Barcelona

Barcelona is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia and the second-most populous municipality in Spain. With a population of 1.7 million people within the city limits, Barcelona is one of the largest cities on the Mediterranean Sea.

The city has a rich history, dating back to ancient times. Over the centuries, it has been an important economic and cultural center. Today, Barcelona is known for its beautiful architecture, especially the works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Barcelona is a major cultural and tourist destination. It hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics and continues to attract visitors from around the world for its vibrant arts scene, beautiful beaches, and lively atmosphere. The city is also a key economic center, with important roles in finance, technology, and trade.

Names

The name Barcelona has ancient roots. It comes from the Iberian word Baŕkeno, which appears in old coins. Later, it was known as Barkinṓn in Ancient Greek and Barcino in Latin.

During the Middle Ages, the city had many names like Barchinona and Barçalona. Today, locals sometimes call it Barna. The name Barça is only used for the famous football club, FC Barcelona. The city is also called the Comital City because it was once the home of the Count of Barcelona.

History

Main article: History of Barcelona

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Barcelona.

See also: Street names in Barcelona

Legendary founding

The beginning of the first settlement where Barcelona now stands is unclear. Ruins of an early settlement have been found, including tombs and homes dating back to before 5000 BC. In Greek stories, the founding of Barcelona was linked to the hero Hercules.

Punic Barcelona

According to tradition, Barcelona was founded by settlers from Phoenicia. Some believe the city was started by the famous Carthaginian leader, Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, who may have named it Barcino after his family in the 3rd century BC. Iberia and Barcelona were controlled by the Carthaginian Empire and were important for trade because of their closeness to Ibiza. Coins from the 3rd century BC with the name Bárkeno have been found, suggesting the area was called Bàrkeno by local people.

Roman Barcelona

See also: Roman Sepulchral way and Roman walls of Barcelona

Around 15 BC, the Romans reshaped the town into a military camp called a castrum, centered around "Mons Taber", a small hill near today’s Generalitat. The Roman center was placed where Plaça de Sant Jaume now stands. The city grew in wealth and importance, and it made its own coins.

Important Roman remains can be seen underground in Plaça del Rei at the Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA). The old city’s layout still shows the typical Roman grid pattern in the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). Some pieces of the old Roman walls are built into the cathedral. The cathedral, called La Seu, meaning "the cathedral" in Catalan, may have been started in 343.

Medieval Barcelona

The city was taken over by the Visigoths in the early 5th century and became the capital of Hispania for a short time. Later, it was captured by the Umayyads in the early 8th century, then taken back in 801 by Charlemagne’s son Louis, who made it the center of the Hispanic March.

The rulers of Barcelona became more independent and grew their land to include much of modern Catalonia. In 985, Barcelona was attacked and damaged by forces led by Almanzor. In 1137, the lands of Aragon and Barcelona joined through marriage, forming the Crown of Aragon, which grew powerful and controlled parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Barcelona had a large Jewish community at this time, known as "the Call". Sadly, many Jewish people were affected by events in 1391, and later by the Spanish Inquisition.

Barcelona was an important center for trade and finance, with the Taula de canvi de Barcelona bank founded in 1401.

Barcelona under the Spanish monarchy

In the early modern period, Barcelona lost some political power but its economy stayed strong. The city faced many challenges from wars in the late 1600s and early 1700s. By the 1700s, the population grew from 30,000 to about 100,000 as Barcelona became a key trading city.

Transforming the city

Main article: Cerdà Plan

In the mid-1850s, Barcelona was crowded, with over 856 people per hectare. To help the city grow, engineer Ildefons Cerdà created a plan for a new area called the Eixample. His idea was to build wide streets, gardens between blocks, and make sure rich and poor neighborhoods shared the same services. Though not all his plans were used, the famous octagonal blocks with rounded corners are still part of the city today. This plan helped Barcelona become known for its smart city design.

