conventions, and trade fairs: Suspended.
Casinos and bingo halls: Must close.
Theaters, cinemas, concert halls: Capacity limited to 50%, with allocated seating. Premises must close by 11 pm.
Parks and gardens: Must close by 8 pm.
Amusement parks and fairgrounds: Must close.
Religious events: Capacity limited to 50% (on hold pending judicial approval as of October 16, 1 am CET)
Hairdressers: Can remain open, but any other businesses that involve physical contact must close.
Museums, libraries, and monuments: Can remain open.
Social gatherings: Up to six people can socialize together, but may not eat or drink outside the home. The limit on the number of people gathering doesn't apply to work, public transport, or children's leisure activities.
Workplaces: In general, hygiene measures must be stepped up and start times staggered to avoid crowding.
The new measures will last a minimum of 15 days and from October 16. They were approved by Catalonia's High Court on Friday.
On October 19, a number of new measures were announced.
24/7 stores: All-night corner stores were first told to close from 10 pm to 7 am, but as of October 25 they must close by 9 pm.
Gas stations: Food and beverages can no longer be consumed on premises, including outdoor terraces.
Community centers: In-person activities are canceled, except for some essential social and educational services.
On October 25, Spain triggered a state of alarm allowing for a curfew.
Curfew: People must remain home between 10 pm and 6 am except for justifiable reasons.
Cinemas, and concert venues: Can remain open until 10 pm, with attendees authorized to return home by 11 pm. Bars and restaurants: No eating on premises, but food delivery will be allowed until 10 pm, and take away services until 9 pm.
The extent of the blow Covid-19 has dealt to the economy, and to the tourism sector in particular, is becoming even more apparent.
Although this will not come as a surprise to residents who have noticed visitor hotspots were far emptier than usual this summer, only 436,742 tourists traveled to Catalonia in July, down 81.6% compared to July 2019 according to figures released by the Spanish Statistics Institute on Tuesday.
Of these 436,742 visitors, somewhat under half of them (41.8%) were from France while 11.8% were from other European countries.
The total expenditure of international tourists in Catalonia also decreased spectacularly to 424 million euros this past July, down 85.8% compared to the same month last year.
During the second quarter of 2020, 12.1% of workers in Catalonia were employed in the tourism sector, which has historically been an important pillar of the economy both locally and in the rest of Spain.
Year to date tourism down
The overall drop in the number of foreign visitors to Catalonia this year compared to the same period in 2019 stands at 75.6%, with a total of 2,753,933 tourists, with their expenditure decreasing by 77.7% to 2.758 billion euros.
Drop in number of visitors to Spain
Spain as a whole has also experienced a spectacular drop – 75% – in the number of visitors this July as only 2.5 million people chose to travel to the Iberian country.
As was the case of Catalonia, most of these visitors to Spain were from France, although the number of French visitors also decreased by 58.4% compared to July 2019.
Catalonia was the second most visited part of Spain after the Balearic Islands, attracting 17.7% and 23.9% of all tourists in July 2020 respectively.
Pro-independence group the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) is organizing twenty events around the world to celebrate Catalonia's National Day on September 11.
Catalan Week consists of a mix of in-person and online events from August 29 to September 13, with the aim of promoting the independence cause abroad and denouncing "Spain's political repression against the people of Catalonia."
Events will be held in places such as Mexico, Belgium, England, Luxembourg, USA, Portugal and Germany, organised primarily by local branches of ANC.
The fifth Catalan Week got underway in Zurich on Saturday, followed by a virtual debate in Madrid on Sunday focused on the imprisonment of activist Daniel Gallardo for protesting against the Supreme Court's ruling on the 2017 independence referendum.
ANC President Elisenda Paluzie will take part in a conference in Bilbao in the Basque Country on September 3 on the effects and challenges of "Spanish repression" on the independence movement.
Various events will take place on Saturday 5 in Brussels, such as the broadcast of an interview with the exiled rapper Josep Valtonyc. On the same day there will be another debate in Madrid with the president of the Catalan Business Circle, Albert Pont, and ANC vice president, David Fernàndez.
