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01.04.2022

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. Port on the Mediterranean Sea, 120 km from the border of France. International airport, subway. The largest industrial and commercial center of Spain. One of the most important tourist destinations on European itineraries (see "Gaudi y Cornet, Antonio" and "Pablo Picasso").

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

In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics. 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 Mediterranean coast on a 5 km wide plateau, bordered by the Collserola mountain range (cat. Collserola) and the Llobregat River in the south, and the Besos River in the north. The Pyrenees are located 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 Collserola antenna tower, visible from afar, with a height of 288.4 m. The highest point in the city is Mont Taber hill (cat. Mont Taber) 12 m high, on it is located the Cathedral of Barcelona.

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

In the north, the city borders the municipalities of Santa Coloma de Gramanet and Sant'Andria de Besos, in the south - with Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat, in the southeast the city limits the Mediterranean Sea, and in the west are the settlements of Sant Cugat del Valles and Cerdanyola del Valles.

Climate

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

Population

According to the City Council of Barcelona on January 1, 2005, the population of the city was 1,593,075 people, the population of greater Barcelona was 5,292,354 people (as of 2006). The 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% were literate.

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

The main part of the population professes Catholicism (there are 208 churches in the city). There are few 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 ascribes the foundation of the city to the hero of Greek myths 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, father of Hannibal, who named the city Barcino 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. About 15 BC. e. the Romans made the city a fortification centered 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 significance was small compared to neighboring Tarraco (Tarraco, modern Tarragona). However, its wealth and importance grew over time due to its convenient location and beautiful 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). So, on Paradis Street near the excursion center of Catalonia, Roman columns are visible.
The city grew within the fortifications until the conquest by the Franks in the 4th century. By this time, Barcino 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 VIII 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 March, a buffer zone under the control of the Count of Barcelona. Margrave Wilfred the Hairy, the de facto founder of independent Catalonia, played an important role. Barcelona was still a Christian outpost when al-Mansur sacked it in 985 (see Capture of Barcelona (985)). This attack gave Count Borrell II of Barcelona a pretext to free himself from the power of the Carolingians.

The counts of Barcelona in the X-XI centuries gained real independence and expanded their territory throughout Catalonia. As a result of the dynastic union of Catalonia and Aragon (1162), Count Alphonse became the first king of the united state. King Jaime I expanded the boundaries of his possessions at the expense of the southern territories (the Kingdom of Valencia). The Kingdom of Aragon in the 13th century subjugated many maritime territories, controlled the western Mediterranean, and also had remote outposts such as Athens. The Catalan-Aragonese confederation created many Gothic buildings and formed such legislative norms as the Code of Customs (cat. Usatges). In 1410, the crown passed to the Castilian dynasty of Trastamara. With the unification of the dynastic branches of Aragon and Castile, the decline of Barcelona began. 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 beginning of the 13th century, the community of Barcelona was the richest and most influential Jewish community and the center of Jewish learning in Spain. In 1263, a famous public dispute in Jewish history took place in Barcelona between Nachmanides and the baptized monk Pablo Cristiani. In 1367 the inhabitants of the city's Jewish ghetto were accused by the Christian church of defiling holy bread. The authorities rounded up all the inhabitants of the Jewish ghetto and locked them up in a cramped synagogue without the possibility of food and drink, the administration of natural needs. This violence was supposed to force the Jews to fulfill the command of Infante don Juan, the governor of the king don Pedro - and the community was forced to pay off the property of all its members and hand over three innocent people to be burned at the stake of the Christian Inquisition. Subsequently, the Jews of Barcelona were required to wear identifying marks. In 1391, a Christian mob completely ravaged and destroyed the Jewish ghetto, killing about 400 people. A church was erected on the ruins of the synagogue, in which the surviving Jews were subjected to forced baptism. In 1397 the king forbade 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 merging of the highest Spanish nobility and the top of the Jewish community went so far that when the Jews were expelled from Spain, the nephew of the king was at the head of the 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 the Archduke Charles of Austria. King Philip V of Spain from the Bourbon dynasty destroyed half of the commercial district (Spanish: La Ribera) in order to build a 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 banned and the University 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 returned to Spain again. In the 19th century, the industrial revolution touched Barcelona with might and main, in which many new enterprises appeared. During the weakening 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 site of the 1888 World Exhibition. The city began to grow on the territory of the "Pla de Barcelona" - the surrounding fields and gardens.

The beginning of the 20th century marks the rebirth of Barcelona, while 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. For the next decades, Barcelona became the object of cultural and political repression. In particular, the use of the Catalan language was prohibited.

The protest movement in 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 actively contribute to 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, because 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, which began, as elsewhere, with the textile industry (at the end of the 18th century). By the middle of the 19th century, Barcelona had become an important center for the textile and engineering industries. After that, industrial production played an important role in the history of the city. As in other modern cities, the service sector of the economy begins to prevail over the manufacturing sector. At present, the main industries are textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive and electronics. It should be noted that in Barcelona there are car assembly plants, both of the Spanish company SEAT (Volkswagen group), and of such foreign manufacturers 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 hub
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. There are 7 universities in the city with a total of 204,000 students. Supposed further development research, both fundamental and applied. It is planned to attract students from other countries
Fund environment- founded in 1997 to improve the environmental situation in the city and its environs
Foundation for the Development of the Mediterranean Diet - founded in 1996 to develop the food industry
Barcelona Logistics Center - established in 1994 to develop transport, especially rail and sea, as well as infrastructure.
Tourism Authority - 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 destinations in Europe.
Association of Financial Centers - founded in 1991 to develop financial activities, in particular, the stock exchange.
Medical Center - founded in 1987. Barcelona is known for its medical specialists, patients from many countries receive treatment here. Barcelona hosts major international medical forums.
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". Numerous international economic forums are held in the city.

Transport

Air Transport

Barcelona served international airport"Barcelona", located in the city of 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, railway and buses. The smaller Sabadell airport is located near the city of the same name and is used for flight crew training, advertising and private flights. Some charter flights operate to the airports of 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 in the implementation of freight and passenger traffic 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 south.

Railway transport

Barcelona is one of the main railway hubs in Spain. The main train station is Sants Estació (cat. Sants Estació). Train timetables and tickets can be purchased at the Renfe website. railway The AVE is to be extended from Madrid to Tarragona to the southern part of Catalonia. The line was extended to Barcelona in 2008. By 2011, it is planned to connect AVE with a similar TGV in France.

