Platja de Somorrostro, the beach named after the old shanty-town neighbourhood that once stood here, is a broad urban stretch between the Port Olímpic and Barceloneta. More than just parasols and sand, it preserves the memory of those humble dwellings, transforming the space into an open and accessible meeting point. Its character shifts with the seasons: in spring and autumn, the soft light invites leisurely walks along the shore; in summer, the bustle of swimmers, laughter and beach volleyball games mingles with the scent of fresh fish from the chiringuito beach bars. It’s a place to gaze at the horizon and savour, at a relaxed pace, the everyday life of Barcelona.
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Before it became a summer postcard, the beach was a shantytown on the seafront – a precarious home for thousands whose community was as invisible as it was vibrant.
The beach wasn’t officially named until 2010, after decades of institutional neglect. Naming it was also a symbolic act of reparation for those who lived here – in the Barcelona that can no longer be seen, yet is still deeply felt.