On Sunday 6 there will be a digital round table in Mexico, focused on solidarity between the independence movements in Catalonia and the Latin American country.
On the same day, the Brussels branch of ANC will launch an exhibition by Santiago Sierra entitled 'Political Prisoners in Contemporary Spain', which will be on display until the end of the month in the Belgian capital.
The following day, ANC Luxembourg will organize a digital conversation with the former Catalan culture minister, Lluís Puig, now in exile in Belgium.
On September 9, ANC England will hold a live debate with representatives of the Catalan pro-independence political parties.
On the eve of the National Day itself, there will be a conference in Lisbon with the Portuguese historian and journalist Fernando Rosas, and a rally in the Place de la République in Paris.
On September 11, coinciding with the celebration of the Diada in Catalonia, various online and in-person are to be held, including one in Brussels featuring figures from the independence movement.
The following day there will be a virtual meeting in Dallas, with Catalan Week concluding on September 13 with a virtual presentation of the work of ANC branches abroad, and a debate on the current situation and future challenges for the Catalan independence movement.
Health concerns
In recent years, September 11 has seen hundreds of thousands take to the streets of Catalonia in support of independence, but 2020's 'Diada' is set to look very different, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Secretary of Public Health in Catalonia, Josep Maria Argimon, says that while the right to protest is "guaranteed," he believes that it is not "appropriate" to hold rallies at this time.
In an interview with broadcaster TV3 on Monday, Argimon said that no matter how much people respect safety measures, such as wearing face masks or social distancing, "all the mobility involved in attending rallies must also be avoided."
Government spokesperson Meritxell Budó says that the health situation "makes it advisable for the Diada to be approached differently". She said that the government does not advise people to demonstrate, but that as an executive they recognize the right to demonstrate, while trying to avoid large crowds coming together.
"Highly decentralized"
The president of the ANC explained last week that they are preparing for demonstrations at 90 different locations throughout Catalonia on September 11.
Paluzie told broadcaster Rac1 that the protest will be "highly decentralized" with the aim of avoiding mass mobilizations.
Catalan government events
The government has also organized events to mark the day outside of Catalonia. Budó will attend one in Madrid on September 14, with virtual events also planned in Norway on September 8 and 10, in Brussels on September 9, in Vienna on September 10, in France and Germany on September 11, and in Switzerland on September 17.
The Spanish government is examining "several possibilities" for parents who have to stay at home to look after children quarantined by the coronavirus, including the option of paid leave, according to Spanish education minister Isabel Celaá.
by ACN
During an interview with radio broadcaster Cadena SER on Wednesday morning, Celaá stressed that a final decision on the issue has not been made yet and would depend on the Ministries of Labor and Health, but said it was important to talk about the options available.
A meeting between the health ministry and regional authorities is due to take place on Thursday with Celaá saying they want to "adjust some issues" such as the use of face masks in schools.
More widespread use of masks in schools setting can be considered "from the age of six," she added.
According to Catalonia's plan for a return to the classroom, all pupils over the age of twelveshould wear face coverings, extended to all pupils over the age of six in areas with higher levels of Covid-19.
"A little late"
The Catalan health minister Alba Vergés welcomed the move but lamented the fact that it had taken until now for the proposal to be discussed.
"I'm glad they're studying it, but I think it's a little late," the minister said on Wednesday at an event at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona.
The Catalan government will ban social gatherings of more than 10 people across Catalonia, both in public and in private.
This was announced by the Catalan president, Quim Torra, on Monday around midday in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
The new measure doesn't apply at work or on public transport and will be in place for 15 days.
"What will happen during autumn and winter will be at stake in the coming three weeks," Torra said, emphasizing the need for schools to open and for people to be able to go back to their workplaces.
"We have three key weeks to flatten the curve," he added.
The measures introduced recently, including the 1am curfew on restaurants and the limitations on smoking, will also be maintained.
Measures for schools
Catalonia's schools are set to open on September 14 for the beginning of the academic year after a six-month hiatus, but there are still uncertainties as to how the return will take place.
President Torra announced that all pupils over 12 will have to wear face masks at schools across Catalonia, and in those places with most risk of Covid-19 transmission masks will be obligatory for pupils over 6.