Public transport

The Barcelona metro network has 9 lines. marked with their number and their color. Six of them (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 and L11) are supervised by the Barcelona Transport Authority (TMB) (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona), and the other 3 lines (L6, L7 and L8) are owned by FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitet de Catalunya). The metro connects Barcelona with some suburbs. Currently, work is underway on the construction of the L9 line with a length of 43 km. 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 the underground stations of the commuter trains of the national railways RENFE and the 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 level of the car and electronic ticket sales terminals. Funiculars rise to the hills of Montjuic (cat. Montjuïc) and Tibidabo (cat. Tibidabo). You can also take the cable car to the top of Montjuïc.

Night bus lines "N" (Nitbus) operate in the city == 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 urban transport is adapted for the entry of 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 has more than 13,000 vehicles. Most licenses are owned by private drivers.

Administrative unit

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

Districts of the city
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 ("Left side of Eixample"), l'Eixample Dreta ("Right side of Eixample"), Barri de la Sagrada Família
Sants - Montjuic: Can Tunis, Montjuic, Hostafrancs, Sants, Poble Sec
Les Corts
Sarrià - Sant Gervasi: Pedralbes, Sarrià, Sant Gervasi, Vallvidrera P.S. These areas are the most expensive in Barcelona, the price per m2 is from 12000 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 Congres, Sant Andreu de Palomar
Sant Martí: Fort Pius, Sant Martí de Provençals, Poble Nou, La Verneda, el Clot

Policy

Since September 8, 2006, the Mayor of Barcelona has been 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 succeeded Joan Clos, who was elected to the post of Minister of Industry of Spain.

Notable 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 Miro (cat. Joan Miró i Ferrà), Salvador Dali (cat. Salvador Felip Jacint Dalí Domènech), Enrique Tabara (Spanish Enrique Tábara), Antonio Saura (Spanish Antonio Saura)), Juan Villfuerte (Spanish Juan Antonio Villafuerte Estrada).
The most prominent architect of Barcelona was Antoni Gaudí (cat. Antoni Gaudí i Cornet). In 1891, when Gaudí was over 30, the Society of Saint Joseph's Admirers invited him to continue the Sagrada Familia (Sagrada Familia) Cathedral, begun in 1882, the construction of which he devoted all subsequent years of his life. The construction of the neo-Gothic Sagrada Familia Cathedral will continue until 2030, when it will become the largest Catholic cathedral in the world.
The 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 Caballe (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

In the Gothic Quarter, many evidence of the Roman presence has been preserved (on the slopes of the Mons Taber hill). From the Gothic period, residential buildings and burials have been preserved near Via Laetana (cat. Via Laietana). 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 the Rambla and Via Laetana. This is the Gothic Quarter.
The La Ribera quarter stretches from Via Laetana to Commerce Street (cat. Commerç) and from Princess Street (cat. Princesa) to the sea.
The Raval (Arrabal) quarter is located between the Rambla and Ronda Sant Antoni (cat. Ronda Sant Antoni) and Ronda Sant Pau (cat. Ronda Sant Pau) streets.
From the early Middle Ages to the present day, some Romanesque buildings have survived, such as the façade Cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral there is a patio 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, therefore 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 of note is the chapel of St. Marcus in the quarter of St. Peter.

At the beginning of the 20th century, during the reign of the dictator Primo de Rivera, architects gave the name of the Gothic Quarter to the historic center of Barcelona. In 1925-1927. this name is officially fixed.

Olimpic village

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

Montjuic

The 173 m high Montjuic hill is next to seaport. The hill got its name because of the ancient Jewish cemetery located here. (Unlike Christians, who bury their dead at 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 Military Museum has been located in the fortress. For the World Exhibition of 1888, a hillside was built from the side of Parallel Avenue. The northern side of the hill was built up for the 1929 World's Fair. From the side of Plaza España, where Gran Via (cat. Gran Via), Tarragona (cat. Tarragona) and Parallel (cat. Paral lel) converge, the best view of the hill opens. Plaza de España was the center of the World Exhibition in 1929. There is an old bullring on the square (bullfights are not popular in Catalonia). On the other side of the square are two bell towers, similar to those in Piazza San Marco in Venice. Nearby is the National Palace and the "Magic Fountain" (light and music), created by Gaudi's student Josep Jujol. On the hill of Montjuic is the Joan Miro 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 - architectural museum in the open air, where copies of buildings from various regions of Spain are collected. At the entrance is a copy of the gate from the city of Avila. The complex was built for the World Exhibition in 1929 by architects Xavier Nogues, Miquel Utrillo and Ramon Raventos under the direction of Francisco Folguer. 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's Fair.

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

City center

In the middle of the 19th century, during the expansion of the city, 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 squares inside the quarters were laid out.
Plaza Catalunya (50,000 m²) is the border between the Gothic Quarter and the Eixample. The Ronda Sant Pere (cat. Ronda Sant Pere) and Ronda Universitat (cat. Ronda Universitat) highways depart from the square. At the intersection of Ronda University and Gran Via (cat. Gran Via), there is an old university building built in the middle of the 19th century. One of the main thoroughfares of the area is Passeig de Gracia (cat. 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 is the so-called. The “Quarter of Discord” (or otherwise, the Quarter of Disagreement), so named due to the fact that there are buildings there - architectural monuments belonging to four different modernist architects. The first building in the row is the house of Lleo Morera (built 1902-1906), designed by the architect Domènech i Montaner (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 house of Amalie (architect Puig i Cadafalch, 1898 - 1909). The world-famous Casa Batlló, built by the great Gaudi in 1906-1909, closes the row. On the same Passage de Gracia Avenue there is another building built by Gaudí - the Mila House (also called the "Stone 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 built by the architect Domènech i Montaner. This building is considered the pinnacle of modernism and incorporates many elements of this style. The complex of buildings of the Hospital of the Holy Cross and the 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 Domènech i Montaner.

Tibidabo

The peak of Tibidabo rises above the city (more than 500 m above sea level). The Arrabassada highway and Tibidabo Avenue (cat. Avinguda Tibidabo) lead to the top. The funicular can be reached by the so-called. "Blue Tram" (cat. Tramvia Blau). On the neighboring top of Turo de la Vilana, there is the 286 m high Torre de Collserola TV tower. At the top of Tibidabo there is an amusement park created over 100 years ago and repeatedly modernized. Near the park is the Temple of the Sacred Heart (Sagrat Cor) (cat. Sagrat Cor) (architect Enric Sangier), similar in idea to the temple of the same name Sacré Coeur on 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 mountains of Montjuic and Tibidabo. On the avenue are the high-rise buildings of the Caixa de Catalunya bank, the La Caixa savings bank, the L'Illa Diagonal shopping center and campus buildings. The university library is located in Villa Güell (architect Antoni Gaudí). In Pedralbes there is a monastery of the same name, founded in 1326 by Elizenda 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 stained glass windows of the 14th century have been preserved in the nave. The monastery houses the Thyssen-Bornemisza art gallery, which has about 70 paintings by masters of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

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.

