Foixarda Tunnel: Barcelona’s Hidden Climbing Gem

The Foixarda tunnel in Barcelona, transformed by Manolo Sanchez into a free urban climbing gym, has fostered a local climbing community and popularized the sport, which has become an official Olympic event. His dedication and innovative spirit have made climbing accessible to many, inspiring both locals and tourists.

The Foixarda tunnel in Barcelona, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Manolo Sanchez, hides a climbing treasure trove made up of thousands of holds in various shapes, sizes, and colors. This unique spot has played a crucial role in popularizing climbing and transforming it into an official Olympic sport.

"There's a lot of passion here... And the reward is to see how people take up the sport," said Sanchez, 58. His relentless dedication converted this former road tunnel into an urban climbing gym, cherished by both locals and tourists. "I find it incredible that a sport that was practiced by so few people is now an Olympic sport," he added.

Climbing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Olympics and will feature next month in the Paris Games at the Le Bourget climbing venue, the only sports facility built specifically for Paris 2024. Sanchez began climbing in the tunnel in 1992, coinciding with the Barcelona Olympics, initially using rocks and wood attached to the walls. By 1995, he started creating his own holds.

During the early days, Sanchez and his friends could only use the tunnel at night due to road traffic, adopting the nickname 'vampires,' a symbol seen on many of his homemade holds. Funded by his earnings from a climbing gym and donations from climbers, the tunnel now boasts over 9,000 holds, accessible 24/7 and free of charge.

"That's a big gift," said Italian climber Martina Detassis, 33, highlighting the sport's high costs. Sanchez's son, David Sanchez Carrera, also praises his father's work, acknowledging how the tunnel has expanded the climbing community. "If this tunnel wasn't there, many climbers nowadays would not have been who they are."

(With inputs from agencies.)