He also announced a mass screening plan for schools from September 15 to November 15, with around 500,000 tests to take place.
In addition, primary school classes will have a maximum of 20 pupils, while secondary school class sizes will also be reduced.
On Tuesday, the government will hold an extraordinary cabinet meeting in order to approve the latest update to the protocol on how schools will manage the pandemic.
Enhanced measures in the Vallès area
The health minister, Alba Vergés, announced during the same press conference that four towns will face enhanced measures.
Terrassa, Granollers, Les Franqueses del Vallès and Canovelles, in the Vallès Occidental and Vallès Oriental counties, will see not only the latest measures announced by Torra, but also the maximum capacity of religious services reduced to 33% and capacity in bars and restaurants cut down to 50%.
These new regulations are equivalent to those announced in Reus, in the Tarragona area, last Friday.
The measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 passed on August 18, including a limitation of smoking in public and the curfew on restaurants, are to be added to those already in operation across Catalonia, such as the obligation to wear face masks and the closure of night clubs.
Yet at the same time, some of the measures imposed on certain areas in the country in early July are still in operation.
While these extra restrictions no longer apply to Figueres and Vilafant (in the northeastern Alt Empordà county) from August 17, they were extended for two weeks on August 14 for fifteen municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area and much of the western Segrià and Noguera counties.
On August 22 additional restrictions were put in place for the city of Reus in the south of Catalonia, and from August 25, these measures were extended to three towns in the Vallès Oriental area, north of Barcelona.
Take a look at this guide, last updated on August 25, 2020:
Where it applies
The measures apply to 3.31 million people in Catalonia, which means 43% of the country's inhabitants.
- Barcelona's metropolitan area (2.87 million people): Barcelona, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Montcada i Reixac, Viladecans, el Prat de Llobregat, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Cornellà de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Esplugues de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Adrià del Besòs, Badalona, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Gavà and Castelldefels.
- Segrià county (203,000 people): els Alamús, Albatàrrec, Alcanó, Alcoletge, Alfarràs, Alfés, Alguaire, Almacelles, Almatret, Almenar, Alpicat, Aspa, Corbins, Llardecans, Maials, Montoliu de Lleida, la Portella, Puigverd de Lleida, Rosselló, Sudanell, Sunyer, Torrebesses, Torrefarrera, Torre-serona, Vilanova del Segrià, Vilanova de la Barca, Sucs and Raimat. Also, in Lleida, Aitona, Alcarràs, la Granja d’Escarp, Seròs, Soses and Torres de Segre, where tighter restrictions apply as well.
- Noguera county (30,000 people): Àger, Albesa, Algerri, les Avellanes i Santa Linya, Balaguer, Bellcaire d'Urgell, Bellmunt d'Urgell, Camarasa, Castelló de Farfanya, Cubells, Ivars de Noguera, Menàrguens, Montgai, Os de Balaguer, Penelles, la Sentiu de Sió, Torrelameu, Térmens and Vallfogona de Balaguer.
- Baix Camp (104,000 people): Reus.
- Vallès Oriental (98,000 people): Canovelles, Granollers and les Franqueses del Vallès.
Recommended
Generally speaking, the public in these areas is advised to stay at home.
It is recommended that people only leave the house for the following reasons: to work, for health and care reasons, to buy essential food and drink, to go to the bank, for other purchases by appointment, to do sport outdoors, to look after allotments and for force majeure, as well as procedures that cannot be postponed, like exams, renewing ID and permits.
Banned
Meetings of over 10 people in both private and public are prohibited, except for work or on public transport.
Allowed but with restrictions
Bars and restaurants can open, but with a maximum capacity of 50% indoors. In Reus, Canovelles, Granollers and les Franqueses del Vallès bar and restaurant terraces also have a maximum capacity of 50%.
Hotels and tourist apartments are also allowed to operate, but with 50% capacity in communal areas.
Shops are recommended to only accept clients by appointment.
Places offering cultural events and shows, as well as establishments offering fun activities, sports centers, gyms and similar can only open up to 50% of their capacity.
The bars, cafés, and restaurants of Lleida have reopened their interiors today after the government’s official gazette published the resolution that authorizes such activity once more.