Gaudí i Cornet, Antonio

Most of the work of the outstanding Catalan architect is located in Barcelona. The first works of Gaudí include lanterns on the Plaza Real (Royal Square) (1879) and the House of Vicens (1883-1889). The construction of the pavilions of the estate of Count Eusebi Güell in the Pedralbes area also belongs to the same period. Today, the estate houses the library of the University of Barcelona. It should be noted that Father Antonio Gaudi forged a dragon for the gates of this estate.

Count Eusebi Güell

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

Palace Güell

The palace was built on a relatively small piece of land (18 x 22 m²). Gaudi managed to construct a building with a very complex interior volume. The salon on the second floor was made in the form of a patio 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 Batlló

On the site of Casa Batlló stood a neoclassical mansion built in 1875. Gaudí rebuilt the building, creating two new facades. The first two floors were also completely rebuilt. According to the project of Gaudí, furniture was also made. The basement, top floor and patio were completed.
The symbolism of the building has a different interpretation:
sea image
carnival scene
Dragon image
The most reliable explanation is that Gaudi depicted George the Victorious piercing a snake. George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of Catalonia.

House Mila

At the end of the work on the construction of Casa Batllo, Gaudi received an order to build a new house. It is no coincidence that this building was called the Quarry. Gaudí drew his ideas from nature. He was especially inspired by the view of the mountains of Montserrat, located near Barcelona. At the top of Mount Montserrat is the monastery of the same name, famous for the sculpture of the "Black Madonna" - a place of pilgrimage from all over Spain. By analogy, on the roof of Mila's house it was supposed to install a sculptural composition of the Mother of God with the Child. However, the landlord rejected the project. Only the Latin inscription remained, located in a wavy line along the entire length of the facade.

Park Güell

The park was the implementation of the plan for the restructuring of 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 commerce. Then a wall and two entrance pavilions were erected, as well as a sample house for individual development. At the third stage, a huge twisted bench was built. Two residential buildings were built in the park (not according to the Gaudi project), there were no more people who wanted to settle in this remote place at that time. The architect himself settled in one of these houses. The building now houses the Gaudi Museum.

Sagrada Familia

In 1891, Gaudi continued the construction of the Sagrada Familia, which was to become the temple of the new century. Until the end of his life, even leaving architectural practice, Gaudí continued to build a temple, considering this the main thing in his biography. At the end of his life, Gaudí became very eccentric on the basis of religious fanaticism. He practically did not leave his workshop. The distraction of the architect 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 façade was erected with modernist sculptures (including one by Gaudí). Until now, work is underway on the construction of another facade 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 House of Vicens, Barcelona
1884-1887 Pavilions of Villa Güell, Pedralbes (Barcelona)
1885-1889 Palau Güell, Barcelona - UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1984
1888-1889 School at the Convent of Saint Teresa, Barcelona
1883-1926 Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
1898-1900 Calvet House, Barcelona
1900-1902 Figueres House on Bellesguard Street, Barcelona
1900-1914 Park Güell, Barcelona - UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1984
1904-1906 Casa Batlló, Barcelona
1906-1910 Casa Mila, Barcelona - UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1984
1909-1910 Sagrada Familia Parish School, 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) of the UEFA Champions League. The club's stadium houses a museum that is the second most visited museum in Catalonia.

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 now Espanyol plays until the new club stadium is completed.

Montmelo near Barcelona hosts the traditional Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1 racing, as well as motorcycle racing. Previously, the Formula 1 track was held in the Pedralbes area.

Barcelona, the thriving Catalan capital, makes a grand impression. The city boasts outstanding Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, magnificent museums (dedicated to Picasso, Miro and Catalan art), but the greatest pleasure can be found in getting lost among the narrow lanes, bars and cafes where you can have fun, eat and drink late and enjoy the local atmosphere.

This largest port and the most prosperous commercial center in Spain has a complex and dynamic culture and is ahead of the rest of the country in this sense. Barcelona is one of the outstanding cities, it has its own history of development that is different from all, which has found a perfect and eccentric expression in the architecture of Antoni Gaudí.

Arrival, transport and accommodation in Barcelona

The airport, 17 kilometers southwest, is connected by rail to Barcelona Sants main station, from where you can take the metro to the city center (line 3 to the Ramblas and Liceu). Many trains from the airport also go to Plaza de Catalunya, this is a more direct way to get to the Barri Gotic area. You can get the Airbus airport bus to the center through Placa d'Espanya, Gran Via and Placa de Catalunya.

Traveling to the center with a local taxi is expensive, so it is better to book (the fastest way to get to the city). Barcelona Sants is the main train station in the city, where intercity and some international trains arrive, and many intercity buses stop here (metro line 3 leads from here directly to the Ramblas).

Spanish and European long-distance trains, as well as intercity trains, arrive at the Estacio de Francia station next to the fortress park (Parc de la Ciutadella). From Estacio de Francia, take metro line 4 from the nearby Barceloneta station or just walk (5 minutes) to the Barri Gotic area via Via Laietana and Calle Jaume.

The main bus station is located at Estacio del Nord (North Station), which is three blocks north of the castle park near the Arc de Triomf metro station. Vessels moor at the Estacio Marittima pier below the Ramblas on the Moll de Barcelona.

The best travel agency is located below Plaza Catalunya (daily 9.00-21.00; Catalunya metro). Other branches are located at St. James's Square (metro Jame I), at the station and at the airport. The branch in Plaza Catalunya carries out personal. The fastest way to travel around the city is by metro (5.00/6.00-23.00/24.00, until 2.00 on weekends), the stations are marked with a sign in the form of a red crystal.

Bus routes (6.30-22.00) are much more extensive, and at each stop there is a map of the city with all routes. A limited number of yellow night buses pass through Plaza Catalunya. For travel by metro and bus there is a single fare of 1.15 euros and slightly more expensive on night buses.

