Barcelona to rename Sant Josep de Calassanç square as 'Turtles Square'

The City Council approves the change following a long-standing request from local residents in Camp de l'Arpa.

Generic image of a turtle sculpture in a public square in Barcelona.
IA

Generic image of a turtle sculpture in a public square in Barcelona.

The Barcelona City Council has officially approved renaming the Sant Josep de Calassanç square to Plaça de les Tortugues (Turtles Square), reflecting the popular name used by locals for decades.

The decision, supported by most political parties in the Sant Martí district, honors a neighborhood tradition. Between the 1960s and 1980s, three turtle sculptures were the main attraction for children in the area, leading residents to ignore the official religious name imposed in 1958.
The renaming is part of a larger urban renewal project for the Camp de l'Arpa del Clot neighborhood. Plans include improving accessibility, expanding the playground with turtle-shaped equipment, and adding a new green point near Xifré street. The works are expected to be tendered before the end of the current municipal term.