Beneath the streets of the Poble-sec neighbourhood, a network of tunnels tells one of the most immediate and personal stories of the Spanish Civil War. Refugi 307 is the largest and best-preserved of the approximately 1,400 anti-aircraft shelters that the citizens of Barcelona built during the years of aerial bombardment between 1936 and 1939.

Barcelona Under the Bombs

Barcelona was one of the first cities in history to experience systematic aerial bombardment of its civilian population. Nationalist and Italian aircraft attacked the city repeatedly between 1937 and 1939, killing thousands of civilians. The city’s response was remarkable: residents organised themselves into neighbourhood committees and dug a vast network of shelters by hand, working at night by lamplight.

Refugi 307 was dug beneath Carrer Nou de la Rambla in 1936 and extended over the following years to accommodate up to 2,000 people. The tunnels — 200 metres long, with separate areas for men, women, children, a first aid station, and even a hairdresser — were sophisticated enough to filter out poison gas as well as provide blast protection.

The Guided Tour

Visits to Refugi 307 are by guided tour only, and the experience is genuinely affecting. Moving through the original tunnels — cold, lit only by period-appropriate lighting, with the original structure largely intact — brings the wartime experience into vivid proximity. Guides bring the shelter to life with personal testimonies and historical detail.

Getting There

Refugi 307 is at Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 169 in Poble-sec. The nearest metro is Paral·lel (L2/L3). Guided tours must be booked in advance via the MUHBA website. The tour lasts around 60 minutes. Not recommended for visitors with claustrophobia or serious mobility limitations.