The Barcelona panot flower - a symbol of the city on the sidewalks

If you walk around Barcelona, you will surely notice that not only the buildings and squares tell stories, but also the pavements. One of the most iconic motifs, which appears in almost every district, is the Barcelona panot flower - a simple, stylized four-petaled flower pattern that has become one of the hidden symbols of the city.

What is a panot?

The panot is nothing more than the city's characteristic concrete paving slab. At the beginning of the 20th century, during the rapid growth of Barcelona, the city government aimed to standardize and beautify the streets. Before the introduction of the panot, each resident paved their own section, resulting in a complete mess of materials and patterns. This gave rise to the idea of a standardized concrete slab, which quickly spread to the new streets of the Eixample district.

The most famous decoration is the Flor de Barcelona, which is often associated with the names of Josep Puig i Cadafalch or Antoni Gaudi, although this is not true. There are several designs in the city's official series of panots, but the flower has become the best known and most popular.

The symbolism of the flower

The panot flower is a symbol of the Barcelona lifestyle: simple, decorative and ubiquitous. Although it is a functional, industrial tile, it still has artistic content.

• The floral pattern evokes the delicate, organic forms of the Art Nouveau (modernisme) style.

• Over time, it has become a symbol of identity for both locals and tourists: a small detail that immediately reminds you of Barcelona.

• The motif is so popular that it is now featured on souvenirs (bags, jewelry, ceramics, T-shirts). In fact, local tattoo artists are now offering this design to tourists who want a lasting memory of the city.

Where can you see it?

• Most often on the streets of Eixample, where these paving slabs began to be laid at the beginning of the 20th century.

• It can also be often found around the Gaudí houses (Casa Batlló, La Pedrera) on Passeig de Gràcia.

• But if you walk carefully, you will stumble upon the characteristic floral pattern on almost every walk you take in Barcelona.

Why is it worth paying attention to?

The panot flower is not only one of the most beautiful little details of the city, but also a reminder that Barcelona is the capital of design and creativity. More than a century ago, the city government believed that even ordinary things - like a paving stone - could be beautiful and aesthetic.

Tip for travelers: If you're in Barcelona, take a photo of the panot flower with your shoes, as it's one of the most popular Instagram topics related to the city.