The health department resolution was published on Tuesday to allow the insides the restaurants in the capital of Segrià county plus six more Baix Segre towns in the vicinity, although with a capacity limited to 50%.
Business owners value the move positively since until now they could only serve on the terraces or food to take away.
From the early morning, most bars and restaurants already began to open the interiors of the premises in order to respect the safety distance of two meters between tables and thus be able to receive the first customers.
The head waiter of the BOnum No Rules restaurant, Abel Martínez, is "very happy" to be able to open inside the establishment because "it is still an added value as now people can choose if they want to eat on the terrace or in the dining room inside."
Martínez remarks that "Lleida is a city where it is very hot" and, in this sense, explains that customers have complained these days about having to have lunch and dinner on the street.
He adds that the economic losses are significant due to the restrictions on the businesses, and pointed out the "psychological effect” of places continually closing and opening establishments has caused confusion among people about whether or not they could go out to eat or drink.
Calls for specific financial aid to alleviate losses
The Lleida Hospitality Federation values the measure to allow the insides of establishments to open positively, although they say they do not understand why the restaurants in Lleida city and the six other nearby towns had not been able to open their interiors like the rest of Catalonia up until now.
The secretary-general of the Federation, Ramon Solsona, has once again demanded specific financial aid from the government for the bars, cafés, and restaurants affected by the measure to alleviate the losses seen since the beginning of July. He also asks to recover the extraordinary aid for the self-employed.
The federation estimates the daily losses of restaurants in Lleida and the six other towns of the Baix Segre area that were under the restrictions at €1.7 million.
Likewise, they estimate the debts that the 1,200 bars, cafés, and restaurants have assumed due to the temporary redundancies, the payment of rent, and other expenses despite not being able to open, at around €6 million.
The federation warns that, if no aid is given, this situation could mean that between 30-40% of the establishments in these seven towns of the Segrià county could be forced to close permanently.
Catalonia has been gradually opening up again after getting over the worst of the pandemic. With recent outbreaks however, some restrictions have been reintroduced. Here, Catalan News collates travel rules and health and safety measures of interest to visitors.
Am I allowed to travel to Catalonia?
Spain reopened its borders on June 21, including the land border with France. Many countries, however, continue to advise against non-essential travel. The European Union has lifted its internal border controls within the Schengen area, and, citizens from the following countries may also enter Spain and Catalonia: Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
Catalonia's airports are open, with Barcelona Airport's Terminal 2 opening on July 24 after a four-month closure. All passengers must fill out a health declaration form, online or using the Spain Travel Health app. Seven municipalities in the county of Segrià in the west of Catalonia, including the city of Lleida, have restrictions on entry and exit.
Are there obligatory quarantines if I return to my country from Catalonia?
On July 24, the French prime minister advised French citizens to avoid travel to Catalonia, while Norway announced that travelers arriving from Spain would have to quarantine for ten days. On July 25, Belgium banned its citizens travel to the Lleida region, affected by Covid-19 outbreaks. Anyone arriving in Belgium from Lleida will have to be in quarantine for 14 days and take a PCR test. Also on July 25 the UK announced the imposition of a 14-day obligatory quarantine to all travelers coming from Spain, which was due to come into effect on July 26 at 12am.
On July 28, Germany recommended its citizens not to travel to Catalonia unless for essential reasons, as well as the neighbouring Aragon region and Navarre.
What general measures are in place?
The use of face masks is obligatory at all times in public, both indoors and outside. Safety distances of 1.5m should be maintained when possible. You should wash your hands frequently, especially when entering or leaving any establishment. The Catalan health department has a full list of measures here.
There are additional measures in place in those areas where new outbreaks of coronavirus have been detected, including in the capital Barcelona and its metropolitan area. Here, the general advice to all members of the public is to stay at home.
Are tourist attractions open for sightseeing?
Museums, galleries and other tourist attractions have been gradually opening up again since June, and the vast majority are now operating again, with various safety restrictions. Gaudí's iconic Sagrada Familia in Barcelona reopens July 25. What about hotels?
