Visit a bomb shelter in Barcelona

I’d strongly recommend a visit to the Refugi 307 bomb shelter in Poble-sec, Barcelona. It was built in 1937 to protect residents from the fascist air raids. Sunday tours at 10.30 in English 1130 in Spanish, 1230 in Catalan. The shelter is run by Museum of the History of Barcelona (booking there)

The square in front is named after Valerie Powles, born Birmingham, local activist, anarchist and historian who fought doggedly to save the shelter, today an essential visit in understanding Mussolini’s murderous bombing of city to help Franco’s

CNT tram

Tram lines last year unearthed as part of the reform of La Rambla this morning Photo: No. 16 collectivised tram, 4 minutes up the street in Plaça de Catalunya, 1936.
The line stopped running in 1961.

Marina Ginestà in colour

marina ginesta in colour

A colourised version of the famous and iconic Marina Ginestà photo standing on the roof of the Hotel Colón in Plaça Catalunya on 21 July 1936. In fact she was never a militia fighter. She worked through the war as a journalist and as an interpreter for the Soviet correspondent Mijaíl Koltsov. This colourised version of Hans Gutmann (Juan Guzman)’s original is by Jared Enos. Great job and gives impression of photo a little overexposed due to the sunlight which adds authenticity

Anti-fascist mural, Clot, Barcelona

Anti-fascist mural, Clot, Barcelona
Brilliant new mural in Clot, Barcelona “Fascism never again” by artist Roc Blackblock using two famous photos of the the war. It seems it was defaced yesterday (“never” crossed out) but is I believe being restored. Thanks to Steve Cedar for making me aware of this. Must go and see it. Location: Carrer de Bilbao with Rambla de Guipúscoa. Subtitled with “A people which forget its history is condemned to repeat it”.