If you plan to stay in Barcelona for more than two days, it is better to buy an E-10 or targeta ticket book at the metro station at a price of 6 euros for travel on the metro, buses and some regional railway lines within the city limits (there are also cards for suburban areas).

There are also daily T-Dia cards (for a day and 5 days) with the right to unlimited trips. The Barcelona Card (one and five days) includes travel from/to the local airport, all city transport, discounts for museums, shopping and restaurants. Tourist buses (Bus Turistic) connect 27 famous sights of Barcelona, you can change as you like.

Tickets can be purchased at a travel agency or bus station (they also include discounts when visiting museums, shops and restaurants). Black and yellow taxis are inexpensive, there are a lot of these cars, and they help out a lot at night. The minimum fare is 1.15 euros, 1.30 euros after 22.00 and on weekends.

Accommodation in Barcelona is one of the most expensive in the country, and you can hardly find a double room for less than 50 euros. In this regard, the Placa de Catalunya travel agency can help, or you can use the Barcelona online service. The old town has a large concentration of hotels and hostales, with the cheapest establishments in the alleys around the Ramblas.

The closer you get to the port, the more noisy and less healthy the surroundings become: in general, normal establishments are concentrated in the Calle de Escudellers area. The best and cheapest accommodation is found between the Ramblas and Saint James Square, in the area bounded by Calle de Escudellers and Calle de la Boqueria, near Placa Reial.

Visitors are strongly advised to book at least the first two nights of accommodation as early as possible. Barcelona has one HI hostel and several tourist and hundreds of campsites on the coast in any direction (but at least 11 kilometers from the city).

Barcelona Hotels

1). Centric Hotel– The establishment on a quiet street (but close to attractions) provides good rooms. Metro Universitat. Location: Casanova 13, Eixample;

2). Gat Raval Hotel– This clean, bright and youthful hotel in the hippy district of Macba features a minimalist design and friendly staff. Metro Universitat. Location: Joaquim Costa 44, Raval;

3). Grau Hotel- A bright hotel with a good cafe and bar (breakfast 3-7 euros), there is Internet access. Metro Catalunya. Location: Ramelleres 27, Rava;

4). Hotel La Terrassa– Clean and inexpensive establishment with simple single, double and triple rooms (some with private facilities) and a nice terrace. Metro Liceu. Location: Junta del Comerc 11, Raval.

Hostels in Barcelona

1). Hostel Albergue Verge de Montserrat– The pleasant HI hostel is located half an hour from the city center (breakfast included in the price). Vallcarca metro station. 23 euros. Location: Pg. Mare de Deu del Coll 41-51, Horta;

2). Barcelona Mar Hostel– New hostel with laundry and internet access near Macba and Ramblas. Metro Paral.lel/Drassanes. Dorms. 23 euros, breakfast included. Location: Sant Pau 80, Raval;

3). Center Rambles Hostel– Very popular hostel near the Ramblas with lots of amenities, no locks. Metro Liceu.Dorms, 16 euros, breakfast included. Location: Hospital 63, Raval;

4). Gothic Point Hostel- A lively place with large bedrooms and good conditions is very popular with young tourists and therefore noisy. Metro Jaume I. 21 euros, breakfast included. Location: Vigaans 5-9, La Ribera;

5). Hostel Itaca– Extremely popular and good new hostel near the cathedral with internet access, cafe, dining room and book exchange. Metro Jaume I. 18 euros. Location: Ripoll 21, Barri Gotic;

6). Sea Point Hostel– Good rooms and cafes open onto the terrace. Metro Barceloneta. 21 euros including breakfast and internet. Location: Pl. del Mar 1-4, Barceloneta.

Sights of Barcelona

Perhaps the area of greatest interest in Barcelona is the old town. These narrow streets above the harbor are easy to get around on foot, and in the center the alleys of the Barry Gothic area intersect here. On its western outskirts, the old city is divided by the main city highway - the famous Ramblas.

On the northern outskirts of the Ramblas is the Plaza de Catalunya, or Plaza de Catalanya, on the southern outskirts is the harbor and the old port, or Port Vail. To the west of the Ramblas lie the labyrinths of Barrio Chino, or Chinatown ( official name El Raval). Medieval streets run along both sides of the Ramblas northeast to La Ribera and west to the fortress at the top.

Leads from the hill cable car to Barceloneta, the waterfront area east of the harbour. The modern commercial one begins at Plaza Catalunya, and on its territory there are unusual architectural structures, including the Sagrada Familia Cathedral by Gaudí.

Ramblas and El Raval

Only in a city like Barcelona can the street, or rather the streets, be an attraction in themselves. But the Ramblas is not just a street, because here you can find everything from a flower market to fire eaters, street actors, pet dogs. In the evenings, the whole of Barcelona walks here.

Walking from Plaza Catalunya, you gradually leave the area of the luxurious facades of banks and department stores and find yourself in a simpler port area, where the Ramblas approaches the very center of the notorious red-light district. Now the harbor area is not as dangerous as before: the transformation of the old port suggests the presence of trendy bars and clubs next to the dubious old establishments.

Don't miss the city's glorious and premier food market, La Boqueria, a magnificent gallery of objects and smells, with excellent eateries and bars, and a fresh seafood restaurant. The famous Barcelona Opera Liceu, restored after a fire in January 1994, practically adjoins here.

Almost opposite is the famous Cafe de l'Opera, a luxurious meeting place for high society, but not as expensive as one might imagine. A short walk north of here is the spectacular Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona) with an interesting exhibition of works by foreign and domestic artists.

A little further behind the arched passage at the Ramblas lies the elegant Royal Square (XIX century). It is decorated with tall palm trees and forged lamps (designed by the young Gaudí). It's always full of all kinds of eccentric people, drinking establishments and everything else. The majestic Palau Guell rises towards the end of Calle Nou de la Rambla.

Many of Gaudí's first creations were made for his eccentric wealthy patrons, among whom the most famous was the shipowner and industrialist Eusebio Güell. This building perfectly combines wrought iron supports, marble, ceramics, wood, stained glass and carved glass. Don't forget to go to the roof of this building.

At the end of the Ramblas by the harbor, a statue of Columbus looks out to sea from the top of a grandiose column called the Mirador de Colon. You can take the elevator up to the head of the sculpture and admire the beautiful panorama of the city. Opposite, on the western side of the Ramblas, are the medieval shipyards of Drassanes (XIII century). Spectacular stone buildings with vaults housed Maritime Museum(Museu Maritim), where the most valuable exhibit is the royal galleon of the 16th century.

