The history of Les Roquetes cannot be understood without the activism of Maria Lluïsa Serralta, and the work she did to preserve the collective memory and heritage of the community. In 1983, she created the Roquetes - Nou Barris Historical Archive.

One of her campaigns was focused on the restoration of Torre Baró castle, a historical and emblematic symbol of Nou Barris. She also championed the memory of the washhouse women of the Cases del Governador. Built in 1953, as well as being a place for washing clothes, these were also a space of solidarity and a meeting place for women. Today, a plaque and a lectern remind us where these washhouses were located. Serralta was the chair of the Verdum residents’ association, which she used as a platform for channelling the neighbourhood’s struggles and demands.

During the 1970s, she was the driving force behind the opening of the Freire School for Adults located on Via Favencia, which promoted literacy and emancipation for local women.

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Barcelona 2022 ID 8445

As a neighbourhood activist, she promoted the Freire Adult School and the Historical Archive of Roquetes - Nou Barris. Her achievements include the refurbishment of the Torre Baró castle and the ponds at the Cases del Governador.