History
Barcelona is a city with a proud historical, political and cultural history and is the capital of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia. Catalonia is a truly unique area of Spain and many of the locals still consider themselves as being Catalonian before being Spanish. Until the late fifteenth century, when Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabel of Castile, Catalonia was an independent state. Before that, Catalonia was an extremely successful state in its own right – a fact that is demonstrated by the Gothic quarter and old port of Barcelona.
Catalonia was swallowed up by the imperialistic Spain, which was a true world power in the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries; however, the heritage and pride of the locals was never forgotten. During the second republic, the democratic government in place just before Franco’s revolution, Catalonia gained independence very briefly. Once Franco had defeated the Republicans, nowhere in Spain was affected more by the change in government than Catalonia. Franco banned the Catalan language and changed area and street names from Catalan to Castilian. After Franco’s death, Catalonia and particularly Barcelona, has regained much of its identity and is very much a bilingual area.
Population
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, with a population of over 1.6 million people in the administrative centre of the city and a wider population of just over 5 million living in the Barcelona conurbation. It is the sixth largest conurbation in Europe and the largest conurbation anywhere on the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is currently the fourth largest city, in terms of GDP, in Europe and in terms of assets, is Europe’s third most successful city after London and Paris.
Places to Visit
No visit to Barcelona would be complete without a visit to the world famous Sagrada Familia. This catholic Cathedral was started in 1882 and it still isn’t finished! The architect, Antoni Gaudi, is responsible for this massive structure, which divides opinion amongst residents and tourists alike. Many believe it detracts from the traditional Barcelona Cathedral, La Seu, which can be found in the Gothic quarter of the city.
The Barcelona Aquarium can be found in Port Vell, the Barcelona port area. This is a hugely popular attraction in the city and kids in particular love it. Poble Espanyol, or the Spanish Village, is another of Barcelona’s great attractions and consists of different living quarters designed in styles from all over Spain. There are also a number of workshops and craft stores to browse authentic Spanish goods and souvenirs. It is also the location of the famous Flamenco show at Tablao de Carmen.
Antoni Gaudi’s influence can be seen all over Europe and La Pedrera is one of his most popular creations. The English translation is ‘quarry’ and the multi-coloured tiles with wavy brickwork make for a wacky, yet interesting building. The Picasso museum is another of Barcelona’s gems, pulling in many thousands of visitors every year. The works of Pablo Picasso are arranged in chronological order which gives visitors an idea of how he developed as both a man and an artist over the years. The Magic Fountain of Montjuic is one of the most fun attractions in Barcelona and consists of a water and light show played out to music. Performances take place in the evenings all through the year making it one of Barcelona’s most visited sites.
In many ways, the epicentre of Barcelona’s social scene is Las Ramblas. This is a promenade which is over a kilometre long! It is lined with fantastic shops, cafes, restaurants and attractions like the Wax Museaum and the Christopher Columbus monument. This is a very busy area of Barcelona during both the day and night and is a great place to head to for an evening of dining and entertainment. People should be wary of the south end of Las Ramblas however, as this is considered a more seedy area of Barcelona during the evenings.
Cuisine
The cuisine of Barcelona is generally more varied than in other parts of Spain. This is due to the many international influences found in Catalonia. The Romans, Arabians, Jewish and French have all played a part in the city’s history and it was inevitable that some of their culinary tastes would have been left behind. There is still a very Spanish feel to Barcelona cuisine, however, with the tastes of traditional Mediterranean cooking coming through very strongly. Fresh vegetables, freshly caught seafood and lots of olive oil can be found all over the city.
One delicacy specific to the region is Faves a la Catalana which consists of the typical vegetables of the Catalonian region cooked and served in a clay pot with various meats and bolets, which are a type of mushroom. Butifarra con mongetes is a very popular Barcelona dish which consists of the Catalonian sausage, butifarra de pages and string beans and is prepared with fresh garlic and parsley. The famous local dessert, Crema Catalana is made from egg, milk lemon rind, corn flour and burnt sugar. This dessert is served all over Barcelona. These dishes and many more specific to the region can be found in the restaurants of Las Ramblas.
Accommodation
There are a wide range of options in Barcelona when it comes to accommodation. Ciutat Vella is in the medieval heart of the city and takes in the fantastic harbour at Port Vella. The amazing acrchitecture of Gaudi and many of the Barcelona visitor attractions are within walking distance. Gracia is a more tranquil and sleepy option and is popular because of its quaint village feeling. The area’s attractive squares, bars and artisan workshops make this a very pleasant place to stay.
Les Corts is the university district of Barcelona and is overlooked by the Tibidabo mountain. The Camp Nou football stadium, many museums and gardens make this a popular choice to stay. There are a number of apartments in this area which offer tourist the chance to live like the locals. Barcelona has a number of fantastic hotels and apartments all over the city, with options for any budget.
Weather
Barcelona is situated in the north east of Spain and as a result is slightly cooler than some southern parts of Spain. Nevertheless, it can get very hot in the summer months, with the most pleasant months to visit probably being May to July. The average temperature in July is around 25C but it can get much hotter than this. The average temperature in August is around 30C and it becomes very humid, making it feel even hotter.
October and November are also very good months to visit as the temperature is still a very pleasant 16C-20C and will probably be a lot more comfortable for those who don’t like the heat. However, it is worth noting that October is significantly the wettest month of the year in Barcelona, with July being the driest. Generally speaking, the Barcelona climate is hot and dry in the summer, warm and wet in the autumn and dry and chilly in the winter. During the spring months of March and April, the average temperature will quickly rise to a pleasant 16C-18C.
Transport
The transport system in Barcelona is considered one of the most reliable, efficient and affordable anywhere in Europe. The metro system will reach most parts of the city along with the comprehensive tram and gas powered bus network. A one way trip on a bus, metro or tram costs around €1.45 but a T10 ticket can be purchased for between and and can be used for ten bus, tram or metro journeys within the city.
As in most of the cities and resorts in Spain, the taxi system in Barcelona is generally very good. Journeys within the city shouldn’t cost more than €7 and a taxi is definitely the best option when arriving at Barcelona airport. Cabs in Barcelona are yellow or black and a green light on the top of the car means it is free for hire. A fare tariff should be found on the rear passenger window although tourists should be aware that there are additional charges for airport journeys and for baggage.
