|
| list6 =
}}
== Barcelona english ==
{{About|the capital of Catalonia|the football club|FC Barcelona|other uses|Barcelona (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Barcelona
| other_name =
| settlement_type
| image_skyline = Barcelona intro.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = from top, left to right: Barcelona skyline, Castell dels Tres Dragons, [[Port of Barcelona]], [[Sagrada Família]], [[Camp Nou]], Mar Bella beach
| image_flag = Flag of Barcelona.svg
| flag_alt =
| image_shield = Escut de Barcelona.svg
| shield_alt =
| nickname = Ciudad Condal, Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts), <br />Barna, <br />BCN
| motto =
| pushpin_map = Spain
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Barcelona within Spain
| pushpin_map1 = Spain Catalonia
| pushpin_label_position1 =
| pushpin_map_alt1 =
| pushpin_map_caption1 = Location of Barcelona within Catalonia
| latd = 41|latm = 23|lats = |latNS = N
| longd = 2|longm = 11|longs = |longEW = E
| coordinates_type = type:city(1,582,738)_region:ES
| coordinates_display = inline, title
| coordinates_footnotes =
| coordinates_region = ES
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Spain]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous Community]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{Flagicon|Catalonia}} [[Catalonia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Province of Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Comarques of Catalonia|Comarca]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Barcelonès]]
| established_title =
| established_date =
| parts_type = [[Districts of Barcelona|Districts]]
| parts_style = para
| parts =
| p1 = [[Ciutat Vella]]
| p2 = [[Eixample]]
| p3 = [[Gràcia]]
| p4 = [[Horta-Guinardó]]
| p5 = [[Les Corts, Barcelona|Les Corts]]
| p6 = [[Nou Barris]]
| p7 = [[Sant Andreu]]
| p8 = [[Sants]]–[[Montjuïc]]
| p9 = [[Sarrià-Sant Gervasi]]
| p10 = [[Sant Martí]]
| government_type = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-council]]
| governing_body = Ajuntament de Barcelona
| leader_party = [[Convergence and Union|CiU]]
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = [[Xavier Trias i Vidal de Llobatera]]
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 101.9
|area_urban_km2 = 803
| elevation_footnotes = ([[Above mean sea level|AMSL]])
| elevation_m = 12
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 1621537<br />3,218,071 <small>(''Greater Barcelona'')</small>
| population_urban = 4210000 {{increase}}
| population_blank1_title = [[Larger Urban Zones|Urban zone]]
| population_blank1 = 4,440,629 {{increase}}
| population_blank2_title = [[metropolitan area|Metropolitan]]
| population_blank2 = 5,083,000 {{increase}}
| population_as_of = 2009
| population_density_km2 = 15991
| population_demonym = Barcelonan<br />''barceloní'', ''barcelonina''<br />''barcelonés'', ''barcelonesa''
| timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1 = +1
| timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in Spain|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 08001–08080
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Area code]]
| area_code = +34 (Spain) 93 (City)
| website = [http://www.bcn.cat/ www.bcn.cat]
| footnotes =
}}
'''Barcelona''' ({{IPA-ca|bərsəˈɫonə|lang}}, {{IPA-es|barθeˈlona|lang}}) is the [[capital (political)|capital]] and the most populous city of [[Catalonia]] and the second largest city in [[Spain]], after [[Madrid]], with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of {{convert|101.4|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}. The urban area of Barcelona extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of between 4,200,000<ref name=World_Urban_Areas>[http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf Demographia: World Urban Areas], March 2010</ref> and 4,500,000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tgs00080&plugin=1 |title=Population and living conditions in Urban Audit cities, larger urban zone (LUZ) |author=[[Eurostat]]|accessdate=}}</ref> on an area of {{convert|803|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}},<ref name=World_Urban_Areas /> being the [[Largest urban areas of the European Union|sixth-most populous urban area]] in the [[European Union]] after [[Paris]], [[London]], [[Ruhr area]], [[Madrid]] and [[Milan]]. About five million<ref>[[United Nations]] – Department of Economic