Through the Lens of Urban Squares. Everyday Life and the Visibility of Social Transformations

Urban squares stand at the crossroads of change. These urban laboratories turn everyday life into a lens for understanding broader social transformations. In this article, drawing on autoethnographic reflections as an eight-year resident of Gràcia (Barcelona), I examine the neighborhood’s changing landscape since COVID-19, exploring its relation to gentrification and local politics. Using an in-depth case study of the Festa Major de Gràcia, I combine observation with participation: from the summer of 2024 to 2025, I volunteered on Carrer Mozart (Mozart Street).