Most flat surfaces below 3 meters are covered with graffiti in Alicante, even in the “nice” barrios. The only structures avoided by the street artists are the cathederals and the Tram. The taggers probably realize the bad juju (think Spanish inquisition) they would incur if they tagged a holy place. The Tram is either too new or too much effort when free concrete canvas abounds above ground.
Most buildings look like the below picture. Behind the metal blinds could be a sex shop or a Rolex dealer; curb appeal doesn’t seem to matter.
Occasionally, the taggers create a coherent “work.”
Some places seem off limits, if the existing art is nice enough. This building, surrounded by heavily graffitied buildings, is untouched. It might be protected by the lady bugs. Notice the really cool third-floor deck and garden.
Here’s another building protected by lady bugs.
I’m not sure who is doing the graffiti in Alicante. I don’t see (to my untrained tourista eyes) any evidence of thugs hanging around the street corners with spray cans in their hands nor do I notice any consistent symbols or words indicating someone’s territory.
Occasionally, the graffiti is pretty good. Below Humprey Bogart keeps watch along the path to the Castillo de Santa Barbara for Ingrid Bergman.
“I wonder, O, wall, that you have not fallen in ruins from supporting the stupidities of so many scribblers.”
-- graffiti from Pompeii
