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Sign in with GooglePlaça del Diamant Refugi Antiaeri | Gràcia Civil War Shelter Tour
Visit one of Barcelona’s last surviving Civil War air raid shelters. Located in Gràcia. Guided tours every Sunday in Catalan, Spanish, and English
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About the Plaça del Diamant Refugi Antiaeri – Gràcia Civil War Air Raid Shelter
During the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona constructed over 1,400 underground air raid shelters to protect civilians from the aerial bombardment campaign carried out by the Italian Air Force at the request of General Francisco Franco. Today, only two of these shelters remain open to the public. One of the most evocative is the Refugi Antiaeri de la Plaça del Diamant, located in the heart of the Gràcia neighbourhood.
History of the Plaça del Diamant Refugi Antiaeri
In 1992, during civil works in Plaça del Diamant, workers uncovered Refugi 0232, a civil war air raid shelter built 12 metres underground. It was designed to protect up to 200 residents of Gràcia during the bombings. The shelter comprises 69 metres of tunnels, each 1.1 metres wide and 2 metres high, with a total area of 75.9 square metres. It includes two ventilation shafts, an infirmary, and an electrical installation.
This shelter was one of 90 built in Gràcia as part of the city’s civil defence network. Notably, Barcelona was the first city in history to suffer systematic aerial bombardment—predating the Blitz in London during World War II. The attacks aimed to cripple the city’s industrial capacity and morale.
Unlike many shelters, this one was not built by the Catalan government but by a local committee of residents. The Generalitat later issued technical guidelines to support community-led construction efforts across the city.
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Visiting the Gràcia Air Raid Shelter
Today, the Plaça del Diamant Refugi Antiaeri is managed by the Associació Taller d’Història de Gràcia, which offers guided tours of the site. Tours are conducted in Catalan, Spanish, and English, with the language rotating by week. The guide is knowledgeable and provides historical context and personal stories that bring the space to life.
Meeting Point: At the entrance steps in Plaça del Diamant. Advance booking is essential as group sizes are limited. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Guided Visit Schedule
- 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th Sunday of the month: Catalan language tours at 11:00 am
- 2nd Sunday of the month: Spanish tours (English available with prior notice) at 11:00 am
Accessability & What to bring to Grácia Refugi Antiaeri
The shelter is located beneath Plaça del Diamant and is only accessible via a narrow spiral staircase. It is not suitable for visitors with reduced mobility.
Inside the bunker, temperatures are significantly cooler than street level. A light fleece or jacket is recommended. Visitors should wear comfortable footwear and avoid beachwear, which is not permitted in the shelter or on the streets of Barcelona.
Bicycle parking is available in the square.
For a more accessible alternative, consider visiting the Refugi 307 in Montjuïc, which has street-level access and wider tunnels suitable for those with mobility needs.
Plaça Diamant Refugi Antiaeri Summary of Prices
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Adult
Zone 1 T-casual
€ 3.00
Child
€ 1.25
€ 3.00
Group/Family Ticket?
See Website.
Notes
1st, 3rd, 4th &5th Sunday of month - Catalan, 2nd Sunday of month - Spanish. English, ask.
Getting to Plaça Diamant Refugi Antiaeri
Address: Plaça del Diamant S/N, 08012 Barcelona
Nearest Metro: Fontana (L3 – Green Line)
Use a T-Casual or Hola Barcelona Travel Card for unlimited journeys during your visit.
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