A popular deli and shop in Barcelona has warned tourists they could be charged for leaving without buying anything.
Queviures Múrria, a historic shop and deli in the Spanish city, has had enough of selfie-taking visitors.
The famous shop, which first opened in 1898, has a vintage clock and mahogany furniture making it a magnet for tourists.
However, the shop has now warned selfie takers they could be charged five euros (£4.33) if they enter without buying anything.
A sign in the historic shop’s window reads: “Visit just looking (inside) five euros per person, thank you”, reported iNews.
According to iNews, the new sign came about as a joke between the shop’s staff and no one has been charged yet.
Toni Merino, the shop’s manager, said: “We have not charged any money from people who just want to come in and have a look, but that is not the point.”
The deli also shared an Instagram post about the new sign and explained that it was “purely a deterrent”.
The shop has been recognised in awards from tourism sites and Barcelona City Council, making it a destination for many tourists.
According to Statista, there were 99 million overnight visitors to Barcelona in 2022 and it’s one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations.
Tensions have risen between tourists and locals with some residents complaining about overcrowded streets and excessive noise.
The problem is particularly bad in the city’s Gothic Quarter with its narrow streets and boutique shops.
The city has announced plans to raise taxes for cruise tourists, who are blamed for some of the overcrowding.
However, Barcelona isn’t Europe’s most overcrowded city with one Croatian city beating it to the top spot.
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