The Spanish Civil War and the Franco period

After the start of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, Barcelona became the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia. During the Spanish Civil War, the city supported the Republican side. After the war ended in 1939, Barcelona faced strict control. The Catalan language was not allowed in public places.

Late twentieth century

In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics. Preparing for the games changed the city greatly. Old factories by the sea were removed to create new beaches. More roads, better water systems, and plenty of new green spaces were added. The city became much more popular with tourists.

Recent history

Main articles: History of Barcelona and Timeline of Barcelona

After the leader Franco passed away in 1975, Spain began to become a democracy. In Barcelona, big peaceful marches in 1977 asked for Catalan self-rule, which was granted soon after.

Two big events in 1986 helped Barcelona grow: Spain joining the European Community and hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics. The city improved quickly and became famous around the world.

Sadly, in August 2017, an attack happened on La Rambla where a vehicle hit people walking. The city also saw protests about whether Catalonia should be independent from Spain.

In July 2023, Barcelona was chosen as the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture for 2024–2026. This means the city will lead discussions about important building and city planning topics. Barcelona’s history of amazing architecture makes it a perfect choice for this honor.

Geography

Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula, by the Mediterranean Sea. It sits on a flat area about 5 kilometers wide, bordered by mountains, rivers, and the sea. The city covers 101 square kilometers.

The city has many small hills, and some neighborhoods are named after these hills. One famous spot is Tibidabo, which is 512 meters high and has a tall tower on it. Another important hill is Montjuïc, which has a castle and is now a park with many cultural and sports places. Barcelona’s weather is warm, with mild winters and hot summers. It usually rains more in the autumn and spring. The city is quite warm because many people live there, which makes the temperature a bit higher than in surrounding areas.

Demographics

As of 2024, Barcelona has a population of 1,686,208 people spread over an area of 101.4 km² (39 sq mi). It is part of a larger area called Greater Barcelona, which has 3,218,071 people living in 636 km² (246 sq mi). The urban area around Barcelona is home to about 4,840,000 people, making it a big part of the Barcelona metropolitan area, which has around 5,474,482 people.

In 1900, Barcelona had 533,000 people. The population grew slowly until 1950 when many people from other parts of Spain moved to the city for jobs. The city's population reached its highest point in 1979 with 1,906,998 people. After that, the number of people decreased in the 1980s and 1990s as some moved to areas outside the city for a better quality of life. The population dropped to 1,496,266 in 2000 but started to grow again as younger people returned.

Languages spoken

Catalan is the main language of Catalonia and Barcelona. It is used by the City Council and in schools. While Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in the city, Catalan is also widely used. Many people in Barcelona can understand Catalan, and a good number can speak, read, and write it. Knowledge of Catalan has grown a lot because of special school programs that teach it.

Besides Catalan and Spanish, many people in Barcelona speak languages from North Africa, such as Amazigh and Arabic, as well as Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Mandarin Chinese, Romanian, English, Russian, and Quechua.

Population density

Barcelona is one of the most crowded cities in Europe. In 2008, about 1,621,090 people lived in the city, which covers 102.2 km². This means there were around 15,926 people for every square kilometre. The district of Eixample has the most people.

The city's land is not evenly spread out. Half of the city's area is made up of less crowded parts, including industrial areas and parks, where only a small number of people live. The other half, where most people live, is much more crowded, with about 28,500 people per square kilometre.

Age structure

In 1900, almost a third of Barcelona's people were children under 14 years old. By 2017, this group made up only 12.7% of the population. People aged between 15 and 24 made up 9% of the population, those aged 25 to 44 made up 30.6%, and people aged 45 to 64 made up 56.9%. In 1900, only 6.5% of people were 65 or older, but by 2017, this group had grown to 21.5% of the population.

Migration

In 2016, about 59% of Barcelona's people were born in Catalonia, and 18.5% came from other parts of Spain. Around 22.5% of the city's people were born outside Spain, which is more than double the number from 2001 and much more than in 1996.

