Barcelona Travel Forum

Does anyone know why, when entering places such as Palau Guell and La Pedrera, you cannot carry a backpack on your back?
The staff there will tell you to hold your bag by hand or leave it in the cloakroom.

I have no personal knowledge of either, but I wouldn't be shocked if the staff had had trouble in the past with people running their backpacks into walls or door frames or knocking things over...it being hard to keep track of something on your back. Maybe the problem is with the large backpacks and they decided to make all backpacks on the back verboten just so there wouldn't be any arguments.

Although I am sure they'd rather you left it in the cloakroom (a lot of places require it), at least, when in your hand, you're more aware of where your backpack is...just a guess...

Bill

Quite frankly I get fed up with back packs being forced and rammed into my face however polite the wearer might be. I do know that St Marks in Venice for a number of years has had a total ban on backpacks. Might I suggest that you look at the alternative bags which are made by PacSafe and are totally acceptable and large enough for most. They are also a lot more secure with a steel cable running through them. Cheapest place is Amazon.

How many times have I been hit in the face while sitting in the bus when people with large bag packs push through others to reach the back of the bus?

I'd say the reason is pretty obvious: these buildings have fragile surfaces and artworks around (and too many people is careless!!). It's quite easy to rub a backpack, even small, against a wall or a statue... you control it more in your hand

Anyway, when visiting these kind of places I leave my things in the cloakroom, just for comfort

This is pretty typical at most museums all over the world for just the reasons that Belsa writes above.