Hotels and tourist apartments are open. In areas with tighter restrictions, such as Barcelona, capacity in communal areas is capped at 50%.
What is the situation with bars and restaurants?
Cafes, bars, restaurants and terraces are open. In areas with tighter restrictions, such as Barcelona, there is table service only (no standing at the bar) and capacity is capped at 50%. Dancing in nightclubs is currently not allowed anywhere in Catalonia.
What about shops?
Shops are open but with the usual health and safety measures and limits on capacity.
Can I go to the beach? What measures are in place?
Beaches are open, with the general safety measures applying, including wearing masks and maintaining safety distances. Capacity is limited, with local police and councils monitoring visitor numbers.
Are natural parks open?
Yes, again, the general safety measures apply.
Barcelona , El Prat airport saw the reopening of Terminal 2 on Friday, which was closed since the end of March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Things are far from back to normal, however, with access to facilities restricted and much fewer flights than would usually be the case.
Any other year on July 24, close to a thousand flights would be expected at the airport, compared to the approximately 350 this Friday.
Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Transavia, Air Baltic, Air Moldova, Pegasus Airlines and Volotea all return to Terminal 2, having temporarily transferred to Terminal 1 on March 26.
With the reopening of T2, which happened a week earlier than originally planned, the free shuttle bus service linking the two terminals has also resumed.
Most shops and eateries in Terminal 2 remain closed for now.
Kuća Batlló (katalonski: La Casa Batlló) je poznata stambena zgrada koja se nalazi u samom srcu Barcelone, jedno od remek-djela Antoni Gaudíja, katalonskog arhitekta poznatog po svom originalnom stilu (jedna od njegovih najpoznatijih građevina je još uvijek nedovršena Sagrada Família).
Casa Batlló je nekada bila sasvim obična kuća, a Gaudí ju je redizajnirao 1904. godine za obitelj Josepa Batlló i Casanovasa, a nakon toga je još nekoliko puta obnovljena.
“Snažan i besmislen sjaj raznobojnog mozaika koji isijava iz neobičnih vodenih oblika.” – Salvador Dalí o Casi Batlló
Casa Batlló je uvrštena na UNESCO-v popis Svjetske baštine 2005. godine, a i danas važi za jednu od najpoznatijih građevina u Barceloni. 2002. godine, kuća je otvorila vrata za javnost, a turistima je bila dozvoljena posjeta samo prizemnom katu. Dvije godine kasnije, povodom stote obljetnice početka rada na Casa Batlló, peti kat je obnovljen, a turisti su konačno dobili dozvolu da posjete i ostale katove.
Prijevozničke kompanije Uber i Cabify obustavile su u četvrtak pružanje usluga u Barceloni nakon novih regionalnih propisa koji će ograničiti njihovo poslovanje u tom gradu.
Katalonska vlada usvojila je uredbu prema kojoj kompanije poput Ubera i Cabifyja moraju nakon rezervacije usluge čekati najmanje 15 minuta prije no što preuzmu putnike.
Njihovim vozačima također više neće biti dopušteno između dvije vožnje kružiti po ulicama već se moraju vratiti u bazu, bilo da je riječ o parkiralištu ili o garaži. Zabranjeno je i prije rezervacije vožnje prikazivati u realnom vremenu lokaciju raspoloživih vozila. Cilj je uredbe spriječiti izravnu konkurenciju između takvih kompanija i taksista.
Barcelona je drugi po veličini grad u Španjolskoj i spada među glavne turističke destinacije u toj zemlji. Uber i Cabify obustavili su pružanje usluga samo nekoliko tjedana uoči godišnjeg skupa kompanija u sektoru mobilne tehnologije.
"Zbog novih ograničenja koja je odobrila katalonska vlade prisiljeni smo obustaviti poslovanje UberX-a kako bismo procijenili svoju budućnost u Barceloni", rekao je glasnogovornik Ubera.
Španjolska tvrtka Cabify, s milijun korisnika u Barceloni, izrazila je žaljenje zbog odluke katalonske vlade. Smatraju da je grad "popustio zahtjevima taksista, ozbiljno narušavajući interese građana".