Gothic, La Ribera and Ciutadella

A surprising number of wonderful medieval Gothic buildings are found within a few blocks of the Ramblas in the Barri Gothic (Gothic Quarter) district, the center of the old city that took shape when it reached the pinnacle of its commercial prosperity.

In the center of the quarter is the Plaza de Sant Jaume, on one side of which rises the restored town hall. On the square stands the Generalitat Palace, the seat of the Catalan government, which was rebuilt in the 16th century in the Renaissance style. On the ground floor there is a beautiful vaulted gallery with superb coffered ceilings.

Behind the square is Barcelona's La Seu Cathedral, one of the finest Gothic buildings in Spain. Magnificent galleries overlook a lush tropical park with tall palm trees and white geese. In addition to the cathedral buildings, the largest number of historical monuments are collected in the Barry Gothic area, next to the Royal Square.

The best ancient Roman excavations in Barcelona were made under the Royal Palace (the former palace of the Counts of Barcelona), which now houses the museum of the city's history (Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat). Here, Roman and Visigothic relics are preserved as they were discovered during construction work in the 1930s.

East of Plaza de Sant Jaume, the path leads along Via Laietana to La Ribera and Carrer de Montcada, with a number of beautifully restored old buildings. One of them houses the Picasso Museum with one of the world's largest collections of works by the master and the only one of its kind in his homeland. Further along the other side is the wonderful church of Santa Maria del Mar, built on the seashore in the 14th century.

Her swooping lines symbolize Catalonia's preeminence in Mediterranean trade, and she is closer to the heart. local residents even compared to the cathedral. You can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city in the green and rather quiet park of Ciutadella near the church of Santa Maria. The Catalan Parliament gathers here, there is a lake, a monumental Gaudi fountain and a city zoo.

Port Vel, Barceloneta and Port Olimpic (Olympic Port)

The entire territory of the Old Port (Port Vel) has been revived again, especially the vast Maremagnuin complex, where the path from the Columbus monument leads. When planning the local places, attention was paid to a chic shopping center, a huge aquarium, an Imax cinema complex and many bars and expensive restaurants. This is the outskirts of the Barceloneta area with clean Barcelona beaches and fish restaurants.

The cable car leads from here to Montjuic. A kilometer to the east along the beach is the Olympic Port with a lot of bars and restaurants. In the evenings, the tables are cleared here, and the busiest dance scene in the city unfolds here. Lots of bars play salsa, house and techno music for a chic crowd.

Sagrada Familia and Park Güell

Barcelona presents, above all thanks to the work of Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), the most fantastic and most interesting creations of modern architecture in the world. Undoubtedly, his most famous work is the unfinished Sagrada Familia, or Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia), northeast of Plaza Catalunya.

Its construction is still ongoing, and the interior is a giant construction site. The most interesting thing is to watch how Gaudi's latest plans are being implemented. This place itself is stunning with its eight spiers at a height of more than 100 meters.

Gaudí considered this a metaphorical representation of the image of the twelve apostles: he planned to erect four more above the main facade and add a 180-meter tower at the top of the gallery above the transept, flanked by four smaller towers representing the evangelists.

On the elevator or on foot you can climb one of the towers and enjoy the dizzying view of the entire complex, as well as try to climb the walls and towers. Inside, in the small Gaudí Museum, you can get acquainted in detail with the career of the architect and the history of the construction of the cathedral.

In addition, visit (Parc Guell) - his most ambitious project after the Sagrada Familia. This is a kind of hallucination with huge decorative lizards and a huge Hall of Columns, where there is another small museum with examples of furnishings created according to Gaudí's designs.

Mountain (hill) Montjuic

Mount Montjuic attracts many people: five museums, the "Spanish Village", the Olympic Stadium and the castle with a magnificent view of the city. If you try to climb up the steep hill from Placa d'Espanya, you end up at the National Palace building - the center of the Barcelona World Exhibition of 1929, which now houses one of the best in the country, the National Museum of Art of Catalonia.

Its huge collection includes a Romanesque collection - the best in the world of its kind: 35 local rooms are filled with frescoes of the 11th-12th centuries, collected here from a number of small Pyrenean churches and placed in a beautiful exhibition. There is also a significant collection of Baroque and Renaissance works.

The well-known Barcelona Archaeological Museum of Catalonia contains exhibits mainly from the ancient Roman era, as well as Carthaginian and Etruscan relics and is located to the east of the National Palace.

Next door is the Joan Miro Foundation, Barcelona's most active art museum dedicated to the great Catalan artist. The beautiful white building houses a permanent exhibition of paintings, drawings, tapestries and sculptures donated by Miro himself and reflecting the period 1914-1978.

A short distance on the other side of the National Palace is the Poble Español, or "Spanish Village", where replicas of characteristic buildings from all over Spain are collected, and in the evenings there is a lively club life. Prices (especially for products of "authentic Spanish masters" and in bars) are exorbitant.

From here, the main track climbs uphill to the 1992 Olympic Games arena. The Olympic Stadium itself was originally built for the 1929 World's Fair, and in 1992 it was completely redesigned for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

It should be noted that an entire Olympic gallery is dedicated to the opening and closing process of the Olympic Games. Far from the museum complex and sports arenas, Montjuic Castle (XVIII century) rises on the ruins of the 17th century, from where a magnificent city panorama opens.

Food, drink and entertainment in Barcelona

Barcelona has a wide variety of restaurants that cater to the needs of even the less affluent. Keep in mind that many establishments are closed on Sundays and in August, and the fixed menu (menu of the day) is only available at lunchtime. For picnic groceries, head to La Boquería, off the Ramblas. Hundreds of excellent bars and cafes are located in the city centre, including lively tapas eateries in the Gothic Quarter.

Especially a good place near the Picasso Museum: many popular bars are located along the Passeig de Born, in the square at the end of Calle Montcada behind the church of Santa Maria del Mar. North of the center, the mostly student area Gracia (Fontana metro) is teeming with drinking establishments around the main Placa del Sol. Barcelona nightlife is one of the most interesting in Europe, although not cheap: in the most exclusive establishments, beer can cost you ten times more than in a nearby bar.

Music bars close at 03.00, discos close at 04.00 or 05.00 and some clubs are open on weekends between 05.00 and 09.00. Among the more expensive and trendy places are high-tech establishments in the Eixample area, Calle Ganduxer, Avda Diagonal and Via Augusta, west of Gracia. Quieter and alternative places are concentrated in the streets around Macba and in the south, although they are deserted on weekdays in the off-season. For information on current events, see the weekly Guia del Ocio, which is sold at newsstands, which have information about hotels and travel agencies.

