Barcelona to Rebuild Historic School Destroyed During Civil War

Barcelona to Rebuild Historic School Destroyed During Civil War Barcelona, Spain – May 15, 2025 – A new initiative is underway to rebuild l’Escola del Mar, a historic school in Barceloneta that was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. The school, founded in 1922 by the Mancomunitat de Catalunya, was a pioneering institution with a unique pedagogical approach that integrated learning with outdoor activities, making use of the beach as a natural classroom. "Imagine having the beach as your schoolyard," says Jordi Palmer, a reporter for El Nacional.cat, in a recent video report. "That was the reality for children at l’Escola del Mar." The video shows the current site of the school, now a public space, and includes historical photographs of the original building. The school was tragically destroyed on January 7, 1938, during a devastating air raid by Italian fascist forces. Despite the destruction of the building, the pedagogical concept of l’Escola del Mar lived on, with the school relocating to Montjuïc and later to Guinardó, where it continues to operate today. The Barcelona city council is currently studying plans to rebuild a replica of the original building, a testament to the enduring legacy of this innovative educational institution. The project is expected to be launched in 2023.