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Old age

The first traces of population in the area of ​​the city date back to the end of the Neolithic period (2000 to 1500 BC). However, the first prominent settlers did not appear until the 7th - 6th centuries BC, the Layetans, an Iberian people. During the Second Punic War, the Carthaginians took the city, re-founded by Amílcar Barca, father of Aníbal, indeed, the name of Barcelona according to the traditions derives from the Carthaginian surname Barca. After the defeat of that town by the growing domination of the Romans, they took the city and baptized it Colonia Julia Augusta Paterna Faventia Barcino in the year 218 BC. On Claudio Ptolemy's world map he appears with the name Barcino. Barcino took the form of a castrum or military fortification in its early days although trade was reorienting the importance of the city; in the 2nd century it was walled in by order of the Roman Emperor Claudius and by the 3rd century it had a population of between 4,000 and 8,000 inhabitants.

Middle Ages



The Visigoths, after their arrival in the 5th century, made it the capital of the Hispanic territories for a few years. In the 8th century it was conquered by Al-Hurr, but was taken back to Christian territory by Ludovico Pío of the Carolingian Empire in 801, incorporating it into the Hispanic Brand. The Muslim attacks did not stop, and in 985 Almanzor's troops destroyed practically the entire city. Borrell II began the reconstruction giving way to the flourishing county period. During this period, the city stood out among the Catalan lands and the entire domain of the Crown of Aragon, and it was from where numerous troops and resources left for the company of taking new possessions. The city flourished and would become one of the main cities in the western Mediterranean in the 13th and 14th centuries. Several monarchs of the Aragonese Crown reigned from Barcelona. The city stood out on the commercial plane, although below Genoa and Venice, which dominated trade in the Mediterranean and between Europe and Asia.

1698 French plan of the city of Barcelona with indications for a siege plan

Modern age



The decadence began with ups and downs in the 15th century, and would continue throughout the following centuries. The tensions derived from the dynastic union with Castile, which began with the marriage between Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabel of Castile, reached its peak with the War of the Reapers, between 1640 and 1651, and later, with the War of Succession ( from 1706 to 1714), which meant the disappearance of Catalonia's own institutions, although it also meant the economic revival of the city thanks to integration with the rest of the newly formed country (Spain), and trade with America.

Distribution of apples in the Ensanche de Barcelona.

Industrial Revolution



The economic recovery that began at the end of the 18th century and the industrialization in the 19th century led to Barcelona once again becoming an important political, economic and cultural center, at the head of the so-called Renaixença (Renaissance), it is worth highlighting in the industrialization process the monopoly of textile trade between Spain and Cuba that was established in Barcelona, ​​at a time of crisis in the cotton textile industry, and that established the industrialization in Catalonia, and the growth differential, while other parts of the country the industry languished before the crisis. Another consequence of this textile monopoly in the 19th century between Barcelona and Cuba was the Cuban complaint about the "funnel theory", wide for Spain and narrow for Cuba, and that it was the root of the Cuban malaise and that it generated revolts and the independence movement in search of economic equality with the support of the United States. The city was able to tear down its walls and in 1897 it annexed six neighboring municipalities, which allowed it to grow and plan its urban and industrial development led by Ildefonso Cerdá's innovative Ensanche plan, which laid out the streets in a grid and the corners in chamfer. It was also the venue for two Universal Exhibitions in 1888 and 1929.

Twentieth century



At the beginning of the 20th century, both economic growth (especially derived from the First World War) and the proliferation of new ideologies embraced by broad sections of the population, especially the working class, stood out. The governmental impulse promoted the Metro and the Port. However, the crisis of 29 that hit Spain hard and later the start of the Spanish Civil War paralyzed all growth for a decade. Despite defending the Second Republic, the city was the focus of internal rebellions and fights between parties that neither the city nor the government of the Republic could control. During the war the city was bombed several times. Franco's troops occupied the city at the end of January 1939.



