The Tragic Week of 1909 - the birth of revolutionary Barcelona

Filling the Sink

Barcelona is the city in the world with the most extensive history of barricade fights. These words come from philosopher Friedrich Engels, and many other thinkers have pointed to Barcelona as the city of revolutions.

115 years ago, on July 25, 1909, the Catalan capital witnessed one of the first popular uprisings of the century, known as the Tragic Week or La Setmana Tràgica in Catalan.

What began as an anti-war movement opposing the conscription for the colonial war in Morroco, soon turned into an anti-clerical revolt. And it left a striking image: the Barcelona sky filled with smoke, as more than 80 churches were set on fire.

Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to revisit the uprising and explain the meaning behind Barcelona’s nickname ‘Rose of Fire’ or Rosa de Foc. We hear from historian Josep Pich from the University of Pompeu Fabra, who argues that the events should be renamed as the Revolution of 1909.

We also catch up with historian Salvador Lou, one of the guides of the Barcelona Rebelde tours, who explains how Barcelona became the capital of revolutionary movements.

The Catalan phrase of the week is “jugar amb foc,” which means to play with fire.

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