When was Barcelona founded? The history of Barcelona: three thousand years in the struggle for independence and prosperity. History of FC Barcelona

The city of Barcelona is located on the territory of a state (country) Spain, which in turn is located on the territory of the continent Europe.

In which autonomous community is the city of Barcelona located?

The city of Barcelona is part of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.

A characteristic of an autonomous community or a subject of a country is the integrity and interconnection of its constituent elements, including cities and other settlements that are part of the autonomous community.

The Autonomous Community of Catalonia is an administrative unit of the state of Spain.

Population of the city of Barcelona.

The population of the city of Barcelona is 1,615,448 people.

What time zone is Barcelona located in?

The city of Barcelona is located in the administrative time zone: UTC+1, in summer UTC+2. Thus, you can determine the time difference in the city of Barcelona, relative to the time zone in your city.

Barcelona telephone code

Telephone code city of Barcelona: +34 93. In order to call the city of Barcelona from a mobile phone, you need to dial the code: +34 93 and then the subscriber’s number directly.

Official website of the city of Barcelona.

Website of the city of Barcelona, official website of the city of Barcelona, or as it is also called “Official website of the administration of the city of Barcelona”: http://www.bcn.cat/.

Flag of the city of Barcelona.

The flag of the city of Barcelona is the official symbol of the city and is presented on the page as an image.

Coat of arms of the city of Barcelona.

The description of the city of Barcelona presents the coat of arms of the city of Barcelona, which is the distinctive sign of the city.

Metro in Barcelona.

The metro in the city of Barcelona is called the Barcelona Metro and is a means of public transport.

The passenger flow of the Barcelona metro (Barcelona metro congestion) is 448.50 million people per year.

The number of metro lines in the city of Barcelona is 11 lines. The total number of metro stations in Barcelona is 165. The length of metro lines or the length of metro tracks is: 123.66 km.

Barcelona(Spanish and cat. Barcelona) is the second most populous city in Spain, the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia and the province of the same name. A port on the Mediterranean Sea 120 km from the French border. international Airport, metro. The largest industrial and shopping mall Spain. One of the most important tourist destinations in European routes(see "Gaudi y Cornet, Antonio" and "Pablo Picasso").

The population of Barcelona is 1,615,908 (INE 2008). Barcelona is the second most populous city in Spain after Madrid and the tenth in the European Union. The city's suburbs are home to 3,186,461 inhabitants, while the province of Barcelona has 4,928,825 inhabitants.

In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympic Games. In 2004, Barcelona hosted the World Cultural Forum 2004. At the end of 2008, Barcelona became the capital of the Mediterranean Union, which includes 43 countries.

Geography

Barcelona is located in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula on the coast Mediterranean Sea on a plateau 5 km wide, bordered on the south by the Collserola mountain range and the Llobregat River, and on the north by the Besos River. The Pyrenees are approximately 120 km north of the city.

The coastal mountains of Collserola create a slightly rounded backdrop to the city. The height of the highest point - Mount Tibidabo - is 512 m, above it rises the Colserola antenna tower, noticeable from afar, 288.4 m high. The highest point within the city is the Mont Taber hill (cat. Mont Taber), 12 m high, on which is located Barcelona Cathedral.

Barcelona lies on the hills that give their name to the city's neighborhoods: Carmel (cat. Carmel, 267 m), Monterols (cat. Monterols, 121 m), Puchet (cat. Putxet, 181 m), Rovira (cat. Rovira, 261 m) and Peira (cat. Peira, 133 m). The 173m high Montjuïc mountain in the southwestern part of the city offers magnificent views of the port of Barcelona. On Montjuic there is a fortress of the 17th-18th centuries, which took over the defensive functions of the destroyed citadel of Ciutadella (cat. Ciutadella). Currently, the fortress houses the Military Museum. In addition to the fortress, Montjuic is home to Olympic venues, cultural institutions and famous gardens.

To the north the city is bordered by the municipalities of Santa Coloma de Gramanet and Sant Andria de Besos, to the south by Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat, to the southeast the city borders the Mediterranean Sea, and to the west The towns of Sant Cugat del Valles and Cerdanyola del Valles are located.

Climate

Barcelona's climate is Mediterranean, with mild, dry winters and warm, humid summers. The coldest months are January and February (average temperature about 10 °C), the hottest are July and August (average temperature about 25 °C). The greatest amount of precipitation falls in October (about 90 mm); the smallest is in July (about 20 mm).

Population

According to the Barcelona City Council, as of January 1, 2005, the city's population was 1,593,075 people; the population of greater Barcelona was 5,292,354 people (as of 2006). Population density is 15,779 people per km². 95% of the population understood Catalan, 76.4% of the population spoke it, 75% of the population read Catalan, and 47% could write.

13.8% of the population (219,941 people) were immigrants from (by numbers): Ecuador, Peru, Morocco, Colombia, Argentina, Pakistan, China and Bolivia.

The bulk of the population professes Catholicism (there are 208 churches in the city). There are small groups of evangelists, Jehovah's Witnesses and Buddhists in the city.

Story

Antiquity

There are two different legends regarding the founding of Barcelona. The first attributes the founding of the city to the Greek mythical hero Hercules 400 years before the founding of Rome, and then in the 3rd century BC. e. the city was rebuilt by the Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, who named the city Barsino in honor of his family. The second legend attributes the founding of the city directly to Hamilcar Barca. In 133 BC. The Iberian city of Laie was conquered by the Romans, led by Lucius Cornelius Scipio. Around 15 BC. e. The Romans made the city a fortification, the center of which was located on Mount Taber, a small hill near the modern city hall (Plaça de Sant Jaume). Under the Romans, the city was called Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino, its importance was small compared to neighboring Tarraco (Tarraco, modern Tarragona). However, its wealth and importance grew over time due to its convenient location and excellent harbor. The city minted its own coins, some of which have survived from the time of Galba. The remains of ancient fortifications can still be seen in the city today, and the typical Roman layout is still visible on the map of the historical center of the city, the so-called. Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). Thus, on Paradis Street near the excursion center of Catalonia, Roman columns are visible.
The city grew within the fortress wall until the conquest by the Franks in the 4th century. By this time, Barsino is pushing Tarraco into the background.

