On 29 July 2026, Jordi Martí presented Junts per Barcelona’s call for Mayor Jaume Collboni to give residents of the Sagrada Família neighbourhood the same attention shown to the Pope during his recent visit. The party said action is needed on tourist overcrowding, cleanliness and the neglect of local businesses.
For people living near the basilica, the request concerns the use of streets and public spaces around one of Barcelona’s busiest visitor sites, as well as access to everyday shops and services. Junts’ package seeks measures to reduce the disruption that the party says affects the neighbourhood.
Junts links tourist pressure to neighbourhood conditions
Martí’s proposals focus on three issues identified by Junts per Barcelona:
- overcrowding linked to visitor numbers around the Sagrada Família;
- cleanliness in the surrounding public space; and
- support for local businesses serving residents.
The call comes as Barcelona City Council is already implementing its Sagrada Família Massive Attraction (EGA) Action Plan (2024–2027). The municipal plan was prepared with organisations, local residents and stakeholders and presented to the Full Council of the Eixample district as a Municipal Government Measure.
City Council plan allocates €15.4 million
According to Barcelona City Council, the EGA plan contains 37 initiatives with a total budget of €15,442,200. Its stated aims include reducing overcrowding in public spaces, promoting a more diverse range of local commerce, limiting the effects of visitor flows and recovering space for neighbourhood activities.
The council says intensive tourism has changed local commerce and services around the basilica, with businesses serving residents in some cases replaced by visitor-focused outlets. Residents can consult the council’s EGA plan page for the published measures and objectives.
Primary sources: Barcelona City Council, Barcelona City Council. Reported by Isambard Wilkinson, Madrid, euronews.com, lavanguardia.com, metro.co.uk, La Vanguardia, beteve.cat, Cristina Calvó, EP, Rubén González, sagradafamilia.org, La Vanguardia Barcelona.
