"Driven out by tourist monoculture"

Journalist Toni Soler has announced he is leaving the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona after 25 years, saying he and his family feel "driven out" by the area's transformation into a tourist-dominated zone. In a post on Instagram, Soler, 61, stated: "We feel a bit driven out of a neighbourhood that has increasingly given itself over to tourist monoculture. Where it's hard to be Barcelonian and Catalan and feel at home."

Soler, a father of two, built his family life in the lower part of the Gothic Quarter, near the Basilica of La Mercè and Plaça Reial. He has long been an advocate for local life in Ciutat Vella, sharing photos of his home and promoting independent shops and restaurants. But he says the pressure from mass tourism has now overwhelmed community efforts to preserve the area's character.

Loss of local landmarks

Among the changes Soler has criticised is the decline of emblematic local businesses, such as the historic Restaurant Pitarra on Carrer Avinyó. Once a cultural hub during the Catalan Renaissance and a meeting place for intellectuals, Pitarra has become symbolic of the area's shift toward commercialised tourism. The Ajuntament de Barcelona held a tribute event to Pitarra on 3 October 2026, recognising its cultural legacy in the birth of modern Catalan theatre.

The Gothic Quarter is full of residents who love the neighbourhood and deserve for the city to respond to their commitment.

Soler emphasized that many long-term residents remain committed to the area, saying: "The Gothic Quarter is full of neighbours who love the neighbourhood and deserve for the city to respond to their commitment."

Not leaving Barcelona

Although he is leaving the Gothic Quarter, Soler clarified that he is not leaving Barcelona. He plans to move just a few metro stops away and intends to return frequently. His departure has drawn widespread reactions online, with many residents and local shopkeepers expressing solidarity, sharing their own stories of displacement or loss of connection with the city centre.

Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by ara.cat, ARA, eb.bluesky.infinito.nexus, ca.wikipedia.org, Diputació de Barcelona, beteve.cat, Ara Cat.