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Prices of up to €900 to see the Pope from Barcelona balconies
Eixample residents want to get rich at all costs from Pope Leo XIV's visit to Barcelona. The pontiff's route through the city centre, focused on the area around Sagrada Família, has filled the internet with listings in which residents of these streets ask for up to €900 to see him from their own balconies.
The visit of Pope Leo XIV to Barcelona is causing a stir, because it is not only about seeing him, something that is free on the streets of Barcelona and also at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, where he will give various speeches and carry out other activities such as concerts, but has already become a whole business.
Shops, souvenirs and more
Some shops are taking advantage of this visit to open up a market; there are more establishments than ever that will sell merchandise with objects bearing the Pope's face, and bars and restaurants in the areas he will pass through are rubbing their hands together because they expect them to be busy places where visitors will stop, sit on the terrace and eat.
Balconies priced at up to €900
As happens at other events, some residents want to make the most of it and have improvised various advertisements on the Internet, especially on second-hand goods platforms, to “rent out” their balconies to see the Pope at exorbitant prices.
The offers for these balconies are concentrated on the streets where Leo XIV plans to travel in his well-known popemobile on the route through central Barcelona. That is, the areas around the Sagrada Familia, Rosselló Street, Mallorca Street, Passeig de Sant Joan, among others.
According to El Nacional, the rental prices for these balconies range from €150 to €900. Some advertisements emphasise that they are spacious balconies with room for seven people. In short, they promise a truly unique experience with the best views and without crowds.
El Nacional also points out that the balconies not only offer “views”; food and drink service is also included (which can raise the price), along with a lift, chairs to be more comfortable… there are even several advertisements in English, clearly aimed at foreigners who come to see the Pope or are simply touring Barcelona.
Pope Leo XIV's route through the streets of Barcelona
On 10 June, the Pope will head to the Sagrada Familia and will first take a route through the surrounding streets.
The popemobile will pass through the intersection of Diagonal and Rosselló Street, Sardenya Street, Passeig de Sant Joan. According to Catalunya Religió, there will be three places where it will be easiest to see Leo XIV in particular: the intersection of Rosselló and Marina, Rosselló and Avenida Gaudí, and Provenza and Lepant.