Many people moving to Barcelona come from Europe, especially from Italy and France. There are also many people from Latin American countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. Since the 1990s, many Latin Americans have settled in the northern parts of the city.

There is also a large community from Pakistan, with up to twenty thousand people living in Ciutat Vella. The first Pakistanis arrived in the 1970s, and their numbers grew in the 1990s.

Other groups come from Asia, including people from China and the Philippines. There is also a Japanese community living in areas like Bonanova, Les Tres Torres, and Pedralbes, served by a Japanese international school.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Barcelona

In 2007, most people in Barcelona said they were Roman Catholic. By 2011, only about half of the people identified as Catholic, showing a change from earlier years. In 2019, around 53.2% of people in Barcelona said they were Catholic, with some practicing their faith and others not.

Barcelona has the largest Muslim community in Spain, with many Muslims living in the city due to immigration. There are also around 3,500 Jews, making it the largest Jewish community in Spain. Other groups include Evangelical people, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists, and Eastern Orthodox people.

Economy

Barcelona is a busy city with lots of jobs and visitors. The area around Barcelona has many people and is one of the richer parts of Europe. In 2009, the city’s area had a big amount of money made from work, more than many other places in Europe.

Barcelona is a great place for business. It has been a trading city for a long time and started using machines for work in 1833. The city has a main place for buying and selling money called the Borsa de Barcelona.

The city has big places for shows and meetings, like Fira de Barcelona, which is one of the biggest in Europe. Barcelona has hosted important world events, such as the 1888 Exposición Universal de Barcelona, the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition (Expo 1929), the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures, and the 2004 World Urban Forum.

Barcelona is very popular with tourists. In 2023, it was the 9th most visited city in the world for people coming from other countries. It has beautiful beaches, warm weather, and many important old buildings, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city has many hotels and places for tourists to visit.

While tourists bring money, too many visitors can cause problems. In 2017, many people in Barcelona said there were too many tourists. The city has tried to limit new hotels and has added extra charges for visitors to help manage this.

Manufacturing sector

Industry makes up 21% of the money made in the area. Barcelona has been a key place for making cars, with many factories over the years. Today, big car companies like SEAT and Nissan have factories near the city. The city also makes motorcycles and other products.

Fashion

Barcelona wants to be a famous place for fashion. It has tried many times to become a top fashion city. In 2015, it was named one of the world’s top fashion cities, after Milan and before Berlin.

Technology

Many technology companies have offices in Barcelona, especially in the El Poblenou area. Some of these companies started in Barcelona, like Glovo and Wallapop. Other big companies, such as Amazon (company) and Oracle Corporation, also have offices there. Barcelona is a strong place for new businesses and technology, with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and its powerful MareNostrum supercomputer.

Government and administrative divisions

See also: Municipal elections in Barcelona and List of mayors of Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and has important government offices there. The city is run by a group of elected leaders called a city council. They make decisions and manage many city services like roads, parks, and schools.

Barcelona has special rules that give its city council more power than other cities in Spain. These rules help the city handle things like traffic and public safety better.

The city council has many jobs to do, such as planning the city, managing transportation, and taking care of parks and public spaces. Some of these jobs are shared with the government of Catalonia or Spain.

The leader of the city is called the Mayor, and they work with other leaders to run the city. The city council meets in a square called Plaça de Sant Jaume.

Public safety

Public safety in Barcelona is managed by two police groups: the Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona and the Mossos d'Esquadra. They work to keep the city safe.

There are also teams that help with medical emergencies, fires, and sea rescues.

Districts

Main article: Districts of Barcelona

See also: Street names in Barcelona

Since 1987, Barcelona has been split into 10 areas called districts. These areas are based on older parts of the city and some were towns that joined Barcelona a long time ago. Each district has its own local leaders.

Education

Main article: Education in Spain

Barcelona has many schools and universities. There are public universities such as the University of Barcelona, which was started in 1450, and the Pompeu Fabra University. There are also private schools like EADA Business School and Ramon Llull University.