and Social Affairs: [http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2007/2007WUP_Highlights_web.pdf World Urbanization Prospects (2007 revision)], Table A.12</ref><ref>[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development]]: ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=kBsfY-Pe2Q4C Competitive Cities in the Global Economy]'', OECD Territorial Reviews, (OECD Publishing, 2006), Table 1.1</ref><ref name="metropolit1">[http://www.idescat.net/territ/BasicTerr?TC=5&V0=4&V3=863&V4=435&ALLINFO=TRUE&PARENT=1&CTX=B&V1=1&VOK=Confirmar Àmbit Metropolità. Sèrie temporal] (catalan)</ref> people live in the [[Barcelona metropolitan area]]. It is also [[Europe]]'s largest metropolis on the [[Mediterranean coast]]. It is the main component of an [[Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona|administrative area of Greater Barcelona]], with a population of 3,218,071 in an area of 636 km² (density 5,060 hab/km²). It is located on the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast between the mouths of the rivers [[Llobregat]] and [[Besòs (river)|Besòs]] and is bounded to the west by the [[Serra de Collserola]] ridge ({{convert|512|m|ft|0|disp=/|abbr=on}}).
Barcelona is today one of the world's leading [[tourism|tourist]], [[economy|economic]], [[trade fair]]/[[exhibition]]s and [[culture|cultural]]-[[sport]]s centres, and its influences in [[commerce]], [[education]], [[entertainment]], [[mass media|media]], [[fashion]], [[science]], and the [[arts]] all contribute to its status as one of the [[global city|world's major global cities]].<ref name=GAWC>{{cite web |url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2008t.html |title=The World According to GaWC 2008 |publisher=Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network, [[Loughborough University]] |accessdate=3 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citylist.html |title=Inventory of World Cities |publisher=Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group and Network |accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref> Indeed, it is a major economic centre and a growing financial centre ([[Diagonal Mar]] area and [[Gran Via (Barcelona)|Gran Via]]); one of Europe's principal [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] [[port]]s, can be found here as well as [[Barcelona Airport|Barcelona international airport]], which handles about 30 million passengers per year. It also boasts an extensive motorway network and is a hub of [[high-speed rail]], particularly that which will link [[France]] with Spain. Barcelona is the 16th-most-visited city in the world and 4th most visited in [[Europe]] after Paris, London, and Rome, with several million tourists every year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euromonitor.com/euromonitor-internationals-top-city-destinations-ranking/article|title=Euromonitor International’s top city destinations ranking |publisher=[[Euromonitor International]] |first= Caroline |last=Bremner |year=2011|accessdate=2 June 2011}}</ref> Barcelona is the [[World's most livable cities#Most Liveable Cities Index|16th most "livable city" in the world]] according to lifestyle magazine [[Monocle (2007 magazine)|Monocle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monocle.com/sections/affairs/Magazine-Articles/The-Worlds-top-25-most-liveable-cities/ |title=Monocle, Issue June 2009 |publisher=Monocle.com |date=2009-06-11 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> Similarly, according to Innovation Analysts 2thinknow, Barcelona occupies 13th place in the world on ''Innovation Cities™ Global Index''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.innovation-cities.com/2thinknow-innovation-cities-global-256-index/|title=Independent city analysis and rankings for innovation in 2009| accessdate=2009-08-01| publisher=2thinknow}}</ref> It is the [[List of cities by GDP#Top 10 cities in the European Union|4th richest city by GDP]] in the [[European Union]] and 35th in the world with an output amounting to €177 billion, a figure nonetheless smaller than alternative estimates.<ref name="pricewater">{{cite web|url=https://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3421&NewsAreaID=2|title=Global city GDP rankings 2008–2025|publisher=Pricewaterhouse Coopers|accessdate=16 December 2009}}</ref> Consequently, its GDP per capita output stands at €39,859 – some 44% higher than the European Union average and GDP per head is €80,894 according to [[Eurostat]].