Middle Ages

At the beginning of the 5th century the city was conquered by the Visigoths. King Ataulf moved his capital here for a short time. At the beginning of the 8th century, the city was conquered by the Arabs (Moors). Barcelona began to decline. In 801, the son of Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, recaptured the city from the emir and made Barcelona the capital of the Spanish Mark, a buffer zone under the control of the Count of Barcelona. A major role was played by Margrave Wilfred the Hairy, the de facto founder of independent Catalonia. Barcelona was still a Christian outpost when it was sacked by al-Mansur in 985 (see Capture of Barcelona (985)). This attack gave the Count of Barcelona Borrell II the opportunity to free himself from Carolingian rule.

The Counts of Barcelona in the 10th-11th centuries gained real independence and expanded their territory throughout Catalonia. As a result of the dynastic union of Catalonia and Aragon (1162), Count Alfonso became the first king of the united state. King Jaime I expanded the borders of his dominions by southern territories(Kingdom of Valencia). The Kingdom of Aragon in the 13th century subjugated many maritime territories, controlled the western Mediterranean Sea, and also had distant outposts such as Athens. The Catalan-Aragonese Confederation created many Gothic buildings and formed legislation such as the Code of Customs (cat. Usatges). In 1410 the crown passed to the Castilian dynasty of Trastámara. The decline of Barcelona began with the unification of the dynastic branches of Aragon and Castile. The fact that the royal couple Ferdinand and Isabella received Columbus in Barcelona after the discovery of America is nothing more than a curiosity.

In 1450, the famous University of Barcelona was founded in the city.

Jews in Barcelona

Jews have lived in Barcelona since the 1st century AD - the time of the destruction of the Temple. By the early 13th century, the Barcelona community was the richest and most influential Jewish community and the center of Jewish learning in Spain. In 1263, a public debate famous in Jewish history took place in Barcelona between Nachmanides and the converted monk Pablo Cristiani. In 1367, residents of the city's Jewish ghetto were accused by the Christian Church of desecrating holy bread. The authorities rounded up all the inhabitants of the Jewish ghetto and locked them in a cramped synagogue without the opportunity to eat, drink or perform their natural needs. This violence was supposed to force the Jews to fulfill the command of the Infante Don Juan, the viceroy of King Don Pedro - and the community was forced to pay with the property of all its members and hand over three innocent people to be burned at the stake by the Christian Inquisition. Subsequently, the Jews of Barcelona were required to wear identification badges. In 1391, a Christian mob completely plundered and destroyed the Jewish ghetto, killing about 400 people. A church was built on the ruins of the synagogue, in which the surviving Jews were subjected to forced baptism. In 1397 the king banned the existence of the Jewish ghetto. In 1492, all the Jews of Spain who did not agree to be baptized were robbed and then expelled from the kingdom. The fusion of the highest Spanish nobility and the top of the Jewish community went so far that when the Jews were expelled from Spain, the king's nephew was at the head of those expelled. Some Jews converted to Christianity, but they remained objects of suspicion among non-Jews. But five centuries later, synagogues reappeared in Spain.

New and recent history

Barcelona was devastated after the collapse of the Catalan Republic (1640-1652) and during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. Barcelona took the side of Archduke Charles of Austria. King Philip V of Spain of the Bourbon dynasty destroyed half of the commercial district (Spanish: La Ribera) to build the military fortress of Ciutadella, in order to simultaneously gain control of the rebellious city and punish its inhabitants. The official use of the Catalan language was prohibited and the University was closed.

Barcelona and the province of Catalonia were annexed by Napoleon's French Empire after the conquest of Spain. After the overthrow of Napoleon in 1813, the city was returned to Spain. In the 19th century, the industrial revolution fully affected Barcelona, where many new enterprises appeared. During the easing of control by the Madrid authorities in 1860, the medieval walls were destroyed and the fortress of La Ribera was turned into a city park, the modern Parc de la Ciutadella, the venue World's Fair 1888. The city began to grow on the territory of “Pla de Barcelona” - the surrounding fields and vegetable gardens.

The early 20th century saw the renaissance of Barcelona, as Catalan nationalists demanded political autonomy and greater freedom of cultural expression. In 1929, the World Exhibition was again held in Barcelona. During the civil war, the city belonged to the Republicans and was captured by the Francoists on January 26, 1939. Over the next decades, Barcelona became the target of cultural and political repression. In particular, the use of the Catalan language was prohibited.

The protest movement of the 1970s and the fall of the dictatorship turned Barcelona into a major cultural center, predetermining the city's future prosperity. Although it is still only the second city of the Iberian Peninsula, its unique atmosphere makes it unique and attractive to many. The city authorities are actively promoting the revival of the Catalan language. Despite the massive immigration of Castilians in the second half of the 20th century, there have been significant advances in the use of the Catalan language in everyday life.

Barcelona became the venue for the 1992 Summer Olympics (the most significant sporting event for the city, since Juan Antonio Samaranch, who was the president of the IOC in 1992, was born there). In 2004, the city hosted the World Cultural Forum, which lasted 141 days.

Economy

Barcelona is one of the first areas of continental Europe to experience industrialization, beginning, as elsewhere, with the textile industry (at the end of the 18th century). By the mid-19th century, Barcelona had become an important center for the textile industry and engineering. After this, industrial production played an important role in the history of the city. As in others modern cities, the service sector of the economy begins to dominate over the producing sector. Currently, the main industries are textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and electronics. It should be noted that in Barcelona there are car assembly plants of both the Spanish company CEAT (Volkswagen group) and foreign manufacturers such as Renault, Peugeot, Ford, etc.

