Turó de la Rovira, Military viewpoint in El Carmel district, Barcelona, Spain
El Turó de la Rovira is a hilltop in the El Carmel district that rises about 262 meters above sea level. From here, you can see across the entire city, from the Mediterranean Sea to the hills on Barcelona's northern edge.
During the Spanish Civil War, four anti-aircraft guns were stationed here to defend the city from air attacks. After the war, families began settling on the slopes and built informal homes that remained for decades.
The hill became home to an informal settlement called Els Canons, where over 100 families built their own homes on the slopes. This tight-knit community shaped daily life here until the area underwent major changes before the Olympics.
The site is accessible during daylight hours, with hours that vary depending on the season to prevent disturbances. The walk up from the base of the hill is manageable on foot, with different paths leading to the top.
Traces of the informal settlement remain scattered across the site, including old floor tiles and pieces of walls from the homes that once stood there. These remnants offer a glimpse into how families lived on the slopes for many years.
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