Sóc només pols, però em penso estrella.

dissabte, 1 de setembre del 2012

Gràcia: La revolta de les Quintes, 1870

                                          Barricada a Gràcia

El post que segueix, sobre el barri de Gràcia, de Barcelona, és una còpia del comentari enviat al bloc Left side of the road, administrat per un escriptor viatger, el senyor Michael Harrison de Liverpool (UK).




Thank you, as always, Michael. Plus some historical remarks here.

The Vila de Gràcia is one of the most popular and active neighbourhoods of the city of Barcelona. Nowadays it gives the name to the Gràcia district, which includes, furthermore, the neighbourhoods of Vallcarca and Penitents, el Coll, La Salut, El Camp d’en Grassot and Gràcia Nova. In 2005 the population of Gràcia was 120,087 inhabitants.

Its most significant monument is the Belfry (el Campanari), which rises in the very middle of the Town Hall Square, where the district authority now meets.

The Vila de Gràcia was the principal centre of the ancient independent town of Gràcia. That town was composed from this nucleus and the agrarian area – mainly farms (masies) – of the Camp d’en Grassot.

The most remembered accomplishment of Gràcia’s people was in 1870, during the riots against the military drafts (La revolta de les Quintes). The siege of the brave neighbourhoods lasted six long days and nights when the army was confronted by the people when they tried to enter the streets.

The story of The Bell of Gràcia (La Campana de Gràcia) is very well known because by this means everybody was called to the barricades, each time the army showed up, by the end with heavy cannon.

Even today, during the Festa Major, you can see young people protesting against the Catalan or Spanish Government – it doesn’t matter about what, or who – just any injustice.