The Barcelona City Council has established 11 economic sectors under the Barcelona brand:
Digital Technology Center - founded in 2003 to transform Barcelona into a high technology center
Aerospace Association - founded in 2000. The aerospace industry was recognized by the EEC as one of the main ones. Barcelona companies have been involved in the development of projects such as the Airbus A380 and the Galileo space probe.
University Center - founded in 1997. The city is home to 7 universities with a total student population of 204,000 people. Further development of research, both fundamental and applied, is expected. It is planned to attract students from other countries
Environmental Fund - founded in 1997 to improve the environmental situation in the city and its surroundings
Foundation for the Development of the Mediterranean Diet - founded in 1996 to develop the food industry
Barcelona Logistics Center - created in 1994 to develop transport, especially rail and sea, as well as infrastructure.
Tourism Department - founded in 1993 to coordinate activities in the field of tourism. The tourism industry is an important part of the economy, and Barcelona is one of the main tourist centers in Europe.
Association of Financial Centers - founded in 1991 to develop financial activities, in particular, exchanges.
Medical Center - founded in 1987. Barcelona is known for its medical specialists, patients from many countries receive treatment here. Major international medical forums are held in Barcelona.
Barcelona Design Center - founded in 1976
Bioregion (Biomed Foundation) - created for the development of biomedicine and biotechnology

Barcelona is the center of the major fair "La Fira". The city hosts numerous international economic forums.

Transport

Air Transport

Barcelona is served by Barcelona International Airport, located in El Prat de Llobregat, 10 km from Barcelona. The airport is the second largest airport in Spain and the largest on the Mediterranean coast. The airport is connected to the city by expressway, rail and buses. The smaller Sabadell Airport is located next to the city of the same name and is used for flight training, advertising and private flights. Some charter flights operate to airports in Girona (Girona-Costa Brava Airport) on the Costa Brava (about 100 km north of Barcelona) and Reus on the Costa Dorada (about 110 km south of Barcelona).

Sea transport

The history of the port in Barcelona goes back about 2000 years. The port is the most important for freight and passenger transport on the Mediterranean coast. The port covers an area of 7.86 km² and is divided into 3 zones: the old port, the commercial port and the port for transportation (logistics). The port is growing rapidly, its size should be doubled by the mouth of the Llobregat River 2 km to the south.

Railway transport

Barcelona is one of the main railway hubs in Spain. The main railway station is Sants Estació. Train schedules and tickets can be purchased on the Renfe website. The AVE high-speed rail network is to be extended from Madrid to Tarragona in southern part Catalonia. The line was extended to Barcelona in 2008. It is planned to connect AVE with a similar TGV in France by 2011.

Public transport

The Barcelona metro network has 9 lines. marked with their number and color. 6 of them (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 and L11) are supervised by the Barcelona Transport Authority (TMB) (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona), while the other 3 lines (L6, L7 and L8) are owned by the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitet de Catalunya). The metro connects Barcelona with some of its suburbs. Currently, work is underway on the construction of the 43 km long L9 line. This will be the second longest metro line in Europe - after the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya line in Moscow (44 km). The opening of the first section of the new line (19 stations) is planned for 2009. In total, line L9 will have 78 stations.

Subway lines are laid both underground and on the surface. In the city center, the metro network is adjacent to underground stations commuter trains national railways RENFE and local FGC.

TMB also owns a network of city buses and tourist buses (for sightseeing tours). There are also high-speed low-floor tram lines - Trambaix (T1, T2, T3) and Trambesòs (T4, T5, T6), for which special stops are organized with platforms at the car level and electronic ticket sales terminals. The hills of Montjuic (cat. Montjuïc) and Tibidabo (cat. Tibidabo) are reached by cable cars. You can also climb to the top of Montjuic by cable car(teleferik).

The city operates night bus lines “N” (Nitbus) == http://www.emt-amb.com/links/home.htm ==. There are special buses: Aerobus to the airport, Port Bus to the seaport and Tibibus to the amusement park on Mount Tibidabo.

All city transport is adapted for disabled passengers.

The Northern Bus Station (cat. Estació del Nord) used to be a railway station, and currently serves international and intercity buses.

Taxi

The taxi fleet numbers more than 13,000 vehicles. Most licenses are held by private drivers.

Administrative structure

Since 1984, the city has been divided into 10 administrative districts, each of which is governed by its own council.

City districts
Ciutat Vella (old town): El Raval (also known as Barri Xinès), Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), La Barceloneta and Barri de la Ribera.
Eixample: Sant Antoni, l'Eixample Esquerra ("The Left Side of the Eixample"), l'Eixample Dreta ("The Right Side of the Eixample"), Barri de la Sagrada Família
Sants - Montjuïc: Can Tunis, Montjuïc, Hostafrancs, Sants, Poble Sec
Les Corts
Sarrià - Sant Gervasi: Pedralbes, Sarrià, Sant Gervasi, Vallvidrera P.S. These areas are the most expensive in Barcelona, price per m2 from 12,000 euros.
Gràcia: Vallcarca, El Coll, La Salut, Gràcia, El Camp d'en Grassot
Horta-Guinardó: Horta, El Carmel, La Teixonera, El Guinardó (Alt i Baix)
Nou Barris: Can Peguera, Porta, Canyelles, Ciutat Meridiana, Guineueta, Prosperitat, Vallbona, Verdum, Vilapicina, Roquetes, Trinitat Vella, Trinitat Nova, Torre Baró, Torre Llobeta and Turó de la Peira
Sant Andreu: Barri del Congrés, Sant Andreu de Palomar
Sant Martí: Fort Pius, Sant Martí de Provençals, Poble Nou, La Verneda, el Clot

Policy

The mayor of Barcelona since September 8, 2006 is a member of the Party of Socialists of Catalonia (Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya), who shares the political views of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, Jordi Hereu. He replaced Joan Clos, who was elected to the post of Minister of Industry of Spain.