The military dictatorship designated Barcelona as a development pole, promoting intense industrialization that led to strong and prolonged immigration, mainly from the south of the Peninsula. The new social and economic conditions invigorated the city and radically transformed the urban layout, highlighting the appearance of populated working-class neighborhoods and important communication routes. The metro expanded and trolleybuses appeared (1940s) diversifying transport. The railway network became more dense and modern, while the airport also gained relevance. However, the great bet of Barcelona's transport, compared to other large and medium-sized cities, was the promotion of private vehicles, for which a dense network of underground car parks was built.



After the death of General Franco and the difficult beginnings of the democratic period, the city benefited, like the rest of the State, from a new economic impulse greatly influenced by integration into the European Union (January 1, 1986), which led to modern cultural and urban projects. Among them, the organization of the 1992 Olympic Games stands out. This event, which had the financial and organizational support of the whole of Spain, became a new engine for urban development.



The origin of the name Barcelona is unknown and there are various theories and legends that try to explain it. It is known that there was an original Iberian city, of the Layetan tribe, conquered by Cneo Cornelio Scipio, which later became a Roman colony, placed under the protection of Gaius Julius Caesar and Octavio Augusto, who received the name of Colonia Iulia Augusta Paterna Faventia Barcino.

The name evolved during the Middle Ages, the city being known as Barchinona, Barcalona, ​​Barchelona, ​​and Barchenona.





Barcelona is a city located in the northeast of Spain, capital of Catalonia, the province of the same name and the region of Barcelonés. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, about 120 km south of the Pyrenees mountain range and the border with France, in a plain limited by the sea to the east, the Sierra de Collserola to the west, the Llobregat river to the south and the Besós river to the north. Because it was the capital of the County of Barcelona, ​​it is often referred to as Ciudad Condal.



With a population of 1,621,537 inhabitants (INE 2009), Barcelona is the second most populous Spanish city and the tenth in the European Union. The Metropolitan Area of ​​Barcelona, ​​made up of 36 municipalities, has a population of 3,186,461 inhabitants and a surface area of ​​636 km². The metropolitan area of ​​Barcelona is the delimitation as an officially defined urban nucleus, however this would be included in the urban region of Barcelona, ​​which would extend throughout the city's area of ​​influence, with 4,992,193 (INE 2009) inhabitants with a population density of 1,523 inhabitants / km².



Barcelona has been the scene of various world events, which have contributed to shaping the city and giving it international projection. The most relevant have been the Universal Exhibition of 1888 and the International Exhibition of 1929, and the Summer Olympic Games of 1992. It is also the headquarters of the secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Geography

Site



Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona sits on a gently sloping platform formed between the fluvial deltas of the Llobregat rivers, to the southwest, and the Besós, to the northeast, and limited to the southeast by the coastline, and by the northwest through the Collserola mountain range (with the 516.2 m summit of Tibidabo as the highest point) that follows the coastline parallel, enclosing the city in a very delimited perimeter.



The part of Barcelona closest to the coastal mountains is dotted with small peaks, some of which are urbanized, and others crowned by parks, such as: Carmelo (265.6 meters), Monterols (127.3 meters), Putxet ( 182.7 meters), the Rovira (206.8 meters) and the Turó de la Peira (138 meters). But the best-known peak in Barcelona, ​​just above the coastline and separating the city from the Llobregat delta, is the Montjuic mountain (184.8 meters). Finally, mention the promontory of only 16.9 m where the historical nucleus of the city is located, Mount Táber.

Limits



The municipal term of the city limits, from south to northeast and in a clockwise direction, with the municipalities of: El Prat de Llobregat, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Esplugas de Llobregat, San Justo Desvern, San Felíu de Llobregat, Molins de Rei, San Cugat del Vallés, Sardañola del Vallés, Moncada and Reixach, Santa Coloma de Gramanet and San Adrián de Besós. The first two and the last two are the municipalities with which the city maintains a closer contact, with a dense continuous urban mesh that unites them, on the contrary San Cugat del Vallés and Sardañola del Vallés are very separated from Barcelona, ​​since the Litoral mountain range and the Tibidabo natural park act as natural barriers.