The city has public schools for children from nursery to high school. Some private schools also get money from the government but charge fees. In most schools, students learn in Catalan, but they can also learn some subjects in Spanish or other languages.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Barcelona

Barcelona has a rich history that goes back more than 2000 years. Since democracy returned, the Catalan language has been strongly supported, with many old works being rediscovered and new ones created. Barcelona is known as a world-class city and has been part of a special group of cities for literature since 2015.

Entertainment and performing arts

Main article: List of theatres and concert halls in Barcelona

Barcelona has many places for live music and theatre. Famous spots include the Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house, Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, Teatre Lliure, and Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall. The city is home to the Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra, the largest orchestra in the area. They perform about 75 concerts each year. Two big music festivals, Sónar and Primavera Sound Festival, happen in Barcelona every year. The city also has a lively music scene with groups like The Pinker Tones. Barcelona is a fun place for nightlife, with many bars, dance bars, and nightclubs open late at night.

Media

Barcelona has several major daily newspapers like El Periódico de Catalunya, La Vanguardia, and Ara. There are also sports newspapers such as Sport and El Mundo Deportivo. The city has online newspapers, radio stations like Catalunya Ràdio and RAC 1, and a local TV station called Betevé.

Sports

Main article: Sport in Barcelona

Barcelona has a long history with sports. The city hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics and many important football matches. FC Barcelona is a very famous sports club, best known for its football team. The team has won many trophies and is one of the most successful in the world. FC Barcelona also has teams in other sports like basketball, handball, roller hockey, ice hockey, futsal, and rugby. The city has big stadiums such as Camp Nou and Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Barcelona also hosts many running events, a tennis tournament, and a swimming race each Christmas Day. Near the city, there is a racetrack where car and motorcycle races take place.

Squatter movement

Barcelona has many social centres and places where people live without official permission. These places are home to unemployed people, immigrants, and others. They often help each other by sharing resources and providing services like workshops, free meals, and medical care. Some well-known places are Can Vies and Can Masdeu.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Barcelona

Airports

Barcelona has a big airport called Barcelona-El Prat Airport. It is the second biggest airport in Spain and handles over 50 million passengers each year. The airport is close to the city and easy to reach by road, train, or bus. It is a main base for some airlines and serves many places in Europe and some in other parts of the world.

Other smaller airports nearby include Girona-Costa Brava Airport, Reus Airport, Lleida-Alguaire Airport, and Sabadell Airport, which is used for training and private flights.

Seaport

The Port of Barcelona is very old and very important for trade. It is one of the biggest ports in Europe for big ships and had over 1.7 million ship visits in one year. The port has three main areas and is growing bigger by moving a river a little farther away.

The port is also a popular place for cruise ships, with millions of tourists visiting each year. In the old port area, there is a big shopping mall, a movie theater, an IMAX screen, and one of Europe’s largest aquariums — Aquarium Barcelona, with thousands of fish and sharks.

National and international rail

Barcelona has many train stations. The biggest one is Barcelona Sants railway station, where fast trains from Madrid and France stop. These trains can go very fast — up to 310 kilometers per hour!

Metro and regional rail

Barcelona has an extensive subway system with many lines, each with its own color. There are also buses, trams, and special mountain trains and cable cars that help people get around the city. All these different ways to travel use the same ticket system, making it easy to switch between them.

Tram

The city has two modern tram systems, Trambaix and Trambesòs, and a historic tram line called the Tramvia Blau.

Funicular and cable car

Barcelona has several special mountain trains and cable cars. These include the Funicular de Tibidabo, the Funicular de Vallvidrera, the Funicular de Montjuïc, the Montjuïc Cable Car, and the Port Vell Aerial Tramway.

Bus

Buses are a common way to travel around Barcelona. There are many bus lines, including night buses that run late at night. There is also a special bus service called Aerobús that takes people from the airport to the city center.

The Estació del Nord is a big station for long-distance and regional buses.

