History Barcelona
Barcelona City
Barcelona History
Barcelona is a city that offers tastes of Spain and more. It is a culture within itself and a wonderful destination for the weekend traveller.
It's a chic city, full of vibrancy, energy and art.
Architecturally, Barcelona is a must. In the same way that Florence in Italy is a monument to Renaissance art, so in the 21st century Barcelona has become a monument to Art Noveau - thanks to the legacy of Gaudí and Montaner.
An international city in its own right, Barcelona surprises many foreigners who first go there. Move away from the old centre and you have commercial districts that rival anything in the world.
A lot of this success is down to the drive and cultural pride of the Catalans, who remain fiercly independent yet embody so many of the characterisitcs of the Spanish around them and the French to the north.
Their flare, drive and ingenuity is apparent from the moment you arrive in the city. And, as many people will comment, they are attractive people both to look at and engage with.
As the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is situated on the northern reaches of the Southern coast of Spain. From this Mediterannean vantage, Barcelona dominated shipping in the Mediterranean during the 11th-14th centuries. These contacts have not been lost and nowadays, Barcelonians continue to do business worldwide, particularly with the Spanish and French speaking world.
Alongside its great beaches, the city boasts great shopping, fabulous restaurants and world-class museums.
The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona provided the perfect excuse to regenerate the industrial port area and to build a large sporting complex on the top of Montjuïc, (Jewish mountain).
Since then, the city has become a leading European cruise and convention destination, with one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in Europe.
Summers are warm (25°C), winters are mild (10°C).