Barcelona has a small part of its municipal area on the Llobregat slope of the Collserola mountain range. These are Vallvidrera and Les Planes, which are located somewhat within the Collserola natural park. It is also part of its municipal term Santa Cruz de Olorda, riding between the Vallés Occidental and Bajo Llobregat.

Coast line



Barcelona's coastline has changed over time to the point that in prehistoric times it reached where today is Plaza de Catalunya. The land on which Barceloneta was based did not exist a century and a half before the construction of this neighborhood. These lands are the result of the accumulation of sand sediments dragged by the marine currents coming from the north and that would be contained by the breakwater of the port built in 1640, and that ended up joining the old island of Maians (where the station of Francia) with the mainland, forming the base land of Barceloneta.



Politics



In Barcelona there are four political administrations present, with different levels of responsibility and powers:



The General State Administration deals with issues such as security (National Police and Army Corps), Justice, port and airport management, Renfe trains, and the coasts, among the most prominent competences. These powers are coordinated by the Government Delegate in Catalonia and the sub-delegate of the Government of Barcelona, ​​who are appointed by the Government of Spain, and whose headquarters are in the Government Delegation. Currently the National Police Corps only has some powers, such as issuing the DNI or the fight against terrorism since the rest of the powers have been transferred to the Mozos de Escuadra, autonomous police of the Generalitat.



The Generalitat of Catalonia is the autonomous government of Catalonia, and has the headquarters of its institutions in Barcelona, ​​such as the Parliament of Catalonia, located in the Parque de la Ciudadela, or the Palacio de la Generalidad, seat of the Presidency of the Generalitat , located in the Plaza de San Jaime. The Generalitat is chosen by universal suffrage in elections held every four years throughout Catalonia, and has broad powers over the management of the city, from education, social affairs, traffic, economic policies, trade, etc. It is also responsible for the construction of facilities such as hospitals, schools, universities, residences for the elderly.



The Barcelona Provincial Council is the public body with the fewest powers in the city. He currently chairs the board of trustees that takes care of the maintenance of the Sierra de Collserola park, and some other parks and public buildings in the city. It also manages some museums and is the owner of a wide network of public libraries managed jointly with the municipalities.



The Barcelona City Council is the body with the greatest powers and public officials in the city, since it regulates the daily life of citizens, and important matters such as urban planning, transport, collection of municipal taxes, management of road safety through the Guàrdia Urbana, the maintenance of the public road (asphalt, cleaning ...) and the gardens. He is also responsible for the construction of municipal facilities such as nurseries, sports centers, libraries, residences for the elderly, public housing, among others.



The government of the Barcelona City Council is chosen by universal suffrage in elections held every four years.



Museums

At the Joan Miró Foundation some works by the Mallorcan painter are displayed and traveling exhibitions from museums around the world are held. The Picasso Museum has an important collection of little-known works by this painter, especially from his early days. An important collection of Romanesque art is exhibited in the National Museum of Art of Catalonia (MNAC). Of special relevance are the Romanesque frescoes that were transferred to the museum from chapels and churches throughout Catalonia. Contemporary art is exhibited in the recently built Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), whose building was designed by the American architect Richard Meier. Also of relevance are the Barcelona Center for Contemporary Culture located in El Raval, the Antoni Tàpies Foundation museum in the heart of Eixample, the CaixaFòrum located at the foot of Montjuïc, the Science Museum, now called CosmoCaixa, at the foot of the Tibidabo and the FC Barcelona Museum, located in the Camp Nou and which holds the first place of the most visited museums in Catalonia.

Disseny Hub Barcelona



The Disseny Hub Barcelona, ​​known by the acronym DHUB, is a new center of the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) dedicated to promoting knowledge, understanding and good use of the world of design.



