A tradition more than a century old is at risk of disappearing from the heart of Barcelona. The Sunday stamp and coin market at the city’s Plaça Reial could soon close after new municipal regulations placed its future in jeopardy.
The change comes from the council’s decision to harmonise licensing rules with those of other street markets across Catalonia. Traders, many of whom are elderly collectors rather than professional vendors, would now be required to sign 15-year concessions instead of the annual permits used until now. For participants, who stress that they do not make a living from the activity but keep it alive out of passion, such a long-term commitment is daunting.
‘We don’t make a profit from this, nor do we live off it, we are collectors and we do it because we enjoy it,’ lamented José María Ríos, president of the Plaça Reial Philately and Numismatics Association.
The market has been a fixture of the Gothic Quarter for generations, attracting enthusiasts, tourists and casual visitors alike. Its mix of hobbyist passion and historic character has made it a unique cultural landmark. But the licensing overhaul has raised fears that the dwindling, ageing group of sellers may be unable to adapt, threatening the survival of the market itself.
If no compromise is reached, this autumn could mark the end of a piece of Barcelona’s living heritage, one that has linked locals and visitors with the city’s collecting tradition for more than 100 years.
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