Say cheese: Barcelona creates a photo zone to manage tourist traffic at iconic landmark

BARCELONA is rethinking how it welcomes its millions of visitors, starting with the city’s most iconic landmark, the Sagrada Família. With up to 16,000 people visiting the basilica each day.

- BERNELEE VOLLMER

But only around 20% actually enter the church, the area surrounding the site has become overcrowded with selfie sticks, long queues, and frustrated locals.

In response, the Barcelona City Council has announced a dedicated photo zone to help ease the pressure on the pavements.

Set in motion as part of the city's 2024 Action Plan, a new plaza will be built on Plaça Gaudí, right in front of the Sagrada Família, offering tourists a scenic space to snap their photos without blocking pedestrian walkways or spilling onto the roads.

Construction will begin after the European summer, with an eye on completing the project by April 2026.

The timing is symbolic as it marks the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the genius architect behind the basilica's fantastical design.