Over the years, the village of Syurana has become an essential place in Catalonia. Situated at over 700 meters above sea level, it offers a privileged panoramic view over the Priory region, making it a popular destination for all mountaineering enthusiasts. Its summit, soberly named ‘Le Saut de la Reine Maure’, attracts crowds as much as its charming little streets, the remains of an Arab castle and its Romanesque church. Quite simply, a small town of around thirty year-round residents sees its population multiply 60 times when summer comes. “More than 1800 visitors per day in August”even highlights the Catalan daily La Vanguardia .
Faced with this growing success and these many values, the village has thus attracted the attention of the association Les plus beaux villages d’Espagne, which has proposed to include it in the list of must-sees in the country. An offer rejected by Salvador Salvado, the mayor of Cornudella de Monsanto, on which the municipality of Sirana depends. Asked La VanguardiaThe local selectman fears that this distinction will bring even more tourism, which will harm the area in the long run. There is no room for more tourists for him. “It’s like I sold the milk, but I don’t have the cow.”He argues in the regional daily newspaper.
A divisive decision
The reaction of the municipality failed to cause controversy in the region. Because as it reminds La Vanguardiain Sirana and in the municipality of Cornudella de Monsanti, “thousands of residents live sustainably thanks to companies that profit or live directly from tourism». While some welcome the decision, others see it as rash and inconsistent. “It was a cold shower for the residents, regardless of whether they make a living from tourism or not. Why does the mayor speak on our behalf without consulting us? The residents of Syurana are upset.”, reported the Catalan daily Vicenç Mans, president of the 60-member Siurana Neighbors and Friends Association. Others raise the issue of infrastructure, which they say is insufficient to accommodate visitors.
Beyond the local dispute, the mayor’s decision raises a big question: the management of mass tourism. The small village has already taken symbolic decisions to limit the number of tourists. He thus limited the number of cars that could park in the small historic center to 400. An event that is all the more necessary because, as we repeat again and again in Syurana. “If there were more, they would fall into the void.”. A small Catalan town that has become an Instagrammable destination that demands discerning visitors. “We do not close the doors to tourism, on the contrary, we want quality tourism, not massification.”, Mayor Salvador Salvador asserted. An assertion that has not yet completed.
Source: Le Figaro