Famous natives and residents

Such famous artists lived and worked in Barcelona as: Pablo Picasso (Spanish: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Crispín Crispiniano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso), Joan Miró (cat: Joan Miró i Ferrà), Salvador Dali (cat. Salvador Felip Jacint Dalí Domènech), Enrique Tábara (Spanish: Enrique Tábara), Antonio Saura (Spanish: Antonio Saura)), Juan Villafuerte (Spanish: Juan Antonio Villafuerte Estrada).
The most prominent architect of Barcelona was Antoni Gaudí i Cornet. In 1891, when Gaudí was over 30, the Society of the Veneration of St. Joseph invited him to continue the Cathedral of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia), begun in 1882, to the construction of which he devoted all subsequent years of his life. Construction of the neo-Gothic Sagrada Familia Cathedral will continue until 2030, when it will become the largest in size Catholic Cathedral peace.
Catalan and French sculptor Apelles Fenosa was born in Barcelona.
Great singers live and work in Barcelona - tenor Jose Carreras (cat. Josep Carreras i Coll) and soprano Montserrat Caballé (cat. Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepción Caballé i Folc). In 1992, the song “Barcelona” performed by Montserrat Caballe and Freddie Mercury became the anthem of the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Attractions

Gothic Quarter and Old Town

There is much evidence of Roman presence in the Gothic Quarter (on the slopes of Mons Taber). WITH Gothic period residential buildings and burials near Via Laietana have been preserved. From the Middle Ages preserved: the chapel of St. Lucia and the church of Sant Pau del Camp (XII century). Old city can be roughly divided into three parts. The oldest part is located between Rambla and Via Laetana. This is the Gothic Quarter.
The La Ribera quarter stretches from Via Laetana to Commerç Street and from Princesa Street to the sea.
The Raval quarter (Arrabal) is located between the Rambla and the streets Ronda Sant Antoni and Ronda Sant Pau.
From the early Middle Ages to the present day, some Romanesque buildings have survived, such as the façade of the Cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral there is a courtyard open to visitors. Here, in one of the chapels, real geese live. According to the Catalans, the whiteness of these birds symbolizes the purity of Saint Eulalia, the patroness of Barcelona. Eulalia was only 13 years old when she died at the hands of the pagans, which is why there are exactly 13 geese here.

In the ensemble of the Cathedral, the chapel of St. Lucia. The Bishop's Palace houses a Romanesque gallery with arches. Also noteworthy is the chapel of St. Marcus in the St. Petra.

At the beginning of the 20th century, during the time of dictator Primo de Rivera, architects gave the historical center of Barcelona the name Gothic Quarter. In 1925-1927 this name was officially adopted.

Olimpic village

A new residential area was built for the 1992 Olympic Games. In this area there are the Olympic Port and two skyscrapers - the Arts Hotel and the building of the Mapfre insurance company, more than 150 m high. The buildings were designed by architects Bruce Graham, Inigo Ortiz and Enrique Leon.

Montjuic

The 173 m high Montjuic hill is located next to seaport. The hill got its name because of the ancient Jewish cemetery located here. (Unlike Christians, who bury their dead near the church in the city center, Jews bury their dead outside the city wall). From the top of the hill opens beautiful views to the city and the sea. Montjuic is one of the largest urban parks in Europe (203 hectares). At the top of the hill there is a fortress built in 1640. Since 1960, the fortress has housed the Military Museum. For the World Exhibition of 1888, the hillside on the side of Parallel Avenue was developed. The northern side of the hill was built up for the 1929 World Exhibition. From the side of Piazza di Spagna, where the streets of Gran Via, Tarragona and Parallel meet, it opens best view up the hill. Plaza de España was the center of the 1929 World Exhibition. The square contains an old bullring (bullfighting is not popular in Catalonia). On the other side of the square are two bell towers, similar to those in St. Mark's Square in Venice. Nearby is the National Palace and the “Magic Fountain” (light and music), created by Gaudi’s student Josep Jujol. On the Montjuic hill is the Joan Miró Museum.

"Magic Fountain"

The National Museum of Art of Catalonia (MNAC) is located in the National Palace. One of the most interesting objects of Montjuic is the so-called. “Spanish Village” (cat. Poble Espanyol). This is an open-air architectural museum, where replicas of buildings from various regions of Spain are collected. At the entrance there is a copy of the gate from the city of Avila. The complex was built for the 1929 World Exhibition by architects Xavier Noguez, Miquel Utrillo and Ramon Raventos under the direction of Francisco Folger. To the right of the Magic Fountain is a modern reconstruction of the German Pavilion, the original of which was built in Barcelona by the famous modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 World Exhibition.

For the 1992 Olympic Games, the last reconstruction work of Montjuïc was carried out. The main Olympic structures were built here. On the southern slope there is the so-called. The Olympic Ring, which includes the Olympic Stadium and the Sports Palace, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki.

City center

In the middle of the 19th century, with the expansion of the city, the so-called. "New areas" (Eixample). During the reign of Queen Isabella II, the city walls were demolished and an urbanization plan was adopted. The Eixample district starts from Plaza Catalunya and includes the entire central part of the city. Straight perpendicular streets were laid and parks were laid out inside the blocks.
Plaça Catalunya (50,000 m²) is the border between the Gothic Quarter and the Eixample. The Ronda Sant Pere and Ronda Universitat highways depart from the square. At the intersection of Ronda Universitat and Gran Via (cat. Gran Via) there is the old university building, built in the mid-19th century. One of the main thoroughfares in the area is Passeig de Gracia. Previously, there was a road to the nearby village of Gracia, which gave the street its name. On the section of the street between Conseil de Sainte and Arago there is the so-called. “Quarter of Discord” (or otherwise, the Quarter of Discord), so called because there are buildings there - architectural monuments belonging to four different modernist architects. The first building in the row is the Lleo Morera house (built 1902-1906), designed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The building is distinguished by an abundance of floral ornaments. The next two buildings were built by Enrique Sanguier. Then there is the Amalje house (architect Puig i Cadafalch, 1898 - 1909). Brings up the rear worldwide famous House Batlló, built by the great Gaudi in 1906-1909. On the same Passage de Gràcia there is another building built by Gaudí - Casa Mila (also called the “Quarry” - cat. La Pedrera). This building, recognized as a masterpiece of modernism, was built in 1906-1910.
The Palace of Catalan Music, located next to Via Laetana, was designed by the architect Domènech i Montaner. This building is considered the ultimate manifestation of modernism and incorporates many elements of this style. The complex of buildings of the Hospital of the Holy Cross and Holy Peace (cat. Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau) is also characteristic of the modernist era. This complex was also built according to the design of Domenech i Montanera.

