Crossword Genius

City block with no lacework (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

barcelona

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'city' is the definition.
(I know that Barcelona is a city)

'block with no lacework' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'block' could be 'bar' (block can mean to ban or bar) and 'bar' is found within the answer.
'no' could be 'o' (O resembles 0) and 'o' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for barcelona that I've seen before include "Chief port of Spain" , "Major city in NE Spain" , "City and province of Catalonia in NE Spain" , "coastal city" , "Span. City" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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