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Balconies at 900 euros to watch the Pope pass by the Sagrada Família
Seeing Pope Leo XIV from a balcony of the Sagrada Família now has a price. A few days before his visit to Barcelona, some residents around the temple have begun offering balconies and windows overlooking the popemobile's route for sums ranging from around 150 euros to as much as 900 euros for a few hours of privileged access.
The advertisements are circulating on peer-to-peer buying, selling and rental platforms. Some do not merely sell a good view: they promise drinks, some food, access to a bathroom, a lift and even a comfortable space to wait without mixing with the crowds on the street. What for some will be a unique opportunity to see the Pope up close has become, for others, a quick way of making a return on a home located in exactly the right spot.
The interest is explained by the planned route. Leo XIV will arrive at the Sagrada Família in the Popemobile via Carrer de Rosselló, along a stretch of more than a kilometre that will be fenced off and subject to strict security controls. The area around the basilica will be one of the most heavily secured parts of the city during the visit.
For those who do not want to or cannot pay for a balcony, there will be free alternatives. Barcelona will install giant screens at Glòries and Arc de Triomf to follow the papal visit's events live, a measure intended to prevent all spectators from gathering around the Sagrada Família.
The city will also deploy an exceptional security operation, with thousands of officers and access controls on the blocks closest to the church. Residents and workers will have to prove that they live or work inside the restricted perimeter, and the Sagrada Família metro station will remain closed on the key day.
The balcony fever leaves a very Barcelona image: somewhere between devotion, curiosity and last-minute business. In a neighbourhood accustomed to daily tourism, the papal visit multiplies for a few hours something residents already know well: housing as a viewing point, the street as a stage and the Sagrada Família as a magnet capable of disrupting any routine.
The episode also shows the underlying tension around the church. For the city, Leo XIV's visit will be a historic event linked to Gaudí's centenary and the blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ. For those who live next door, it will also be a day of barriers, checks, cameras, crowds and improvised opportunities. Some will rent out their balcony; others will simply try to get home without too many questions.