Tibidabo

The Tibidabo peak rises above the city (more than 500 m above sea level). The Arrabassada highway and Tibidabo Avenue (cat. Avinguda Tibidabo) lead to the top. You can get to the funicular by the so-called. "Blue tram" (cat. Tramvia Blau). At the neighboring peak of Turo de la Vilana there is the Torre de Collserola television tower, 286 m high. At the top of Tibidabo there is an amusement park created more than 100 years ago and modernized several times. Next to the park is the Temple of the Sacred Heart (Sagrat Cor) (architect Enric Sanguier), similar in concept to the Sacré-Coeur temple of the same name in Montmartre in Paris. The temple was built at the end of the 19th century.

Pedralbes

The Pedralbes area is located in the southern part of Diagonal Avenue between the Montjuic and Tibidabo mountains. On the avenue are the high-rise buildings of the Caixa Catalunya bank, the La Caixa savings bank, the L'Ilha Diagonal shopping center and the buildings of the university campus. The university library is located in the Villa Güell (architect: Antoni Gaudi). In Pedralbes there is a monastery of the same name, founded in 1326 by Elisenda de Moncado, the last wife of King Jaume II. The monastery is crowned with an octagonal tower (unfinished). The portal and coats of arms of the Moncada family stand out. The nave contains stained glass from the 14th century. The monastery houses the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Gallery, which contains about 70 paintings by medieval and Renaissance masters.

The area is built up with both mansions and apartment buildings. The daughter of King Juan Carlos, Princess Cristina, lives in one of the houses in the area.

Gaudi i Cornet, Antonio

Most of the works of the outstanding Catalan architect are located in Barcelona. Gaudí's first works include the lanterns on the Plaza Real (Royal Square) (1879) and the Casa Vicens (1883-1889). The construction of the pavilions of the estate of Count Eusebi Güell in the Pedralbes area also dates back to this period. Nowadays the library of the University of Barcelona is located on the territory of the estate. It should be noted that Antoni Gaudi's father forged the dragon for the gate of this estate.

Count Eusebi Güell

The meeting with Güell was decisive in Gaudi’s biography. Güell became Gaudi's close friend and patron, financed most of the architect's fantastic projects, and gave him the opportunity to express himself. One of the first serious works commissioned by Güell, in addition to the pavilions, was the construction of a palace near the Ramblas. The construction of the palace brought fame to the architect. Since 1984, Palace Güell has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the same year, the following Gaudí creations were classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Sagrada Familia (Nativity façade and crypt), Casa Vicens, Park Güell, Casa Batlló (“House of Bones”) and Casa Mila (“Quarry”).

Palace Guell

The palace was built on a relatively small plot of land (18 x 22 m²). Gaudi managed to build a building with a very complex internal volume. The second floor salon was designed in the form of a courtyard with a dome. The façade is decorated with a beautiful bay window and parabolic entrance arches that allowed carriages to enter the stables. The building is decorated with numerous forged elements.

Casa Batllo

On the site of Casa Batllo stood a neoclassical mansion built in 1875. Gaudi rebuilt the building, creating two new facades. The first two floors were also completely rebuilt. Furniture was also made according to Gaudí's design. The basement, top floor and patio were completed.
The symbolism of the building has different interpretations:
Image of the sea
carnival scene
Dragon image
The most reliable explanation is that Gaudi depicted St. George piercing a serpent. St. George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of Catalonia.

House Mila

At the end of the construction of the Casa Batllo, Gaudi received an order to build a new house. It is no coincidence that this building received the name “Quarries”. Gaudi drew his ideas from nature. He was especially inspired by the view of the Montserrat mountains, located near Barcelona. At the top of Montserrat mountain there is a monastery of the same name, famous for sculpture“The Black Madonna” is a place of pilgrimage from all over Spain. By analogy, it was planned to install a sculptural composition of the Mother of God and Child on the roof of the Mila house. However, the homeowner rejected the project. All that remains is the Latin inscription, located in a wavy line along the entire length of the facade.

Park Guell

The park was the implementation of a plan to rebuild the city estate of Eusebi Güell. It was supposed to build a garden village, like English parks(hence the name). The implementation of the project was not successful: only 62 plots were sold for development. However, this did not stop the architect. Access roads, a central esplanade and a lower columned hall were built for entertainment and trade. A wall and two entrance pavilions were then erected, as well as a model home for custom development. In the third stage, a huge twisted bench was built. Two residential buildings were built in the park (not according to Gaudi’s design); there were no more people willing to settle in this remote place at that time. The architect himself settled in one of these houses. Now this building houses the Gaudi House Museum.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

In 1891, Gaudí continued the construction of the Sagrada Familia, which was to become a temple for the new century. Until the end of his life, even leaving his architectural practice, Gaudi continued to build a temple, considering this the main thing in his biography. At the end of his life, Gaudí became very eccentric due to religious fanaticism. He practically never left his workshop. The architect's absent-mindedness led him to death under the wheels of a tram. After the death of the architect in 1926, the temple was not completed. Difficulties arose due to the fact that Gaudi worked without drawings. One new facade was erected with modernist sculptures (including a Gaudí sculpture). Work is still underway on the construction of another façade and the central bell tower. With the construction of the central tower, the cathedral should become the tallest in the world.

List of buildings in Barcelona designed by Gaudí

Years built Description
1883-1885 Casa Vicens, Barcelona
1884-1887 Pavilions of Villa Güell, Pedralbes (Barcelona)
1885-1889 Palais Guell, Barcelona - World Heritage UNESCO, 1984
1888-1889 School at the Convent of Saint Teresa, Barcelona
1883-1926 Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
1898-1900 House of Calvet, Barcelona
1900-1902 House of Figueres, Calle Bellesguard, Barcelona
1900-1914 Park Güell, Barcelona - UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1984
1904-1906 Casa Batllo, Barcelona
1906-1910 Casa Mila, Barcelona - UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1984
1909-1910 Parish school at the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Sport

Barcelona has several sports teams, both professional and amateur. FC Barcelona (Spanish: FC Barcelona) is one of the two largest football clubs in Spain and in the world (along with Real Madrid) - a multiple winner of the Spanish Championship and a regular participant and three-time winner (seasons 1991-1992, 2005-2006 and 2008-2009) UEFA Champions League. The club's stadium houses a museum, which ranks second in Catalonia in terms of attendance.

