Barcelona's Gaudí industry

Barcelona’s tourism economy is already significant, contributing almost 13% of the city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. Much of this income is attributable to the pulling power of Catalan architect Gaudí and his iconic structures such as the Sagrada Familia cathedral and La Pedrera.

Street closures for the Pope

As we reported recently, the Pope will be in town this week to celebrate the topping off of the highest tower of the Sagrada Familia. His visit is due to generate additional tourist income, but will also lead to significant disruption for residents. Information circulated by the Municipality shows the streets that will be affected by closures during the Pope’s visit. This covers many important streets in the Eixample, including the Passeig de Gràcia and the Diagonal. Almost anyone trying to move around the city during the Pope’s visit is therefore likely to be affected in some way.

Almost as good as the real thing?

The good news is that the Gaudí industry in Barcelona will be firing on all cylinders. In addition to the extra visitors, Lego has produced a 12,060-piece model of the Sagrada Família. The model is only 62 cm tall, compared with the 172.5 metres of the original, but with a fittingly eye-watering price tag of $800.

“Our goal was to honour Gaudí’s vision with the utmost respect, capturing the rhythm of the basilica’s construction, its extraordinary complexity and ambition, and translating that into an immersive building experience” said Lego’s Design Master, Rok Žgalin Kobe. Not making money then….

But the Lego set fits perfectly into the consumption-based Gaudíscape of Barcelona, an ‘economic empire’ that turns over €240 million a year. The Sagrada Família, with almost 5 million visitors in 2025, contributed over €134 million of the total, Casa Batlló a further  €65 million and Park Güell, which only became a paid attraction in 2013, contributed over €36 million. It is estimated that around 60% of visitor activities in Barcelona are now linked to Gaudí, compared with about a third of all cultural visits made in 2003 linked to Gaudí sites. This ‘Gaudífication’ process is part of a wider trend towards ‘mass cultural tourism’, which tends to lead more and more visitors towards the main cultural sites in cities. The Pope’s visit will no doubt strengthen this trend in Barcelona. Many residents living along the Pope's route are charging €1000 euros or more for a 2 minute glimpse of the Pope Mobile.

As some compensation for locals without a balcony overlooking the Pope's route, the Municipality has just announced that they will be spending €1.3 million of the revenue from the Tourist Tax on the City’s Christmas lights this year.  This is almost as much as the Tourist Tax subsidy for the Pope’s visit. A coincidence, surely?