The Rough Guide to Barcelona 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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Not all public and bank holidays in Spain
are observed in Catalunya, and vice versa.
On the days listed below, and during the
many local festivals (see Chapter 15), you’ll
find most shops closed, though bars and
restaurants tend to stay open.
Barcelona’s public holidays
January 1 Cap d’Any, New Year’s Day
January 6 Epifanía, Epiphany
Variable Good Friday & Easter Monday
May 1 Día del Treball, May Day/Labour Day
June 24 Día de Sant Joan, St John’s Day
August 15 L’Assumpció, Assumption of the Virgin
September 11 Diada Nacional, Catalan National Day
September 24 Festa de la Mercè, Our Lady of
Mercy, Barcelona’s patron saint
October 12 Día de la Hispanidad, Spanish National
Day
November 1 Tots Sants, All Saints’ Day
December 6 Día de la Constitució, Constitution Day
December 8 La Imaculada, Immaculate Conception
December 25 Nadal, Christmas Day
December 26 Sant Esteve, St Stephen’s Day
Police and crime
Catalunya has its own autonomous police
force, the Mossos d’Esquadra (Wwww
), in navy-blue uniforms
with red trim. They have gradually taken over
most of the local duties traditionally carried out
by the other police services in Spain, namely
the Policía Nacional ( W ) – the
national police, in uniforms resembling blue
combat gear – and the Guàrdia Urbana
( W , municipal
police in blue shirts and navy jackets. There’s
also the Guàrdia Civil, a national paramilitary
force in green uniforms, seen guarding some
public buildings, and at airports and border
crossings.
In theory you’re supposed to carry some
kind of identification at all times, and the
police can stop you in the street and demand
to see it. In practice they’re rarely bothered if
you’re clearly a tourist – and a photocopy of
your passport, or photo-driving licence should
suffice. The police tend to be little worried
about personal use of cannabis, though public
possession or consumption of drugs is illegal.
Larger quantities (and any other drugs) are a
very different matter, and if you’re arrested or
detained for a drugs offence, don’t expect any
sympathy or help from your consulate.
If you’re robbed, you need to go to the
police to report it, not least because your
insurance company will require a police
report. Don’t expect a great deal of concern
if your loss is relatively small – but do expect
the process of completing forms and formali-
ties to take ages.
The easiest place to report a crime is at
the Guàrdia Urbana station at Ramblas 43,
opposite Pl. Reial, o Liceu T932 562 430
(24hr; English spoken), though there’s a
Guàrdia Urbana office in each city district
(shown on their website).
However, to get a police report for your
insurance you need to go to the Mossos
d’Esquadra station at c/Nou de la Rambla
76–80, El Raval, o Paral.lel T933 062 300.
You can fill in a report online (under “Serveis”,
then “Denúncies per internet” on the website,
English option available), but you’ll still have
to go to the office within 72hr to sign the
document.
BASICS
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Travel essentials
Staying safe
Barcelona has a reputation as a city plagued by petty crime, but you don’t need to
be unduly paranoid. Take all reasonable precautions, and your trip should be a safe
one. Sling bags across your body, not off one shoulder; don’t carry wallets in back
pockets; and don’t hang bags on the back of a café chair. Make photocopies of
your passport, leaving the original and any tickets in the hotel safe. Be on your
guard when on public transport, or on the crowded Ramblas and the medieval
streets to either side – at night, avoid unlit streets and dark alleys. While you can
take many beggars at face value (deciding whether or not you give them money),
you should beware of people directly accosting you or who in any other manner try
to distract you – like the “helpful” person pointing out bird shit (shaving cream or
something similar) on your jacket while someone relieves you of your money.