A new business in Palma’s Pere Garau neighbourhood has been targeted by vandals before even opening its doors, sparking outrage among local residents. The attack, which occurred on Sunday, saw graffiti scrawled across the establishment’s panels and windows, prompting condemnation from the local community association.
The premises, located between Nuredduna Street and Plaza de las Columnas, offers yoga, Pilates, and café services. Defacements included turismophobic messages such as “- turisme + barri,” reflecting growing tensions over the rise of tourism-focused businesses in the area and concerns about gentrification creeping ever closer to the city centre.
Residents have expressed their dismay at the incident, highlighting it as a symptom of wider issues in the neighbourhood. The Associació de Veïns i Veïnades de Pere Garau used social media to voice their concern, describing the attack as an example of the disorder and lack of control they have long warned about.
The community association strongly condemned the vandalism, stressing that some of the graffiti contained sexist content. “We understand that opinions on the evolution of our area and tourism may differ,” they said. “But acts like this do not build a community: they degrade it. This is not protest; it is vandalism.”
They added that constructive dialogue is the way to address concerns. “A neighbourhood is built through respect, coexistence, and collaboration. Violence in any form has no place here. What truly strengthens a community is caring for it, respecting it, and working together to improve it,” the association concluded.