Taxi

Barcelona has many taxis that are easy to find. They are black and yellow and can be picked up at special spots, hailed on the street, or called by phone or app.

In 2007, the city started a bicycle-sharing service called Bicing. People can rent bikes from special stations around the city and ride them anywhere in the urban area.

Roads and highways

Barcelona is connected to other cities by big roads and highways. There are three big ring roads around the city that help traffic flow. Some of the main streets in the city include Diagonal Avenue, Meridiana Avenue, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, and the famous La Rambla, which is mainly for walking.

Main sights

The Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) is the heart of old Barcelona. Many buildings here are from medieval times, with some even dating back to when Romans lived in the city. Barcelona is famous for its unique modernista architecture, a style similar to Art Nouveau found in the rest of Europe. This style grew popular between 1885 and 1950 and created many wonderful buildings in the city. Some of these buildings are World Heritage Sites. One of the most famous architects is Antoni Gaudí, and you can see his work all over the city. His most famous building is the Sagrada Família, a huge church that has been under construction since 1882 and is still being built with money from visitors.

Barcelona was once home to Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion. Created in 1929 for an exhibition for Germany, this building became a symbol of modern design. Though it was taken down in 1930, a new version was built in 1986.

Barcelona won a special award in 1999 for its beautiful buildings, making it the first city to receive this honor instead of an individual architect. The city has many important places chosen as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Historic buildings and monuments

Further information: List of Modernista buildings in Barcelona

See also: Category:Buildings and structures in Barcelona

• Sagrada Família, the symbol of Barcelona.
• Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, became UNESCO Heritage Sites in 1997.
• Works by Antoni Gaudí, such as Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, Casa Batlló, and others.
• The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia
• Gothic basilicas like Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Maria del Pi
• The Royal Shipyard
• Monastery of Pedralbes
• The Columbus Monument
• The Arc de Triomf, built for the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition.
• The Expiatory church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Tibidabo hill.
• The Historic Building of the University of Barcelona

Museums

Main article: List of museums in Barcelona

Barcelona has many museums about art, history, and science. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia shows beautiful Romanesque art, while the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art displays art from after 1945. You can also visit museums dedicated to famous artists like the Fundació Joan Miró, Picasso Museum, and Fundació Antoni Tàpies. Other museums tell stories about the city’s history, archaeology, ships, music, and even ancient Egypt. CosmoCaixa is a fun science museum that won an award in 2006.

The Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona began in 1882 and now includes many different collections, from plants to animals. The FC Barcelona Museum is very popular with fans of the famous football club.

Parks

Main article: Parks and gardens of Barcelona

Barcelona has many parks of different sizes. Some are old, some are botanical gardens, and others are places to relax and play. The biggest park is Montjuïc, which has gardens and more. Parc de la Ciutadella is another large park that used to be a fort and now has a zoo and museums. Park Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is also very popular.

Beaches

Barcelona is known for its beautiful beaches. It has seven beaches along 4.5 kilometers of coastline. Sant Sebastià, Barceloneta, and Somorrostro are the largest and most visited. After the 1992 Summer Olympics, new beaches were created where old factories used to stand. Today, these beaches are kept clean and beautiful, and some even allow dogs during the summer.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Barcelona has friendly connections with many cities around the world. Some of these cities are officially called "sister cities," meaning they work together to share knowledge and support each other. Barcelona is twinned with cities like Antwerp in Belgium, Athens in Greece, Boston in the United States, and many more.

Some of these partnerships are paused for now, like the one with Saint Petersburg in Russia and Tel Aviv in Israel, because of current world events. Barcelona also works with other cities in friendly ways, such as Amman in Jordan, Guangzhou in China, and New York City in the United States. These partnerships help cities learn from each other and solve common problems together.

Notable people

Further information: Category:People from Barcelona

Barcelona has been home to many famous people throughout history. The city has produced artists, writers, athletes, and leaders who have made important contributions to culture, sports, and society.