In addition, the club has professional teams in basketball (Winterthur FCB), handball and roller hockey, as well as many amateur teams in various sports.

Espanyol (Spanish: RCD Español) is the second team from Barcelona in the Spanish football championship.

Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics, as well as several matches of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Barcelona has two 5-star stadiums: the Camp Nou and the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1992 Olympics and is now home to Espanyol, while the new club stadium will not be completed.

Montmelo, near Barcelona, hosts the traditional Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1 racing, as well as motorcycle racing. Previously, the Formula 1 circuit took place in the Pedralbes area.

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful Spanish cities, which is the capital of Catalonia. It is also known as a major Mediterranean port.

The French border is located 120 kilometers from it. Barcelona is the largest Spanish center of trade and industry. Tourists from all over the world come to see local historical sights.

Ancient times

The founding of the city is still being tried to be explained by two different legends. The first says that an ancient settlement was created in this place by the Greek mythological hero Hercules. According to legend, Rome was founded only four centuries later. In the 3rd century BC. e. Hamilcar Barca of Carthage, whose son is Hannibal, gave the city the name Barcino in honor of his family.
According to the second legend, the first settlement in this territory was founded by Hamilcar (Amelkart) Barka himself.

The chronicle history of the city began to be recorded on parchment in 237 BC by the famous ancient commander Hamilcar Barca. It was this year that he began setting up his military camp on a narrow coast near Mount Montjuïc. At the suggestion of Barka's associates, the name of the camp was determined as Barcino ("Lightning"). Hamilcar received this nickname in ancient times because his army moved with high speed. Barka agreed to this option. This moment is considered the founding of the city, which later became an important Mediterranean locality.

In 133 BC. e. The Roman army, led by Lucius Scipio, conquered Laie in Iberia. In 15 BC. e. In these places, the construction of a Roman fortification was completed, the central part of which was located on Mount Taber. This hill is now located next to the city hall on the square. St. James. The Romans named the city Colonia Faventia Giulia Augusta Pia Barcino. It was a small settlement in contrast to neighboring Tarraco, which is now called Tarragona. Time passed and the city became richer and more significant. Its convenient location and excellent harbor played a role in this. Here they started minting their own coins. Some of them have survived to this day. Ancient fortifications in the form of ruins are currently located in the city. The Roman layout can be seen on the map of the city center in the Gothic Quarter. St. Paradis is the site of ancient Roman columns.

The expansion of Barcelona took place inside a walled fortress. In the fifth century, Barsino was conquered by the Visigoths. Later the city became a more significant settlement than Tarraco.

Middle Ages

In the fifth century, Barsino was under the rule of the Visigoths. By order of King Ataulf, the capital of his state was located here.

In 511, a battle took place near the city, in which the Ostrogoths and Visigoths took part. The first ones won. The Ostrogothic army was commanded by Duke Ibba.

In the first half of the eighth century, Barcelona was conquered by the Moors. Before this, a battle between the Visigoths and the Arabs took place near the small town of Medina Sidonia. Historians have not established exactly where it was. It is believed that the battle took place near the Guadelete River. There are no further details about her.

The Latin chronicle of 754 records Roderic's march towards the Transductine Mountains for battle. His army was prepared for battle. But since soldiers were taken into the army by force, when the battle began, many of them fled, and Roderich was killed. At the same time, many of his opponents were also killed.

According to Arab sources, the battle took place on July 19, 711. It, like the previous chronicle, talks about discord in the Visigoth camp. It was for this reason that the Muslims won, and their opponents fled from the battlefield. The Arab chroniclers wrote nothing about other details of the battle. But historians claim that Tariq’s army defeated the Visigoth army, Roderic was killed, and the soldiers taken into his ranks by force fled. When Cordoba and Toledo fell, the Muslims took possession of vast Catalan and Portuguese lands, but there is little information about the occupation of these territories by the Moors. The Muslims successfully advanced deep into Spanish lands. Within five years, they managed to capture almost the entire territory of the Iberian Peninsula, which became subordinate to the province of al-Andalus.

The Moors also influenced the activities of local authorities. Under them, new coins began to be minted. When Musa ibn Nosseira arrived, a gold coin was introduced into circulation, based not on the Visigothic model, but on the North African one. The first coins were issued with a Latin inscription stamped on them. It was a translated Islamic saying, “There is no God but Allah.”

The Moors, who ruled the Spanish lands, did not occupy military towns. They settled in the southern regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Perhaps for this reason, Muslims did not choose Barcelona and the city did not develop as rapidly as it did with the settlements of al-Andalus.

In 801, Louis the Pious managed to recapture the city from the Moors. The capital of Spain was founded here. Barcelona became a buffer zone, ruled by a local count. The founder of Catalonia as an independent state was Margrave Wilfred the Hairy.

Barcelona existed as a Christian outpost. In 985 it was sacked by al-Mansur, after which Count Borrell II freed himself from Carolingian rule.

Local counts in the 10th-11th centuries declared independence and expansion of their territory to other Catalan lands. The union of dynasties, which included Aragon and Catalonia, brought Alfonso II to the throne in 1162, the first monarch of the united country. Jaime I was engaged in expanding the borders of his kingdom, to which he annexed southern lands along with Valencia. Aragon in the 13th century began to subjugate the maritime territories, Western Mediterranean and remote outposts. During the existence of the confederation of Aragon and Catalonia, active construction of buildings in the Gothic style was carried out. It was also the time of the adoption of new legislation with the Code of Customs. In 1410, the Castilian dynasty of Trastámara began to rule these territories. When the dynastic Castilian-Aragonese branches united, the city's development ceased.