Barcelona Restaurants

1). Arc Restaurant– Students, tourists and artists are frequenters of this brasserie bar in the old town, breakfast until 13.00. Subway Drassanes. Location: Carabassa 19, Barri Gotic;

2). Restaurant Can Manel– Cozy good place, daily menu del dia for 8.25 euros. Metro Barceloneta. Location: Pg. Joan de Borbo 60, Barceloneta;

3). Restaurant Casa Delfin– Bar-restaurant with paper tablecloths, attracting locals menu del dia. Closed on Sundays. Metro Barceloneta. Location: Pg. del Born 36, La Ribera;

4). Restaurants Comme-Bio & Comme-Bio II– Vegetarian restaurants of the same type with natural food stores. Lunch - 8.50 euros. Location: Via Laietana, La Ribera; Gran Via 603 (corner of Rambla de Catalunya, Example, Jaume I metro station);

5). Cran Restaurant– Exceptional service and excellent Catalan and French food. Location: Avinyo, 9, Barri Gotic;

6). Restaurant L'economic– Lovely place with three menu options for 8 euros, wine included. Subway Jaume I. Closed on weekends. Location: Pl.Sant Agustti Veil 13, La Ribera;

7). Lupino Restaurant– Elegant restaurant-bar on Placa Gardunya, lunch menu 8.50. Good recommendations. Metro Liceu. Location: Carme 33, El Rival;

8). Meson David Restaurant- Nice family run restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner, closed on Wednesdays. Subway Parallel. Location: Carrates 65;

9). Organic Restaurant- Vegetarian restaurant. Excellent salads, soups, pizza and homemade bread. Metro Liceu. Location: Junta de Comers 11;

10). Ovni Restaurant– Stylish, fantastic vegetarian restaurant where you can eat from 6.60 to 7.95 euros. Free internet access up to 30 minutes. Subway Jaume I. Location: Via Laietana 32;

11). Restaurant Ra– Bar-restaurant with an exceptional lunch menu for 10 euros. Metro Liceu. Location: Carme 34;

12). Silenus Restaurant“Delicious and nutritious food at reasonable prices is served at the hippie diner on the corner of Macba. Closed on Sundays. Metro Liceu. Location: Angeles 8, Raval;

Cafes and bars in Barcelona

1). Cafe Canigo– Favorite place of the locals. Closed on Mondays. Metro Fontana. Location: P.I. de la Revolucio, Cracia;

2). Cafe Cereria- Literary cafe with good pastries. Subway Jaume I. Location: Bxda. De Sant Miquel 3, Barri Gotic;

3). Institution Fira- Only in Barcelona - for lovers of fair carousels and circus. Works until 23.00. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Metro Provenca. Location: Provenca 171, Eixample;

4). Bar Kasparo– A bar with a terrace in a beautiful square, with good food. Metro Catalunya. Location: P.I. Vincenc Martorell, El Raval;

5). Bar Muebles Navarro– Remodeled furniture store with spacious rooms and spirits. Popular with gay people. Open from 18.00, closed on Mondays. Metro Sant Antoni. Location: Riera Alta 4-6, El Raval;

6). Bar Parnasse– This hippie bar has a calm and welcoming atmosphere. You can listen to jazz and drink whiskey or the legendary French absinthe at a modest price. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Subway Jaume I. Location: Gignas 21, Barri Gotic;

7). Cafe Textil– An institution in a characteristic courtyard of the Middle Ages near the Museum of Fabrics, braziers are placed in winter, but the prices for drinks scare away the students of art institutions. Closed on Mondays. Metro Jaume I. Location: Montcada 12, La Ribera;

8). Bar Travel“Popular place to eat, internet access, and great booze. Metro Liceu. Location: Boqueria 27, Barri Gotic;

9). Bar Virreina“Great bar with Belgian beers and sandwiches. Location: P.I. De la Virreina 1, Cracia.

Bars and eateries in Barcelona

1). Bar Ba-Ba-Reeba– Typical urban tapas bar with a good selection of food, open until 1.30. Metro Pg. de Gracia. Location: Pg.de Gracia 28, Eixample;

2). Bar Euskal Etxea The Basque bar specializes in spicy dishes. Closed on Mondays. Metro Jame I. Location: Placeta Montcada 1-3, Barri Gotic;

3). Bar Jai Ca– A small corner bar with the best snacks. Metro Barceloneta. Location: Ginebra 13, Barceloneta;

4). Bar Taller de Tapas- One of the city's establishments, where both a bar and a restaurant. Quality food in an elegant, relaxing setting. Good recommendations. Metro Jame I. Location: de I’Agreneria;

5). Diner Vaso de Oro“One of the city's best tapas eateries, nice bar. Metro Barceloneta. Location: Carrer de Balboa 6.

Clubs and venues with live music

1). Nightclub KGB– Diverse club with good alternative rock and pop music. Joanic metro station. Location: Alegre de Dalt 55, Gracia;

2). Institution Loft- A place to listen to hard rock. Open only on Friday and Saturday. Metro Bogatell. Location: Pamplona 88, Poble Nou;

3). Metro night club– The Barcelona unconventional club has welcomed everyone from Marc Almond to J. P. Gauthier and still remains popular. Universitat metro station. Location: Sepulveda 185, Eixample;

4). Moog night club– A techno-style venue with the best English and European DJs (best to visit the club on Wednesdays and Sundays). Drassanes metro station. Location: Arc del Teatre 3, Barri Xines;

5). Night Club Razz- Underground rock and punk. Bogatell metro station. Location: Almogavers 122, Poble Nou;

6). Nightclub Sala Apolo/Club Nitsa– Alternative rock stars perform here, and you can listen to electronic and techno music at Nitsa on the weekends. metro paral. lel. Location: Nou de la Rambla 113, Poble Sec.

Barcelona on the map of Spain

In contact with

Barcelona, the capital of the province of Catalonia, is one of the the most beautiful places Europe and a real Spanish tourist paradise. The age of the city is more than two centuries, which left an imprint on its appearance. The history of Barcelona began in the III century. BC, when the commander of Carthage, Hamelkar Barka, named the small village of Barsino in his honor. This is where the city stands today. The current Barcelona is rich in historical and modern attractions. With her charm and originality, she leaves no one indifferent.

