The Pillar

Home
About
News
Pillar Posts
Analysis
Interviews
Explainers
On Leo's Desk
Data
Pillar Columns
Starting Seven
The Pillar Podcast
Sunday School
Look Closer
The Pillar TL;DR
Church in Spain
—
News

Barcelona’s uneasy relationship with its Catholic past

The mere suggestion of changing a city square’s name has created a stir.

Fionn Shiner
Feb 11, 2026
∙ Paid
Barcelona’s Plaça d’Urquinaona. Credit: Jordiferrer/wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0.

Plaça d’Urquinaona has a major metro station, as well as serving as a hub for buses, cars, motorbikes, and the red Bicing bike sharing bikes that are a regular sight on Barcelona’s streets.

A few minutes’ walk from Passeig de Gràcia, a main avenue adorned with Gaudí masterpieces, …

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2026 The Pillar · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture