200 people protest closure of iconic Boia bar in Cadaqués

Nearly 200 people gathered in front of the historic Boia Bar in Cadaqués on Sunday to protest its closure due to Spain's coastal law. 

The bar, founded in the picturesque Costa Brava town in 1946, was forced to shut down on January 4 because it did not comply with regulations that mandate a minimum 150-meter separation between beach bars in urban areas. Boia Bar stands just 17 meters away from Marítim Bar, which remains open. 

The 79 year old bar was considered 'iconic' due to the time spent there by Catalan painter Salvador Dalí, writer Josep Pla, and French artist Marcel Duchamp. Boia Bar was declared a Local Cultural Heritage Site (BCIL) in 2016. 

Protesters criticized the failure of regulations to acknowledge cultural heritage and demanded greater government involvement in preserving historical sites.  

"Boia was a key part of the town’s identity, and we refuse to accept that the law does not take that into account," said Eva Daniel, spokesperson for C.R.E.A. Cadaqués, the group organizing the demonstration. 

Demonstrators expressed their frustration through music, performing a satirical corranda, a form of improvised song and dance deeply rooted in Cadaqués' cultural traditions. The lyrics openly criticized the closure, blaming it on ''a useless coastal law'' and claiming authorities are destroying their heritage.  

Protesters urged local and regional authorities to defend Cadaqués' cultural heritage and revise the coastal law to allow exceptions for historical sites. 

"Boia Bar was part of Cadaqués' memory and identity. We are here today to demand that the law be reconsidered so that it protects cultural and historic landmarks," Daniel said. 

The protesters turned the event into a festive but determined movement to push for a review of the law. David Pons, press officer for C.R.E.A. Cadaqués, criticized the regulations as ''unfair laws made in offices without understanding local realities.'' 

The event also included calls for a broader protection plan for all cultural heritage sites to prevent similar closures. Protesters pushed for a comprehensive inventory of heritage assets, legal protection to prevent their demolition, and effective solutions to preserve Cadaqués' history and identity. 

"Boia Bar is a historic and cultural landmark that has welcomed renowned artists such as Salvador Dalí, Marcel Duchamp, Josep Vicenç Foix, Gabriel García Márquez, and Josep Pla," Pons noted. He described its closure as "an attack on Cadaqués, as if the town had lost a vital part of itself." 

The protest concluded with live music and a group photo in front of the now-empty Boia Bar. Protesters hope their efforts will lead to the bar’s reopening. The closure has also left around 30 employees without work, adding to the urgency of the movement.