Mural Alexia Putellas

Barcelona is a city that builds cathedrals to its gods, usually out of stone and usually taking a few centuries to finish. But on the corner of Carrer de Ramón y Cajal and Carrer de l'Escorial in the heart of Gràcia, the city has a new kind of icon. It’s not carved in marble; it’s sprayed onto a weathered wall. This is the Alexia Putellas mural, a vibrant, larger-than-life tribute to the woman who redefined what it means to be a hero in Catalonia.

Created by the urban artist TVBOY—the same guy who famously painted Messi and Ronaldo locking lips—this piece depicts Alexia as 'Super Alexia.' She’s wearing a red cape over her Barça jersey, a direct nod to the legendary Maradona mural in the Spanish Quarters of Naples. It’s a bold statement. In a country where football has been a machismo-fueled religion for a century, putting a woman on a pedestal previously reserved for 'El Pibe de Oro' is a beautiful, necessary middle finger to the status quo.

Walking through Gràcia to find this spot is half the experience. This isn't the polished, museum-grade Barcelona of the Eixample. Gràcia is a neighborhood of narrow streets, independent spirit, and the constant hum of scooters. It’s a place where people actually live, where the smell of roasting coffee from a nearby cafe competes with the scent of diesel and laundry detergent. When you turn the corner and see that shock of blue and garnet against the grey urban backdrop, it hits you. It’s a protein rush for the soul.

The mural itself has a history that’s as gritty as the street it sits on. Shortly after it was painted, it was defaced with homophobic and sexist slurs. It was a reminder that even in a progressive city like Barcelona, the old guard doesn't go down without a fight. But the neighborhood, and the artist, fought back. The mural was restored, the hate scrubbed away, and today it stands as a testament to resilience. It’s one of the most significant examples of the best street art in Barcelona because it carries the weight of a cultural shift.

You’ll see people stopping here all day. It’s not just tourists with selfie sticks. You’ll see young girls in their own Blaugrana jerseys, looking up at the wall with a kind of reverence you usually only see at the Camp Nou. They aren't looking at a celebrity; they’re looking at a possibility. It’s a pilgrimage site for the modern era.

Is it worth the trek? If you’re looking for things to do in Gràcia that don't involve waiting in a three-hour line for a Gaudí house, then yes. It takes five minutes to see, but it stays with you. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s a window into the soul of the 'new' Barcelona—a city that still loves its football, but is finally learning to cheer for everyone on the pitch. Don't expect a gift shop or a velvet rope. It’s just a wall, a can of spray paint, and a whole lot of hope. Grab a coffee at one of the nearby plazas, walk over, and pay your respects to the queen of Catalonia. This is the real Barcelona, far away from the hermetically sealed tour buses.