The year 1450 marks the creation of the legendary University of Barcelona.

The influence of Jews on the development of the city

The Jewish population appeared here in the first century, when the Temple was destroyed. Until the beginning of the 13th century, Jews were the rich and influential people of the city. In addition, numerous scientists - representatives of this people - lived here. In 1263, the monk Pablo Cristiane initiated a debate in which he was opposed by a representative of the Jewish population, Nachmanides.

In 1367, the Christian Church declared that the "holy bread" had been defiled by local Jews. Representatives of this nationality were herded into the synagogue, where they were locked up and not given water or food. They also had nowhere to relieve themselves. Thus, the local authorities wanted to force them to obey the orders that the Infante don Juan disseminated. He was the viceroy of the monarch, Don Pedro. The Jews gave up their property and handed over to the authorities three representatives of the community, whom the Christian inquisitors burned at the stake. From that time on, Jews were not supposed to leave home without special signs on their clothes.

In 1391, Christians ravaged the Jewish district of Barcelona. More than four hundred people were killed. The synagogue was destroyed, and in its place a temple was built, where Jews were forcibly baptized. In 1397, by order of the king, the Jewish ghetto ceased to exist.

In 1492, Jews who did not want to be baptized were expelled from the country. Before this, all their property was taken away from them. The Spanish nobility and the wealthy Jews were so intertwined in family ties that among the representatives of this people who were expelled from the kingdom was one of the relatives of the monarch. Some Jews became Christians, but they were constantly watched by local residents of other nationalities. Only in the 20th century was the opening of synagogues allowed in the country.

XVIII century - our time

When the War of the Heirs to the Throne was raging in Spain, in September 1705, a British squadron commanded by the Earl of Peterborough attacked the city. A month later he fell.

Many people in Catalonia hated Madrid. With their approval, Charles III began to rule these lands, and his residence was located in Barcelona until 1711. At the end of the winter of 1706, Valencia surrendered to Peterborough, and Philip V approached Barcelona and besieged it, but was later defeated.

In 1714 he made a second attempt. This time the long siege yielded results. In September, the army of Philip V entered the city. The shopping district was half destroyed. In its place, the construction of the Ciudadelo fortress began, which made it possible to control the rebellious city and punish its population. Local separatists were subjected to repression, and the Catalan language was banned. In addition, the university was closed.

At the beginning of 1809 the city was taken by General Suchet. Then the entire territory of the country was captured. Napoleon annexed Catalonia and was overthrown only four years later. Barcelona came under the Spanish crown again.

The 19th century saw the Industrial Revolution. Numerous enterprises began to open in the city. When the country's government loosened control over the provinces, the medieval walls were destroyed in 1860, and a city park area, now called de la Ciutadella, was created on the territory of the La Ribera fortress. In 1888, the World Exhibition was held here. Barcelona began to expand due to areas where previously there were vegetable gardens and fields.

The beginning of the 20th century was marked by the revival of the city. At this time, Catalan nationalists voiced demands to grant the province autonomy and freedom of cultural expression. In 1929, Barcelona again became the site of the World Exhibition. When it was in Spain Civil War, Republicans settled in the city. At the beginning of 1939, it was captured by supporters of the dictator Franco. In the 40s repressions took place here. Once again the Catalan language was banned.

In the 70s last century, Franco's dictatorship fell as a result of strong protest movements throughout the country. Barcelona became a great cultural center and a prosperous city. On the Iberian Peninsula it was the second most important settlement with its own unique atmosphere. Barcelona attracted tourists. Local authorities again began to revive the Catalan language. Although there was a massive immigration of Castilians from the province, the Catalan language gradually returned to everyday life in the region.

In 1992, the Summer Olympics took place here. At that time, the IOC was headed by Juan Samaranch, born in Barcelona. In 2004, participants came to the city

World Cultural Forum, which lasted almost five months.

The proud beauty of Barcelona, beautiful in its exquisite and bold features, is the main symbol and capital of Catalonia, a real pearl of tourist Spain. Rich story, magnificent sights, delicious cuisine and a unique atmosphere make a trip to Barcelona bright and unforgettable. The city, imbued with the spirit of freedom, carefreeness and freedom, simply cannot leave you indifferent - having been here at least once, you want to come back again and again. Walk along the Rambla again, gawk a little at the clowning mimes, go to the ancient Boqueria market and buy something refreshingly useless, climb the Columbus statue and enjoy the beautiful view of the port and the endless sea - you never know the reasons to visit this wonderful city!

Local residents, as in the famous saying, seem to have “understood life” and are in no hurry - from the tables of numerous cafes during the afternoon siesta, good-natured laughter or the sounds of a heated Spanish argument can be heard here and there, a young guitarist spends hours perfecting his skills, sitting on the lawn in the Ciutadella park, and not far from it a young Catalan woman is dozing over a book. It’s strange, but at the same time Barcelona is considered one of the busiest cities in the country; it has the most features of large European capitals. This is perhaps the most industrial city in Spain, playing a major role in the industrial and economic spheres of the entire Mediterranean region.

General description, city landmarks

The city of Barcelona is located on a small plateau at the mouth of the Llobregat River, and covers an area of 101 km2. The unusual landscape of the city is formed by several large hills, and highest point The Catalan capital is Mount Tibidabo - here at an altitude of 512 meters there is the beautiful Temple of the Sacred Heart and a famous amusement park.

WITH administrative point Barcelona is divided into 10 large districts, among which the most popular among tourists are the Old Town, Montjuic, Gràcia and Eixample. The heart of the city, without a doubt, can be called Plaza Catalunya - this is where the old and new districts of Barcelona meet. From this beautiful square begins the famous Rambla, which bisects the Old Town and goes straight to the coast, the Old Port and the Barceloneta quarter.

North of Plaza Catalunya is Eixample, a modern area built up according to an interesting pattern (all the streets here intersect at right angles). In this area, by the way, one of the main attractions of Barcelona is located - the amazing Sagrada Familia cathedral, designed by the famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi. In the upper part of the city, a little further than the Eixample district, is the famous Park Güell - another creation of this great architect. Many attractions associated with the name of Antoni Gaudi are also located in the Gràcia district.