The main symbol of Barcelona is the Cathedral of La Sagrada Familla (Holy Family), built by the great Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, who also decorated the city with his other masterpieces. The official languages in Barcelona are Catalan and Spanish. However, locals prefer to speak first.

Climate and weather

Barcelona is an excellent holiday destination at any time of the year. The Mediterranean climate prevails here, with mild winters and warm, humid summers. Precipitation in Barcelona is quite a rare event. The coolest month is February (+10°C), the hottest is July (+25°C), and in spring the weather is not much cooler than in autumn (15-18°C).

Nature

Barcelona is located on the coastal plateau of the Mediterranean Sea. In the southwest, near the city, are the Llobregat River and the Collserola Mountains, in the north - the Besos River. The Pyrenees lie 120 km north of Barcelona. Thanks to the mountainous terrain, the city has a peculiar, uneven landscape. The highest point is Mount Tibidabo (512 m).

Barcelona is located on several hills, whose names were also given to its quarters: Puchet, Carmel, Monterrols, Peira and Rovira. The city is very green, it has many small parks and squares.

Attractions

Barcelona has perfectly preserved the rich cultural heritage many peoples and times. The whole multifaceted history of the country and the city was reflected in its squares, monuments and streets.

The most grandiose and impressive attraction of Barcelona is the Gothic Quarter, located on the territory of an ancient Roman village. Here you must definitely visit the chapel of Sant Jordi, the chapel of St. Agatha, Jaime I Square, where the city hall and the Government Palace (Generalitat), the Golden Hall, the Courtyard of Orange Trees and the Federico Mares Museum are located. Also notable are the Grand Royal Palace and the Archbishop's Palace. By the way, in the first of them, in 1493, Christopher Columbus was solemnly received by the royal Spanish family after his first voyage.

It must be remembered that many sights and buildings of the city are included in the list of objects world heritage. The most interesting of them is the Sagrada Familia. Its construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. Completion of construction is planned for 2026.

Barcelona is also famous for its sports traditions and achievements. Here is the world's strongest Spanish football club Barcelona, whose stadium (Camp Nou) houses its own museum, which ranks second in attendance in Barcelona.

Nutrition

The mixture of nationalities and cultures played a big role in the development of the national cuisine of Catalonia. At one time, she borrowed elements from Japanese, Indian, Turkish, Pakistani, Chinese, Thai, Arabic and many other cuisines. In all of Spain, it is considered the most refined.

For connoisseurs of taste, and lovers of simply delicious food, Barcelona can offer a menu rich in fish and seafood, many dishes are served with fresh vegetables and fruits. Important elements here are olive oil and garlic.

Tapas is a mandatory item on any menu in Barcelona - a variety of appetizers made from olives, fish, meat, bread and chips. Catalan-style paella with seafood and a traditional Spanish dish, potato tortilla, are popular here as main dishes. Among simple snacks, sandwiches with various fillings are appetizing. As for drinks, you should try the local sherry; in summer, a holiday is even held here in his honor.

Accommodation

Barcelona is one of the most significant centers in Europe, large and multinational. There is a huge choice of accommodation options in the city - hotels and hostels, apartments and apartments for rent, villas and private houses. The cost of living depends on the location, season and conditions. At the peak of the influx of tourists, prices increase several times.

Hilton Barcelona, Arts Ritz Carlton and Claris are considered to be the best and most comfortable hotels in Barcelona. They provide guests with a wide range of services, impeccable quality of service and interesting design. Accommodation in them costs from 100 € per day.

Despite the high rate of opening of new hotels, there are always not enough places for accommodation during weekends and holidays. Therefore, you need to book rooms in advance.

Entertainment and recreation

Barcelona attracts fans active rest and entertainment. Here are a variety of options for this. In the coastal zone you can swim and sunbathe, on the rocky coastline you can go diving, and on one of the beaches you can take a parachute flight over the coast. Fans of elite sports will be surprised by the incredible number of golf clubs and grounds. City water parks Water World and Aquabrava offer excellent opportunities and conditions for family holidays.

For lovers nightlife The doors of city clubs are constantly open, where various theme parties and concerts are held. The most famous and fashionable among them is night club Elephant.

In Barcelona, winter carnivals are popular, when motorcades of mummers move along the streets and national music sounds. In the spring, the Maypole decorated with ribbons is set up in the squares, around which the sardana (the national dance of Catalonia) is danced.

Purchases

Barcelona is rightfully called "the biggest store in Europe". There are many grandiose shopping centers and small private shops, well-known boutiques and specialty stores. The opportunity to shop while tasting Barcelona cuisine and enjoy the Barcelona lifestyle is one of the most valuable things the city has to offer. In addition, Barcelona is considered one of the main centers of fashion and style in Europe.

Grand sales in Barcelona take place during the Christmas holidays (from January 10) and in the summer (after July 5). During these periods, an incredible shopping rush begins, because. Prices for just about everything are going down.

It must be remembered that the Spaniards do not really like to work hard, so most shops are open only 5 days a week and during the siesta (from 14:30 to 16:30) you can’t get into them.

Transport

Barcelona has a well-thought-out and extensive network of public urban transport, including buses, metro, trams, rail and sea transport, funiculars and flights.

The metro is considered the most democratic, affordable and convenient type of transportation around the city. The network consists of 5 branches to which 3 railway lines are connected. The cost of one trip is 1.20 €. But it is much more profitable here to purchase a subscription that combines the metro with other modes of transport.

Barcelona is deservedly proud of its urban bus network, it is considered the best in Spain in terms of organization and technical equipment. The fare here costs, as in the subway, 1.20 €.

It is also possible to purchase a tourist transport card (Barcelona card), which provides the right to free travel and many discounts.

Connection

Communication in Barcelona is excellent and is considered quite high quality. In Spain and abroad, you can call from any street machine. The minimum cost of a call within the city is 0.15 €, the price varies depending on the day of the week and time of day. Also in any kiosk or post office you can buy a phone card (6-12 €).

If you pre-activate the international roaming service in Barcelona, you can also use your own GSM phone. Although, according to the tariffs, it will be more profitable to connect to one of the country's mobile operators in any cellular service salon.

Internet access is available in numerous Internet cafes, major libraries and post offices.

Safety

Barcelona is considered a very safe city. Here, even alone, you can calmly walk until the morning. On the streets of the city, and especially in busy places, the city police are on duty around the clock. Moreover, all police officers are friendly, responsive and always ready to provide any assistance. However, most of them speak English. Therefore, you should not hesitate to contact the police, even if you just get lost.

