Free tour

The Spanish Civil War and Franco's dictatorship

Duration: 2h and 30min
Languages: English, Spanish
Quality Verified Registered on May 18, 2021

We are a team of young, professional guides with a passion for meaningful history and storytelling. We've all been giving tours in the city for many years and will help you understand what makes it such a unique place!

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

Free walking tour Spanish Civil War Barcelona

Stroll through the streets, squares and neighborhoods where the Spanish Civil War took place in Barcelona.

On this 2-hour tour you will come to understand this incredibly important conflict that led to a 36-year fascist dictatorship and would change Spain forever.

 What will we cover

  •  Why and how did the war start?
  •  Who were the many different groups fighting each other?
  •  The anarchist communist movement during the Spanish Civil War
  •  What was it like to live under Franco's dictatorship?
  •  How did the war and the dictatorship end?
  •  The roles of women before, during and after the war

 What you will see

  •  The little damage remaining from battles and bombardments in Barcelona
  •  Neighborhoods in the old town where much of the fighting took place
  •  Sites from George Orwell's book "Homage to Catalonia"


 By the end of this tour you will know why beautiful Barcelona was known as the most explosive and revolutionary city in Europe.

 Perfect Civil War Tour of Barcelona for history buffs, students, schools and school trips.

 The complicated story is made accessible through clear storytelling and with the help of historical images of the period.

*In compliance with the local guidelines for guided tours, we use wireless audio guide systems in our tours. This has a cost of 1€ per person.

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Pl. de Catalunya, 4, 08002 Barcelona,...
    Pl. de Catalunya, 4, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    View on map

    In Plaça de Catalunya, at the exact pin shown on the map. Guide will have a White Umbrella.

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Plaça de Catalunya

    Major site of fighting during the Spanish Civil war, some minor damage still visible.

  • 2
    Outside visit
    La Rambla

    Hotel Intercontinental where George Orwell stayed when he came to fight in the International Brigades volunteers during the Spanish Civil War.

  • 3
    Outside visit
    El Raval

    Neighborhood that was the center of the working class anarcho-syndicalist CNT workers movement that fought for free communism

  • 4
    Outside visit
    Hospital of the Santa Creu of Barcelona

    A 15th century gothic style hospital

  • 5
    Outside visit
    Placeta del Pi

    The only remaining "revolutionary street sign" from the working class revolution in 1936, which was only discovered in 2004.

  • 6
    Outside visit
    Sant Felip Neri Square

    A small hidden square with the most visible damage from the Spanish Civil War

  • 7
    Outside visit
    Plaça de Sant Jaume

    Square with Barcelona's City Hall and the Catalan State Government

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

304 ratings
5.0
By category
Professionalism
4.98
Fun
4.75
Expression
4.93
Quality
4.92
Route
4.78
Generic
5 stars
299
4 stars
4
3 stars
1
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0
1 star
0
Oded 27 May 2023

Verified booking
Travelled in family - May 2023
Yannis is excellent guide. His extensive knowledge and ability to tell the story was remarkable. We were adult and 2 teenages that Yannis succeed to attract to the history, to understand the narative and openly talk about one of the untouchables topic that make Spain and Catalunya to what they are. Highly recommended by all of us. Example of how historical guiding tour should be look like. Well done Yannis.
Dvora 26 May 2023
Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut

Verified booking
Travelled alone - May 2023
Loved the tour! Fascinating information, great tour guide- warmly recommended
Max ... 22 May 2023
Berlin

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - May 2023
Very insightful tour! A difficult topic well presented.
Jose 20 May 2023
Buenos Aires

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - May 2023
En mí opinión el mérito es todo de David dado que no paró de hablar y mostrarnos fotos y los puntos donde se desarrollaron los combates hoy reestructurados . Si no fuese por sus comentarios no reflejarian para nada el dramatismo que allí se vivió. Excelente charla y caminata...
Gerry 20 May 2023
Glasgow

Verified booking
Travelled alone - May 2023
Fantastic tour by a brilliant guide Filipa. I learned so much about the Spanish Civil war and the proceeding years. The history is fascinating, and Filipa provided so much information and context, whilst making a dark subject entertaining. I really recommend this tour, and if you get Filipa as your guide, even better. If you do one tour in Barcelona, do this one.
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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