> Spanish Courses at Barcelona > Barcelona CityAbout Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain’s second largest city, is located in the autonomous region of Catalonia. It sits on the northeast coast of the peninsula, normally called Costa Brava. Barcelona is the capital of the province (which shares its name) as well as of Catalonia. The population of the city is about 3,200,000. A unique fact about Barcelona is the language; Catalan, also a Romantic language, is widely spoken throughout the Catalonian region.
Barcelona is one of the country’s main economic centers, partly due to it being home to one of the Mediterranean’s most major ports. Previously, Barcelona was mostly involved in the manufacturing industry, but today they have expanded into textiles, chemistry, logistics and telecommunications as well. There is an international airport just outside of the city that is also the second largest in Spain.
History
Barcelona’s history is said to have started around the close of the Neolithic Era, sometime around 1500 B.C. During the 2nd Punic War, Carthaginians took control of the city, and it was re-founded by Amilcar Barca, who was the father of Hanibal. The Romans conquered the city around 218 B.C. and renamed it Barcino. It soon became a center of commercial trade and by the 3rd century A.D. it had a population of 8,000 people. In the 400’s, Barcelona became the capital of the Visigoth Empire, but only for a time, until the city was being fought over with the Christians versus Muslims. After the Muslim general Al-Mansur gained control in about 985, the city was almost completely destroyed, but soon a reconstruction began and the city grew as an important part of the Crown of Aragon. It flourished in throughout the 13th – 15th centuries, in comparison with cities like Venice and Genoa.
After many years of tension and the Catalan Revolt from 1640-1659, plus the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 1700’s, Catalonia lost control of its self-rule. But, throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Barcelona regained economic standing, and with the help of industrialization it took a standing as an important part of Europe. This was known as the Renaixenca (Barcelona’s Renaissance).
In the 19th and 20th centuries Barcelona grew immensely. The city hosted two World Fairs. They also built the Metro system, as well as the port, both of which boosted the city, economically and industrially. Things were rapidly growing in Barcelona until 1936 when the Spanish Civil War broke out. Although the city had the support of the Republic, rebellions and uncontrollable immigration from the South caused the city to become somewhat chaotic. It was bombed many times and in 1939 Franco’s troops arrived and took over power of Barcelona.
Since the downfall of Franco’s dictatorship, Barcelona has rebuilt and thanks to its previous standing as a cultural center of Europe, it has re-blossomed into a significant city in the world.
Transportation
- Airport: The airport in Barcelona is located southeast of the city, 3 km from the port, in a municipality called El Prat de Llobregat. This international airport is the second largest in Spain and biggest on the Mediterranean coast. It is possible to get to and from the airport and the city by car (taxi), bus or train. The train can be the fastest and cheapest option, taking about 25 minutes at a cost of 2.50€. The airport serves a great variety of airlines to destinations throughout Spain and the world.
- Train: Barcelona serves as a hub for Renfe, Spain’s national railway system. The main station in the city for intercity traveling is from Estació Sants. There is also a Catalonian train system called Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, typically abbreviated to FGC. The trains served by the FGC run from throughout the urban areas, city to city in Catalonia.
- Bus & Tram: The network of busses in Barcelona is split between the FGC and TMB. The city has also intertwined the ticketing system, making Metro tickets valid in the bus system as well. You can use one ticket on both if the trip is within 1 hour and 15 minutes. Busses run day and night in Barcelona. The TMB also runs a system of trams, called the Trambaix and Trambesòs. There are five lines running through Barcelona.
- Metro: Barcelona has a dynamic Metro system. There is about 64 miles of track throughout the network, about 98% is underground. The fares for the metro are set on a city-wide standard. The metro lines are colored and numbered to make distinction between the lines and maps are available at any station. The cost for a one-way ticket is 1.25€, but you can buy a pass for multiple trips that will, therefore, save you money. The metro runs from 5 a.m. to midnight, Sunday – Thursday, 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays, and continuously on Saturdays.
Leisure
Barcelona is world famous for its rich culture and dynamic atmosphere. Many Europeans are drawn to the city because of its tie to the Mediterranean Sea, as well as its proximity to the Pyrenees on the French-Spanish border. As home to such architects as Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona offers a mass of art, sculpture and impressive masterpieces, plus there is a wide range of outdoor activities.
Barcelona has several museums worth visiting, some of the most popular are:
National Museum of Art of Catalonia, Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Miró Foundation and the Gaudí Museum. There are also many fine art performances to be seen in Barcelona. Gran Teatre del Liceu is world renowned as one of the finest opera houses.
If you are looking to enjoy a beautiful day outside in Barcelona you can spend it on one of the beaches, Barcelona has about 4.5 kilometres of beaches. There are a variety of water sports available to those who want an adventure. Not too far away are the mountains as well, for those extreme-sport enthusiasts you can do hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and many more exciting activities.
Gastronomy
Barcelona has a dynamic gastronomy featuring strong Mediterranean flavors. Many dishes are prepared solely with products directly from the land and sea. The use of olive oil, fresh produce and vegetables from area crops, fish and meat all combine to make Barcelona’s original gastronomy. A common dish in the city is called la escudella which is a type of stew that is comprised of noodles, rice and vegetables (especially potatoes). Another meal that has a variety of seafood, which is not uncommon since Barcelona is next to the sea, is called Zarzuela. Traditionally, zarzuela is made up of prawn, mussels, cuttlefish and lobster.
Desserts are a big part of Barcelona’s cuisine. One popular one, sporting the name of the region, is Crema Catalana. It is made from a custard base that is topped with carmelalized sugar. Sometimes it can be found with honey or nuts to top it off.
Going Out
Barcelona has one of the top nightlife scenes in all of Europe, possibly throughout the world. There is something for anyone and everyone in this city. Each place is set up with a distinct atmosphere; you can find clubs, wine bars, discos, pubs and places that cater to a specific genre of music. Because of the huge number of tourists in Barcelona, plus the thousands of locals, you can find something happening any night of the week. In the summer, it is quite popular to go out near the beaches and Barrio Gótico (which is popular all the time) is more bustling in the winters. Of course, the popular stretch of Las Ramblas is a good place to go out, as well as El Raval and El Born. Like any Spanish city, going out starts later at night. After dinner which is around 10 p.m. or so, people met to have some wine or just relax until midnight or 2 a.m. when the people start going out.
