Barcelona to Address Turó de la Rovira Tourist Overcrowding and Resident Complaints
Barcelona, May 5 – Barcelona City Council announced yesterday, Monday, the formation of a working group to tackle the growing issues of overcrowding and anti-social behavior at Turó de la Rovira, a historical site offering panoramic views of the city. The initiative comes in response to renewed complaints from local residents about late-night gatherings, noise, and security concerns.
The announcement was made during a meeting between representatives from the Horta-Guinardó district and members of the Turó de la Rovira Neighborhood Council. The council had highlighted recent incidents, including an alleged assault attempt by youths on a couple in their home adjacent to the site’s fence, and a drunk driver running over a security guard monitoring access to the summit.
Working Group to be Established in June
The new working group is scheduled to be established in June with the aim of “strengthening municipal coordination and moving towards a more orderly, sustainable, and consensual management” of the hill. It will be chaired by the Councilor for Horta-Guinardó, Sara Belbeida, and will include representatives from various municipal departments, such as Parks and Gardens, Mobility, Tourism, and Security, as well as neighborhood associations from Carmel and Can Baró.
The city council stated that “this group will analyze, debate, and propose necessary actions in Turó de la Rovira to address the challenges of preserving this heritage and, at the same time, improving coexistence with residents.”
Turó de la Rovira to be Designated a ‘High-Traffic Area’
In parallel, the city council is preparing a report to include Turó de la Rovira in the category of ‘High-Traffic Areas’ (Espacios de Gran Afluencia – EGA), similar to Sagrada Família or Park Güell. This designation allows for the implementation of specific measures to manage mass public attendance and mitigate its impact on public spaces and coexistence. “This analysis will provide the city council with rigorous data on the uses of this space, which will aid decision-making and define management criteria,” explained the Horta-Guinardó district.
Resident Concerns: Noise, Vandalism, and Aggression
The Turó de la Rovira Neighborhood Council reported that the city council has committed to initial reforestation efforts to deter groups from gathering and drinking alcohol in certain areas, which leads to noise and disturbances for nearby residents.
The neighborhood council also urged the Guardia Urbana (local police) to confiscate alcoholic beverages from visitors and intensify controls and penalties for those who jump the fence after closing hours. They warned that the historic site has become a “botellódromo” (open-air drinking spot) at night for both tourists and some city residents. “The number of people who gather for ‘botellón’ after the site closes can exceed two hundred,” the entity estimated.
Residents described the consequences as ranging from “house intrusions, damage to private vehicles (graffiti and even fires), knocking on doors and ringing doorbells throughout the night, urinating in doorways, and even assaults on elderly people by intoxicated visitors.” They referenced an incident a couple of years ago where youths assaulted an elderly man outside his home after he photographed them jumping the fence around the bunkers.
Recent Incidents Highlight Urgency
The most recent incident involving personal injury was the hit-and-run of a 58-year-old worker who regulates traffic on two streets leading up to Turó de la Rovira, where only resident and service vehicles are allowed. The worker spent a couple of days in the hospital with a severe head injury, two broken ribs, and arm contusions, according to the Neighborhood Council. The council has called for intervention from the Deputy Mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, the Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, Laia Bonet, and the Commissioner for Tourism, José Antonio Donaire, to address the complaints and take responsibility.
Economic Growth and Tourist Influx
While residents grapple with the negative impacts, Barcelona’s economy saw a 3% GDP growth in 2025, with housing prices rising by 10%. The city has also doubled the number of civic agents in tourist areas to improve coexistence. However, a third of inspected terraces in the Sagrada Família area were found to be non-compliant with regulations, indicating broader challenges in managing tourist-related activities.
The city authorities are committed to finding a balance between promoting tourism and ensuring the quality of life for its residents. The upcoming working group and the designation of Turó de la Rovira as a High-Traffic Area are crucial steps in this direction.
Source: https://www.elperiodico.com/es/barcelona/20260504/barcelona-turo-rovira-turistas-botellon-ayuntamiento-vecinos-grupo-129844537
