BARCELONA: GENERAL CITY INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, northeastern Spain. It is located on the Mediterranean shore, some 120 km. south of the Pyrenees mountain range and of the French border, on a plain limited by the Mediterranean sea. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in population – over a million and a half people – as well as the eleventh in the EU-25.

Mediterranean and cosmopolitan, its urban layout includes Roman remains, medieval boroughs, and the most beautiful examples of Modernist and 20th century avant-garde art. Not surprisingly, UNESCO has declared such hallmarks as the Güell Park, the Sagrada Familia (church of the Sacred Family), La Pedrera, the Batlló house and the Palace of Catalonian Music, among others, a part of World Heritage.

Barcelona has hosted different worldwide events which have helped shape the city and give it international presence. The most significant events have been the 1888 and 1929 International Exhibitions and the 1992 Summer Olympics.

A very wide cultural offer will introduce our visitors to museums, exhibitions, open air sculptures… and a very generous helping of music, theatre and dance.

GEOGRAPHY

The coastline of the city of Barcelona is bathed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, while the Collserola mountain range protects the city to the west and has an extremely varied forest landscape, with cultivated fields, dry meadows, pine and holm oak forests, and riverside woodland.

The Catalonian capital, located 166 km from the French border and 120 km south of the Pyrenees, is flanked by two rivers: the Llobregat to the south and the Besòs to the north. The plains of Barcelona, close to the coastal range, are dotted with small hills (Monterols, el Putget, el Carmel, la Rovira and la Peira), where there used to be in the past many small wetland basins and river beds. Near the coastline, the Montjuïc Mountain rises to 191.7 meters.

Barcelona, which has a total area of 100.4 square kilometres, is part of the El Barcelonés County, along with Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Badalona and Sant Adrià to the north, and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, on the southern boundary of the city.

CLIMATE

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and moderately cool winters, experiencing more rainfall during the autumn and spring months. The average annual temperature is at about 17º C (23,6ºC in August). There is sunshine most of the year. There are refreshing sea breezes as well as a certain level of humidity due to its nearness to the sea. The annual rainfall (other than in the case of seasonal rains) is very light. Snowfalls are very rare. Even the most extreme temperatures are considered mild. Expatriate northern Europeans living in Barcelona experience this climate as an incredible boon that can be enjoyed all year round.

POPULATION

As of 2007, the population of the city of Barcelona is 1,595,110, as well as the metropolitan area has more than 3 million people.

The city is divided in ten districts: Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Sant Martí.

This district division of the city is based on its historical development. Thus, Ciutat Vella is the historic downtown, the Eixample represents the urban development of the city after the old wall defending the downtown was broken down, and the outlying districts reflect the boroughs surrounding the old town which were assimilated into Barcelona during the 19th and 20th centuries. Likewise, each district consists of several quarters, each of which has a pronounced personality and historical tradition.

HISTORY

Barcelona was founded over two thousand years ago on the Mediterranean coast, in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, when the Romans established a small colony around the Táber mountain.

Up until the 13th century, Barcelona consolidated the urban core created by the Romans. From that time on, it became the traditional gateway to Spain. Romans, Arabs and Christians have passed through it, and very different cultures have enriched the city.

The footprints of this history and diversity can be traced walking through the city; its Gothic Quarter – built upon Romanesque ruins – its Modernist Eixample, dominated by the exuberant architecture of Gaudí, but also grounded on a rational and well-ordered urban layout.

This diversity also comes through in the character of the enterprising, hard-working and culture loving people from Barcelona. All of which has turned Barcelona into a first class tourist destination.

LANGUAGE

Catalan and Castilian Spanish coexist in Barcelona in a bilingual environment similar to that of other parts of the world. Most of the population of Barcelona understands, writes, reads and speaks both languages.

SHOPPING

Barcelona is a shopper-friendly city that offers an inviting shopping experience for visitors who want to take a walk, examine the shop window displays, see the architectural landmarks and enjoy the people. The Barcelona Shopping Lines is the quintessential shopping core for tourists, where you can find high quality international stores; surprising and modern, offering the latest trends.

Business and shopping hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The major shopping centres do not close for the afternoon break and are normally open until 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m.

The main business areas are:

1. Por Vell / the Rambla / the Raval / the Ribera / Plaza de Cataluña / Barrio gótico / Mont Jüic.

This is the most historical part of Barcelona: the Raval, the Ribera and the Gothic Quarter, where both modern and traditional business and culture coexist. Barcanentre, El Triangle, El Corte Inglés and Maremagnum, have enhanced the whole area, creating an important business and shopping hub. Within a very short distance, there is Montjüic, a mountain full of history with a traditional crafts centre, the Spanish Village (Pueblo Español).

2. Eixample / Modernism / Gaudí.

Modernist Barcelona is one of the most emblematic spaces in the city, where you can find the most special shopping experience in Barcelona. The Bulevard Rosa is the most representative department store in the sector and an excellent showcase for the commercial offerings of the Made in Barcelona brand.

3. Diagonal / Pedralbes.

Shopping and business Barcelona consists of two parts. The first one runs from Paseo de Gracia to Francesc Maciá Square. The second one runs from L’Illa Diagonal and the great departments stores Pedralbes Center and El Corte Inglés, to the Barcelona Shopping Line.

TRANSPORTATION

1. Taxis

Barcelona has 10,500 mid-range/high-end, yellow and black taxis. Optional services: 7 passengers, accessible to disabled people, radio/telephone, air conditioning, credit card payment and services provided for conferences and conventions.

2. Subway

Barcelona has six subway lines with a total length of 87 kilometres and 123 stations. Timetable: Weekdays, Monday through Thursday (except on holiday eves) 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holiday eves, 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Holidays: 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

3. Bus

The TBM bus network has more than 1,000 vehicles, of which 70% are adapted for people with mobility impairments. The bus service schedule may be different for each specific line. Some lines start their service at 4:25 a.m. and end it at 11:00 p.m. The timetable for each line, as well as a service frequency table, can be found at each bus stop. Several night service lines cover the main routes all through the night.

4. Tramways

The tramway or tram has been running again in Barcelona since the year 2004. This means of transportation – which had stopped operating in 1971 – is at present an accessible, environmentally-friendly, quick and comfortable system.

LINKS OF INTEREST

Spain Tourism Information: www.tourspain.es
Barcelona City Council: www.bcn.es
Local Tourism Information: www.bcn.es/turisme
Official Webpage of Barcelona Tourism: www.barcelonaturisme.com
Public Transportation: www.tmb.net
Barcelona Tourist Bus: http://www.tmb.net/ca_ES/turistes/busturistic/busturistic.jsp
Museum Information: www.bcn.es/museos
Discount tickets to visit several museums: http://www.articketbcn.org/
Embassies and Consulates: www.maec.es