If we talk about petty theft, then for Barcelona, as for other tourist centers, such cases are not uncommon. You should be more attentive to personal belongings and be vigilant in places popular among tourists.

Business climate

Tourism in the economy of Barcelona occupies the first place, because. profit from it is incredibly great. In this regard, the government is trying to develop this industry as much as possible and attract investors. Thus, making capital investments in tourism, one can confidently expect tangible income in the near future.

Real estate

Barcelona is the largest center of industry and trade in the country. The proximity to the French borders and the presence of the port make it the commercial capital of Spain. Therefore, it is not surprising that the value of real estate in Barcelona is steadily increasing in price. The demand for it is constantly high and the premises here are rented all year round, and not just during the tourist season.

Among residential properties, the most popular are small apartments and studio apartments (from 250 thousand €). Commercial real estate in Barcelona is almost the same price as residential. Therefore, the capital of Catalonia is considered an ideal choice for investors planning to develop their business in Spain.

The ideal time to travel to Barcelona depends on the traveler's personal preferences. The popular swimming season runs from May to mid-September. These months account for the main influx of tourists; free hotel rooms at this time are almost impossible to find. September and May are considered the quietest period of the season, and in July and August, German, Russian and English are heard on the streets more often than Spanish.

The season ends with the arrival of cold weather and rain. At this time, there is a slight tourist lull. In winter, the weather is quite favorable for travel, snow in Barcelona is rare and falls only once every few years, and in February the almonds begin to bloom.

As true patriots, Barcelona residents tend to slightly embellish the history of their native city. For example, here they quite seriously believe that the Catalan capital was founded by Hercules himself. On the other hand, it is very difficult to reproach the locals with excessive exaggeration, since the first written mention of a settlement in this part of the Iberian Peninsula appeared only by 236 BC. e.

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

In the Middle Ages, Catalonia became a tasty morsel for militant 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 found the capital of the Spanish brand in it, while it was not possible to achieve complete independence.

A serious test for Barcelona was 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 attack and partially destroyed (by that time the city had managed to be part of the Catalan-Aragonese Confederation, as well as the Catalan Republic).

By the 19th century, the capital of Catalonia had grown significantly, having gone beyond the walls of the fortress, but in the literal sense, the city began to flourish and develop only at the beginning of the 20th century.

Districts of the city

In administrative terms, Barcelona is divided into 10 districts, while, from a tourist point of view, only three of them remain the most prominent.

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

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, and now Espanyol plays until the new club stadium is completed.

Montmelo near Barcelona hosts the traditional Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1 racing, as well as motorcycle racing. Previously, the Formula 1 track was held in the Pedralbes area.

5 things to do in Barcelona

Enjoy the amazing water extravaganza, complemented by a spectacular light show, which is played every evening for all visitors to the singing fountains at the foot of the Montjuic hill.
Walk through the quiet streets of the elite Pedralbes quarter and see that the passion for demonstrating their financial superiority is not limited to Russian oligarchs.
Take a picture with a real Barcelona mime, don't forget to give the street performer a couple of banknotes.
Try all varieties of sangria and take home at least one recipe for this amazing cocktail.
Climb Mount Tibidabo and see another Barcelona from a height of 512 m.

How to get there

, Paris , Amsterdam , Brussels and Cologne . In addition, you can sail to Barcelona on one of the many cruise ships that periodically look into the local port. In particular, it can be reached by sea from Algiers, Rome, Livorno and Genoa. Here's a trip option own car worth considering only if the prospect of additional costs does not scare you: most of the highways leading to Barcelona are tolled.

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and its main tourist center. It perfectly coexists with masterpieces of architecture, delicious Catalan cuisine and the sea coast with the promenade and beaches. Life in Barcelona is in full swing day and night. Tourists who have visited this city know where Barcelona is located and in which country. Once in it, many come back here again and again, discovering it from a new side.

In order to understand the location of Barcelona, take a look at the map. On it, first of all, you need to find,. And then find Barcelona on the map of the country along the Mediterranean coast. It is located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. To the south of the city you can see the Collserola mountain range, creating rounded borders, and the Llobregat River, and to the north, the Besos River. At a distance of 120 km. from the city are the Pyrenees. The most high point city - Mount Tibidabo 512 meters high. It offers stunning views of the city. You look at Barcelona, and all the sights are in full view. There are many observation platforms in Barcelona, both natural on the hills and artificially created. If you are near the sea, you can see Barcelona from a bird's eye view from Montjuic. Currently, it has a beautiful park with shady paths. Of interest is the military museum located in the former fortress and the Olympic facilities that have been preserved after the 1992 Olympics.

Although Barcelona is a Spanish city, many residents consider themselves not Spaniards, but Catalans. This autonomous region has its own culture and even has its own Catalan language. In connection with the peculiarities of development, from time to time the question is raised again that. Many people mistakenly believe that Barcelona is. Such a lively life of the city and its popularity among tourists contribute to its recognition.

Barcelona lies among the hills: Carmel (in Catalan Carmel, 267 m), Monterolls (in Catalan Monterols, 121 m), Puchet (in Catalan Putxet, 181 m), Rovira (in Catalan Rovira, 261 m) and Peira (in Catalan Peira, 133 m). The name came from them.

According to legend, the famous Greek Hercules founded Barcelona several centuries before the founding of Rome. Later it was rebuilt by Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, and named after the family - Barcino. According to another legend, the city was founded by Barca in the 3rd century BC.

Barcelona is a major commercial and industrial center. This is primarily due to its advantageous geographic location. Since Barcelona has access to the sea, it has a large port that connects the city by sea with other countries. In terms of population, Barcelona ranks second after Madrid in Spain and 10th in Europe. The population of the city is 1606 680 people.

Barcelona borders:

In the north, with the municipalities of Santa Colomana de Gramanet and Sant'Andria de Besos,
In the south - with Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat,
To the southeast is the Mediterranean Sea,
In the west - with the settlements of San Cugat del Valles and Cerdanyola del Valles.

Barcelona has a mild Mediterranean climate with wet summers and mild, dry winters. The capital of Catalonia is filled with energy and endless impressions. It is adjacent to the popular resort areas of the country - Costa Bravo and Costa Dorada. Tourists vacationing there often visit Barcelona for 1-2 days. However, such a short time is only enough for a cursory inspection of the city center. It will take at least a week to immerse yourself in the rhythm of Barcelona.