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Jardins de la Vil·la Amèlia, photo by Òscar Giralt courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Can Felipa Civic Center in Poblenou. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Parc del Laberint d'Horta Photo by Oh-Barcelona.com (CC BY 2.0).
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The Museu Frederic Marès. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
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Ciutadella park is a favorite spot for many to relax in the shade. Photo by deepskyobject (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr.
Cities around the world are grappling with record-breaking summer temperatures. It's not only getting hotter, it's getting hotter earlier, and staying hotter for longer. In larger cities like Barcelona, the rising temperatures are even more acutely felt. Heat generated by energy use (think air conditioners, trains, buses, cars, etc.) combined with heat-absorbing materials in buildings, roads and sidewalks create a "heat island" effect, increasing temperatures in the city by as much as 5.6°C more than the surrounding natural areas.
To combat rising temperatures, many cities have already begun to plant more trees and other vegetation, build shade structures, add water features, paint rooftops white to reflect heat and develop green walls and rooftops on existing buildings. In Barcelona a number of similar projects have begun. Plans to increase the amount of shade in public spaces include pergolas in the city—many with solar paneling on top—which provide shade and a place for people to rest and relax. In 2017 the City Council developed its Master Plan for Barcelona's Trees, which seeks to increase the tree canopy coverage to regulate temperatures, improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
Refugis Climàtics
Following a record-breaking heatwave in 2019, the City Council established a network of refugis climàtics (climate shelters) to provide its citizens a respite from the heat. Created from a combination of municipal buildings and public spaces in the existing infrastructure, 70 spaces were designated as climate shelters. The year 2020 saw the number increase to 163, in 2022 the network expanded to over 200 locations and in 2023 the number reached over 230 shelters. This year, another 120 have been added, bringing the number of climate shelters to 353. With this expansion, 98% of the population has a climate shelter within an 10-minute walk from home, and 68% have one within a five-minute walk.
Climate shelters can be indoor areas such as civic centers, retirement homes, municipal gyms, government offices, public schools, shopping centers, municipal markets, churches, museums and libraries or outdoor areas with a high presence of urban greenery and water fountains, such as parks, gardens, school playgrounds and municipal swimming pools. Each climate shelter provides the space to relax and cool off while also continuing to operate as usual. They are all free to enter, apart from the municipal swimming pools, which have fixed prices.
Each location in the climate shelter network will have this sign displayed. Photo by Mariona Gil courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
You can check for a climate shelter near you on our interactive map above. Keep in mind that each location will have its own operating hours, and some may be closed on Sunday, so be sure to check the opening times before heading out.
The summer climate shelter plan is active from June 15 to September 15. To make sure you stay hydrated, the City Council also has the mobile app Fonts BCN to help you locate any of the 1,714 drinking fountains in the city. (The app was last updated June 14, 2022).
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There are a number of pergolas in the city with plans to add more. Photo by Laura Guerrero courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Can Castelló Civic Center, photo by Òscar Giralt courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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People stopping to get a drink at Barcelona's font de canaletes on La Rambla. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Published July 30, 2022, updated June 17, 2024.