U Cabifyju tvrde da je cilj nove uredbe, koja je stupila na snagu u četvrtak, "izravno protjerivanje aplikacije Cabify" iz Barcelone i katalonske regije.
U Uberu pak naglašavaju da dugoročno žele nastaviti poslovati u španjolskim gradovima. Izražavaju također nadu da će u suradnji s katalonskom vladom i gradskim vijećem Barcelone pronaći rješenje za pravednu regulativu za svezainteresirane strane.
Iz Cabifyja i udruge transportnih tvrtki u Španjolskoj Unauto VTC poručili su ujedno da bi novi propisi u Barceloni mogli ugroziti 3.000 radnih mjesta.
U Uberu nisu željeli navesti koliko vozača zapošljavaju u Barceloni.
Whether you enjoy touristy places or quieter ones, this selection of top 5 best streets to see in Barcelona was carefully written for you!
This Barcelona street is where tournaments took place.
It is also where knights and gentlemen settled issues in duels. During the 16th century, victims of the Inquisition were executed in Passeig del Born. It was also the scene of the Siege of Barcelona in 1714 when Felipe V occupied the street with its troops.
Nowadays, processions of the Holy Week and carnival parades continue to happen there every year.
The Passeig del Born preserves reminiscences of medieval times that can be seen on the trendy bars terraces.
This street has managed to adapt itself to current times without turning its back on its past.
The medieval themed street Passeig del Born in Barcelona is unique. People from all ages gather in Barcelona most modern bars. At night, Passeig del Born is the most popular and frequented place for leisure and nightlife. Passeig del Born in Barcelona is unique. You see people from nowadays time with their smartphones living and spending time in a medieval themed street. We feel like we’ve gone back in time! Adjacent to it, you can find the ancient Born Market and the magnificent gothic church Santa Maria del Mar.
The Spooky Street: Carrer Dels Mirallers
Near the gothic church Santa Maria del Mar, you can find a little street called Carrer dels Mirallers. It is definitely a hidden gem you will want to walk through and take back home in your memory. Carrer dels Mirallers in Barcelona is said to be haunted by demonic spirits.
How come?
Jacint Verdaguer was a Spanish writer, considered one of the greatest poets of Catalan literature. Nevertheless, in 18870, Jacint became a priest. A few years later, he was in the midst of a deep personal crisis. He started hanging out with psychics and exorcist priests. Later on, Jacint Verdaguer started practicing exorcisms in his house in Carrer dels Mirallers in Barcelona. It is believed that demonic spirits still roam in Carrer dels Mirallers and that some of the street sculptures are damned.
While enjoying a nice creepy walk through Carrer dels Mirallers, you will actually find a lot of pretty cool hand crafts and artisanal shops. Also, at night I suggest you have a drink at Bodega (Carrer dels Mirallers, 15). The place is tiny, but you won’t find a more welcoming bar than this one. Prices are reasonable at Bodega. If you want to enjoy a drink and some olives just like locals do, this is the place to go.
The Ancient Barcelona Main Street: Carrer De Montcada
Our top 5 best streets to see in Barcelona continues with Carrer de Montcada. This street is full of medieval palaces of Renaissance and baroque style with their huge doorways leading to splendid courtyards. All those palaces have witnessed a wealthy and glorious past of this Barcelona medieval main street. Nobles and merchants, enriched by the maritime trade, built their big houses in Carrer de Montcada. Those medieval palaces passed the test of time. The most notable gothic palace is the Picasso Museum that you can find at Carrer de Montcada, 15-23.
The Palau Cervelló is a Renaissance style palace, right next to the Picasso Museum, at Carrer de Montcada, 25. This palace was acquired by the Fundació Gaspar and was turned into an art gallery, it is mostly dedicated to contemporary art. In a baroque architectural style, you can visit Palau Dalmases at Carrer de Montcada, 20. The palace is home to flamenco shows every day! It is a great opportunity to spend a night just like locals, to the rhythm of flamenco, feet kicking the ground, looks full of emotions, and powerful voices!
Carrer de Montcada is one of the best streets to see in Barcelona for its glorious atmosphere straight out of medieval times while visiting the most marvellous palaces, art galleries and museums.
What else can we wish for?
