Since long ago, prostitution was moved from the public spots to the anonymity of the private flats in the city. If this chapter is added to the guide is obviously not to provide addresses of current locations but to expose how the city has changed also in this “sinner” aspect, including some curiosities and anecdotes.
The Sinner Side of Girona
Next to Sant Feliu church there was the so-called “Barri Xino”, an urban area well delimited by some dark, wet, diminished streets where spread bars with striking illuminated signs. In 1975 in only two streets in this area there were up to fifteen bars where prostitution was practiced: La Cuadra, Las Vegas, and Capri in the Portal de la Barca street; Ester, Nuri, Mari, Copacabana, la Vedette, Trèbol, Málaga, Río, Chit, Pepe, Los Faroles and Lina in the Pou Rodó street.
From the 80’s the first cases of narcotics traffic were detected and from that moment on the degradation had no curb. Clients began to decrease and some bars started to close. In 1990 only eight of this kind of bars remained and they were both closed down by a court order.
Nowadays, the visitor walking around the former “Barri Xino” will find a modern urban space where the whores spots have been replaced by a roomy public square and with some high gastronomy restaurants, charming pizzerias and prestigious hotels around. In one them the Facebook founder even spent a night! The transformation of the city has reached the very heart of what was its most decadent part and has given a new life and a new boost.