<ref>[http://www.urbanaudit.org/CityProfiles.aspx?CityCode=ES002C&CountryCode=ES Urban Audit - CityProfiles: Barcelona] - Eurostat, 2004</ref> Similarly, the city of Barcelona stands in 29th place in a list of net personal earnings headed by [[Zurich]].<ref>[http://www.citymayors.com/economics/richest_cities.html "Ranking: The richest cities in the world"] – City Mayors.com</ref> The city is Europe's 3rd and one of the world's most successful as a city brand, both in terms of reputation and assets.<ref>[http://www.citymayors.com/marketing/city-brands.html "Paris, London and Barcelona are Europe’s top city brands"] – City Mayors.com</ref> Barcelona is 7th most important [[fashion capital]] in the world. Also, the city is Europe's 4th best business city and fastest improving European city, with growing improved by 17% per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citymayors.com/business/euro_bizcities.html |title=Best European business cities |publisher=City Mayors |date=2009-10-28 |accessdate=2011-09-15}}</ref>
Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the [[Counts of Barcelona]]. After merging with the [[Kingdom of Aragon]], Barcelona became one of the most important cities of the [[Crown of Aragon]]. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and a major [[tourist destination]] and has a rich [[cultural heritage]]. Particularly renowned are architectural works of [[Antoni Gaudí]] and [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]] that have been designated [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]s. The city is well known in recent times for the [[1992 Summer Olympics]]. The headquarters of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]] is located in Barcelona.
As the capital of [[Catalonia]], Barcelona houses the seat of the Catalan government, known as the [[Generalitat of Catalonia|Generalitat de Catalunya]]; of particular note are the [[Government of Catalonia|executive branch]], the [[Parliament of Catalonia|parliament]], and the [[Supreme Court]] of [[Catalonia]]. The city is also the capital of the [[Province of Barcelona]] and the [[Barcelonès]] [[Comarques of Catalonia|comarca]] (shire).
==Names==
The name ''Barcelona'' comes from the ancient Iberian [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] ''Barkeno'', attested in an ancient coin inscription in [[Iberian scripts|Iberian script]] as [[File:Barkeno.png|34px|Barkeno in Levantine Iberian script]],<ref>''Emerita: Revista de Lingüística y Filología clasica'' 11 (1943), p.468</ref> in [[Ancient Greek]] sources as {{polytonic|Βαρκινών}}, ''Barkinṓn'';<ref>[[Ptolemy]], ii. 6. § 8</ref> and in [[Latin]] as ''Barcino''{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}, ''Barcilonum''<ref>[[Rufus Festus Avienus]] ''Ora Maritima'' [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/avienus.ora.html « et Barcilonum amoena sedes ditium. » v514]</ref> and ''Barceno''.<ref>[[Antonine Itinerary|Itin. Ant.]]</ref>{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
During [[Middle Ages|the Middle Ages]], the city was variously known as ''Barchinona, Barçalona, Barchelona'', and ''Barchenona''.
Some sources say that the city could have been named after the Carthaginian general [[Hamilcar Barca]], who was supposed to have founded the city in the 3rd century BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Barcelona |title=Online Etymology Dictionary |publisher=Etymonline.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref>
==History==
{{Main|History of Barcelona}}
The founding of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends. The first attributes the founding of the city to the mythological [[Hercules]] 400 years before the building of [[Rome]]. The second legend attributes the foundation of the city directly to the historical [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] [[Hamilcar Barca]], father of [[Hannibal]], who named the city ''Barcino'' after his family in the 3rd century BC.<ref>Oros. vii. 143; Miñano, ''Diccion.'' vol. i. p. 391; Auson. ''Epist.'' xxiv. 68, 69, ''Punica Barcino''.</ref>
About [[15 BC|15 BC]], the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] redrew the town as a ''[[castra|castrum]]'' (Roman military camp) centred on the "''Mons Taber''", a little hill near the contemporary city hall ([[Plaça de Sant Jaume]]). