Girona of contrasts: from 9 to 50% of foreign residents within a few minutes' walk

GironaGirona is a medium-sized city of just over 100,000 inhabitants. Within a few kilometers, a diverse and contrasting urban landscape is concentrated, with very little physical distance between affluent and humbler neighborhoods. As confirmed by the data from the Annual Population Census of the National Institute of Statistics (INE), analyzed by ARA, district 2, which includes Montilivi and part of Palau, has around 9% of its population born abroad, while, at the same level, but on the southwest side of the city, in Santa Eugènia, this proportion exceeds 50%. the data from the Annual Population Census of the National Institute of Statistics (INE), analyzed by ARA,district 2, which includes Montilivi and part of Palau, has around 9% of its population born abroad, while, at this same level, but on the southwest side of the city, in Santa Eugènia, this proportion exceeds 50%.

Montilivi and Palau are neighborhoods built on a hill on the banks of the Onyar, basically residential. Going up Montilivi Avenue, it's all more or less uniform houses, single-family homes, with an entrance door, a garage, and a backyard. Further up, there is the high school, Girona's stadium, and the faculties of Science, Economics, and Law of the University of Girona. Behind these buildings, the houses that remain hidden are increasingly large and stately, with modern architecture and large courtyards. All with alarms and surveillance cameras. Some Girona FC players live here. Further out, near the road, there are private schools such as Montessori and St. George's School.

"In the classrooms of the public high school, it is perceived that it is an affluent neighborhood. It is an absolutely different reality from other neighborhoods. The immigration ratio is much lower in secondary education and high school," explains a teacher at the center. On the other hand, in vocational training, there is much more diversity of origin and social class, since the students are not exclusively from the neighborhood but come from all over the city and the region to undertake specialized training.

In the streets of Montilivi, outside of match days and the university or high school surroundings during class hours, there is little activity. It is not a neighborhood with many shops or bars, but it does have all the basic services. During the day, some residents walk their dogs in the garden areas and others take the opportunity to exercise, as there are hills and slopes, it is close to natural environments, and few cars pass by. "The situation is essentially calm, without major incidents. In the 80s, we did have to make great demands to get services and paved roads in Montilivi, but now we focus mainly on social activities such as the theater group, sea shanties, and choir," explains Ramon Ternero, president of the neighborhood association.

The associative hub of Santa Eugènia

The neighborhood of Santa Eugènia is the complete opposite. There is much more hustle and bustle in the street at all hours. More than sixty years ago it was an independent municipality separate from Girona. Now it is one of the densest neighborhoods with a cultural diversity evident at first glance. Every two or three doorways there are kebab restaurants, nail salons, 24-hour shops, Latin restaurants, Moroccan tea houses, Indian cuisine, Asian establishments... There are no single-family homes: everything is apartment blocks, some for social rent. And in the squares, like Plaça del Barco or Plaça de Núria Terés, there are always children playing football, groups of young people on the benches, and retirees playing pétanque.

To the east, the neighborhood borders l’Eixample and the more central Devesa area, and to the west, it acts as a hinge with the multi-ethnic population of Salt. To the south, it dissolves towards Can Gibert del Pla, also a humble neighborhood, where the City Council has announced new plots for social housing and foresees a major transformation with the future Josep Trueta Health Campus.

Santa Eugènia is also one of the most associative neighborhoods in Catalonia. There are more than forty entities, driven by associations from all nationalities and diasporas that fuel the popular buzz and unequivocally contribute to immersion and coexistence. Many gather and organize around the Ateneu Eugenienc, where there are activities, meetings, and workshops every afternoon. "We don't like the word

immigration. We speak of Girona citizens. Period. There should be no separation between Guineans, Senegalese, Chinese, or Muslims," explains Ramon Macaya, president of the Ateneu's board. He adds: "The goal is not for each community's entity to carry out its activity and leave, but for them to collaborate. Now, for example, we have started an after-school program at the Montfalgars school for immersion in popular culture, and in the giant's group, we already have a Senegalese girl and carrier." Beyond this associative hub, the neighborhood has the Can Ninetes civic center, the La Marfà music creation space, the Salvador Allende library, and the neighborhood association, which also organize many activities.

Among the residents of Santa Eugènia, however, there is also concern for safety. Or at least for the perception of insecurity. That is why a few months ago the Girona City Council inaugurated the Can Burrassó police station, with the presence of Mossos d'Esquadra, to meet the needs of the neighborhood and strengthen police surveillance, which gives peace of mind to the surrounding residents. "There is no more crime here than in other neighborhoods, but, because they sometimes forget about us, we wanted a police station nearby like in other places," acknowledges Saïd, a young Moroccan who is sitting in front of the police headquarters.

The block of the Old Town

Beyond the contrast between Montilivi and Santa Eugènia, there is an area of central Girona where the percentage of citizens born outside the State is the highest in the municipality. These are streets in Girona's Barri Vell where the proportion climbs to 57%. It is not due to the expats who love bicycles and come to the city, filling the center with specialty coffee shops, brunch places with signs in English, and tourist apartments —as many residents and organizations have denounced—, since most of them stay for short periods and are not registered in the census. The statistics skyrocket mainly because of La Sopa, the municipal reception center located behind the cathedral, where the City Council has registered over 600 people, even though they do not live there. Most are of African origin and it is the way to provide them with basic services during a temporary administrative process until they find a solution.