This space was inaugurated in Barcelona on December 2, 2008 in two temporary venues, specifically in the Marqués de Llió Palace (12 Moncada street), where the activities and temporary exhibitions take place, and the Pedralbes Palace (Diagonal , 686), where the permanent exhibitions of the Textile and Clothing Museum "El cos vestit" and the permanent exhibition of the Museum of Decorative Arts are established.

Night life



Barcelona has become a reference center for nightlife in Spain after presenting an important development from the mid-90s with the impulse of Pont Aeri and Chasis. Currently, the two alternative and most indigenous public areas of bars and nightclubs in Barcelona are divided between the neighborhood of Gracia, in the upper part of the city, and the neighborhood of Pueblo Nuevo, in the old industrial area of ​​Barcelona, ​​to the north from the Olympic area, with a fairly young audience and some of the largest clubs in the city located in renovated industrial buildings. [citation needed] The most popular areas are in Sant Gervasi and Tibidabo. [citation needed]



Outside the club culture, the main area is the old town, divided between the El Raval neighborhood, on one side of the Ramblas, and the Gothic Quarter, on the other side. There is a large number and variety of bars with a public made up of tourists, resident foreigners and a minority of locals. The Ensanche, especially between Valencia, Gran Vía, Paseo de Gracia and Muntaner, is another of the areas with the largest number of restaurants and music venues. In recent years, gay venues have proliferated in this area, a fact which has led to the consolidation of a part of the Ensanche (Eixample) as "Gaixample" among the youngest. Leisure shops are found around the Pueblo Español, located in Montjuich, in the Maremágnum complex, located at the end of the Ramblas, and in the Olympic Port.

The beaches of Barcelona

One of the attractions that Barcelona has incorporated in recent years are its beaches. Thanks to the regeneration of the coastline carried out in 1992, on the occasion of the Olympic Games, Barcelona today has six beaches that occupy more than 4.2 linear kilometers of coastline. The beaches are fully central, are connected to the center and are located a few minutes from anywhere in the city. All are equipped with the most complete services: showers, surveillance, Red Cross and, in some cases, changing rooms, hammock rental, beach bars ... The beaches are cleaned every day throughout the year, and all have the blue flag of the European Union that certifies its excellence. According to data from the Barcelona City Council, each year they receive more than seven million bathers. Although most are concentrated in the good weather months, between May and September, citizens and visitors can also enjoy the beaches the rest of the year, as they are equipped to play tennis, beach volleyball and other sports. On Barceloneta beach, next to the Hotel Arts, there is a modern municipal thalassotherapy center, the Polideportivo Marítimo, equipped with seawater pools, and which allows the enjoyment of sports and health services throughout the year. The six beaches are, from east to west, the beach of San Sebastián, Barceloneta, Nueva Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Nueva Mar Bella. In the latter there is a space reserved for nudism.



tourism



Jaume I Tower

Sant Sebastià Tower

Colon Tower

Hotel Vela

La Carbonera Square

Portal de la Pau Square

The Rambla del Mar

Passeig d'Itaca

World Trade Center Towers

Monument to Columbus

Drassanes

Museum of History of Catalonia

Museum of Fine Arts

wax Museum

l´Aquàrium of Barcelona

The swallows

Captaincy General

Military Command

Porta Europa

The Monumental of Barcelona



The Monumental Bullring of Barcelona was inaugurated in 1914 with the name of ´´El Sport´´ and renamed in 1916 with the name of ´´Monumental´´. It is located at the confluence of Gran Vía and Calle Marina, in the Ensanche district of Barcelona. With a capacity of 19,582 seats, it is the only square where bullfighting celebrations take place in Barcelona, ​​after the Plaza de El Torín and Las Arenas have closed. Inside it is the Bullfighting Museum of Barcelona, ​​where costumes of famous bullfighters, heads of famous bulls, historical documents and other objects related to bullfighting are exhibited.

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