The team of journalists looked at touristification from the ground up. Families forced to leave lifelong homes, traditional shops replaced by ice cream chains and cheesecake cafés, and entire buildings bought out by investment funds for short-term holiday lets.
In Barcelona, areas such as Gòtic and Gràcia have been hollowed out. The same pattern is emerging in Palermo, driven by global attention, UNESCO status, and a growing influx of remote workers and property speculation. The team reported from public assemblies at the San Basilio convent, followed efforts to resist the eviction of social spaces, and spoke with residents being priced out of their own neighbourhoods. From Casa Orsola in Barcelona to the threatened markets of Ballarò and Via Maqueda, the journalists documented what happens when cities are treated as commodities.
The team of journalists They also collaborated closely with local organisers, sociologists, economists and housing campaigners to gain a deeper understanding of the broader forces at play. This story is not just about tourism. It’s about what happens when a city stops being a home.
Key Findings
- In both Barcelona and Palermo, short-term tourist lets are replacing long-term housing, pushing up rents and displacing residents.
- Led by investment funds and international buyers, property speculation is transforming homes into high-return financial assets.
- Traditional local businesses, such as butchers, bookshops and neighbourhood cafés, are being replaced by chains and franchises that cater for tourists.
- Cultural and community spaces, including the San Basilio convent in Palermo, are under pressure to be redeveloped as part of tourism-driven regeneration plans.
- In Barcelona, districts such as Gòtic and Gràcia are losing their residential character as housing becomes increasingly unaffordable for locals.
- In Palermo, rising visibility and investor interest have accelerated the spread of short-term lets, particularly in the historic centre.
- Despite these challenges, grassroots resistance is gaining ground—with tenants’ unions, public assemblies, and housing activists fighting to defend the right to stay.
- The housing crisis now affects both working-class and middle-class communities, making touristification a shared and growing concern.
Photo Credit: Bruna Cases/ RUIDO Photo