It is worth noting that Barcelona is part of, so to speak, “the other Spain”. Catalans highly value their autonomy and independence – for example, official language Along with Spanish, Catalan is also spoken here, and many residents consider it to be their main language. Very often you can see Catalan flags on balconies. By the way, such a traditionally Spanish entertainment as bullfighting is not welcomed by the Catalans and has even been officially prohibited here since 2010.

Climate

Barcelona's climate is Mediterranean, generally quite mild in winter and warm in summer. The weather in the capital of Catalonia creates the most favorable conditions for a vacation - in the summer months there is no sizzling heat and it is quite dry, but autumn and spring are humid.

Average temperature in Barcelona by month

Transport in Barcelona

Barcelona has almost every type of public transport imaginable - metro, buses, taxis, trams, funiculars. El Prat International Airport is the largest on the Mediterranean coast. In addition, Barcelona has excellent rail connections - the Renfe railway network connects most cities in Catalonia and throughout Spain.

Tip: a network has been organized specifically for tourists in Barcelona bus routes Bus Turistic, consisting of 3 lines and covering the main attractions of the city. Buses run in circles every 10-15 minutes - you can get off at any stop you like, and then continue the tour at the next one. Each route is accompanied by an audio guide in different languages. If you have little time at your disposal and want to see as much as possible in Barcelona, Bus Turistic – great option, however, it is worth noting that hiking according to this beautiful city can bring a lot of fun.

Barcelona's main attractions

It is not for nothing that Barcelona is considered the cultural capital of Spain - for example, such great personalities as Picasso, Antonio Gaudi and Salvador Dali lived and worked here. A variety of styles, eras and genres mixed here into a magical cocktail that will boggle the imagination. The number of attractions in Barcelona is so large that it is simply not possible to see everything in a short time.

La Rambla

This is famous pedestrianized street in Barcelona, stretching 1.2 kilometers from Plaza Catalunya to the seashore, where it abuts the Columbus monument. According to the famous English writer Somerset Maugham, La Rambla is the most beautiful street on Earth. This is one of the most colorful and lively places in the city - crowds of tourists, street vendors and mimes cleverly masquerading as statues create an indescribable atmosphere. On the Rambla there is the ancient Boqueria market, whose name translates as Abyss - it is simply impossible to pass by this place, the bright stalls beckon.

By the way, one beautiful Barcelona sign is associated with Rambla. At the very beginning of the street, near Plaza Catalunya, there is a small drinking fountain called Canaletas - a sign says that anyone who quenches their thirst here will certainly return to Barcelona again.

Gothic Quarter

On the left side of the Rambla is the heart of the Old City - the Gothic Quarter. Here, in a labyrinth of medieval alleys, among the cramped, chaotic streets, the history of the birth of Barcelona dating back to Roman times is kept. The area is home to many ancient churches and buildings, such as the Gothic Cathedral, the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, the remains of buildings and structures from the Roman era and much more.

Barcelona Gaudi

A lot in Barcelona is connected with the name of the outstanding architect Antonio Gaudi - without his participation we would not know the delightful city that is now the capital of Catalonia. Gaudi lived his entire life in Barcelona and placed all his enormous talent and all his strength at the feet of his beloved city. Such creations of the architect as the houses of Mila and Batllo, Palace Güell, Park Güell and, of course, famous temple The Holy Family are the main attractions of Barcelona and largely shape its unique appearance.

Hill of Montjuic

Montjuïc Hill, which means "Jewish Mountain", is favorite place for walking tourists and city residents. There are a large number of interesting sights concentrated here, so you can safely set aside a whole day to explore this area. For a long time, the hill was a strategic defensive point, as evidenced by the ancient fortress on its top. In anticipation of the 1929 Universal Exhibition, the appearance of Piazza di Spagna was significantly changed, and the National Palace and the famous singing fountain, also called the Magic Fountain, were built. In addition to all this, many interesting sports facilities built for the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 are concentrated on the hill.

Like true patriots, Barcelona residents tend to slightly embellish history hometown. For example, people here quite seriously believe that the Catalan capital was founded by Hercules himself. On the other hand, reproach local residents in excessive exaggeration is very difficult, since the first written mentions of a settlement in this part of the Iberian Peninsula appeared only in 236 BC. e.

Initially, Barcelona was called Barcino: in honor of the Carthaginian military leader Hamilcar Barca, who settled in these places. In 133 BC. e. The Romans visited the city, leaving in it as a reminder of their presence the characteristic layout of city streets (Gothic Quarter), and the remains of military fortifications.

In the Middle Ages, Catalonia became a tasty morsel for warring tribes. As a result, Barcelona was first occupied by the Visigoths, later losing it to the Arabs. True, in 801, Louis the Pious managed to recapture the city and establish the capital of the Spanish Mark in it, but he was never able to achieve complete independence.

A serious test for Barcelona was its participation in the War of the Spanish Succession, as a result of which it was under siege for a long time, after which it was taken by storm and partially destroyed (by that time the city had been part of the Catalan-Aragonese Confederation, as well as the Catalan Republic).

TO XIX century the capital of Catalonia has grown significantly, going beyond the fortress wall, but in the literal sense the city began to flourish and develop only at the beginning of the twentieth century.

City districts

Administratively, Barcelona is divided into 10 districts, but from a tourist point of view, only three remain the most outstanding.

The Old Town is the historical heart of the Catalan capital, housing the most ancient and, accordingly, the most valuable architectural monuments. It is the Old Town that owns the colorful heritage of the dark Middle Ages - the Gothic Quarter, stretching from Plaza Catalunya to Via Laetana. For your information, 99% of all introductory tourist excursions begin precisely from Plaza Catalunya, which serves as a link between the old part of Barcelona and the new.

Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics, as well as several matches of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Barcelona has two 5-star stadiums: Camp Nou and the Olympic Stadium (Estadi Olimpíc Lluís Companys), which hosted the 1992 Olympics. year, and now Espanyol plays until the new club stadium is completed.