The atmosphere and architecture of Carrer de Montcada in Barcelona is simply one-of-a-kind!
The Street Where You Eat And Drink With Locals: Carrer Dels Escudellers
Carrer dels Escudellers is one of the best streets to see because it is the place where locals drink and eat. If you want to experience Barcelona like a Barcelonian, go fill your belly and quench your thirst in Carrer dels Escudellers. The nightlife is pretty cool and you can easily find some nice bars and restaurants in the heart of the Old Town.
I can suggest some places for you to sit and relax while enjoying a cold drink or a snack.
La Castanya is located at Carrer dels Escudellers, 30. They serve the best sangria and a great variety of exquisite tapas!
The waiters are really friendly and the decoration is very original. Then, you have La Concha located at Carrer dels Escudellers, 40.
If you’re looking for traditional dishes in the heart of the Old Town, this is the place!
The daily special costs 11 euros and it includes the bread, the appetizer, the main dish and the wine.
Finally, whether you’re vegan or not, I have two suggestions for you. Gopal is located at Carrer Escudellers, 42 and it serves quick vegan bites.
It’s like a vegan fast food!
The hamburgers are simply delicious, you have to try it.
Then, at Carrer dels Escudellers, 54, you will find Vegetalia where you will enjoy the tastiest vegan dishes ever. The nachos and guacamole are so good and the vegetarian fajitas are a must.
Plus, it may be the only place you will be able to eat a vegan paella (yummy!).
The Most Popular Street: Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is one of the most well-known and visited streets of Barcelona. Full of life, Las Ramblas may be the most vibrant street of Barcelona. It is in the list of best streets to see in Barcelona for obvious reasons. It is the meeting point for everyone, from locals to tourists. Everyone meets there.
The large avenue is more than 1 kilometer long. It starts at Plaza de Catalunya and ends at Mirador de Colón, in front of the ancient harbour of Barcelona.
Las Ramblas was built in 1766 and its construction had to follow the line of the ancient medieval wall that was destroyed six years later. This avenue stands out because, as opposed to the old neighborhoods of Barcelona and its narrow streets, it is very large. It quickly became the meeting point for Barcelonians. Due to its increasing popularity, Las Ramblas went through some changes and constructions.
El Gran Teatro del Liceo, the oldest and the most prestigious theatre of Barcelona (La Rambla, 51-59), opened its doors in 1847. Then, the Fuente de Canaletas is very famous for two main reasons. It is where you want to be in case a soccer game is happening, you will party and celebrate with the locals!
The other reason is that it is said that anyone who hopes to come back to Barcelona has to drink water from the fountain!
On Las Ramblas avenue, the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria (La Boqueria) can be found. It is a public market and one of the most important landmarks in Barcelona for tourists.
You can’t miss Las Ramblas! Throughout the years, trees have been planted all along the avenue, which makes the walks even nicer, especially during spring and summer! Many cafés, restaurants, flower shops, souvenir shops can be found. And if by any chance, you happen to be in Barcelona on the 23rd of April, you cannot miss Sant Jordi’s Day.
Passeig De Gràcia
Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona is basically the same as the Champs-Élysées in Paris, so you probably already heard of it!
Also because it is where you will find Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and Casa Calvet. Those famous were designed by Antoni Gaudí, a modernism architect, also known for the design of the Parc Güell.
It is a very charming and pleasant street to take a walk while window-shopping! You will find many stores: from luxurious one, like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, to popular ones, like H&M and Mango.
If you get to the end of Passeig de Gràcia, you will make it to Plaza de Catalunya which leads to Las Ramblas!
I hope you enjoyed our top 5 best streets to see in Barcelona!
As a tourist, one usually goes to the crowded and touristy streets. But thanks to this list, you will actually wander in the same streets as locals do and discover the places they like.
Away from the fuss of the touristy streets, you will see hidden gems and feel like you’ve time traveled, in the heart of the Old Townand its medieval scenery.
I can mention other streets you may enjoy such as Carrer del Brisbe, el Portal de l’Angel, Calle Tallers, Rambla del Raval, Carrer Petrixtol, Carrer Torrijos, Carrer de Blai, and many more!
