(18 Oct 2019) Thousands of pro-independence Catalans protested outside Barcelona´s iconic Sagrada Familia basilica on Friday, blocking entrances and making it impossible for tourists to visit the city's most popular touristic site.
Demonstrators held Catalan flags and photos of Spanish King Felipe upside down, some with his head ripped.
Tourists and security guards inside Antoni Gaudi´s famed masterpiece observed the protest as other tourists stuck outside lamented not being able to visit the basilica.
One of them was Naoya Suzuki from Japan who was on his honeymoon.
His wife wiped away tears.
It was their last day visiting the city and their only chance at visiting the Sagrada Familia.
Builders working in the construction of the unfinished monument were also seen leaving the building and joining the strike under the applause of protesters.
More than 4.5 million visitors pay 17-38 euros (19-42 US dollars) each to tour the cathedral-sized church each year.
Despite violent clashes that rocked the city throughout the week, Friday morning's protest was peaceful.
The northeastern region of Spain is holding a general strike to oppose the conviction of 12 Catalan separatists, nine of whom have been sentenced to jail for their involvement in an illegal independence referendum in 2017.
Hundreds of thousands were expected to march in Barcelona in the afternoon.

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