The cobblestones of BCN

Much more than just a floor to step on

Driving around Barcelona means knowing its streets well... and its bumps. But if there’s one thing that never fails, it’s the “panots”: those small squares with a flower engraved that you only find on the city’s sidewalks.

For me, as a taxi driver, they’re not very comfortable, because when you park nearby, the customer steps on the sidewalk and says to you: “Look how beautiful this floor is!”. And yes, they are beautiful. Created at the beginning of the 20th century, they had a very practical purpose: to help drainage and standardize the sidewalks. But over time they’ve become a symbol.

Some people get them tattooed, brands make keychains in their shape, and tourists take selfies with them. Once I drove a guy who had bought half an old tile at a market for 40 euros. I thought: “And I still have some on my terrace at home!”

In the end, these panots are a metaphor for the city: seemingly simple, a bit uncomfortable, but with a lot of history beneath.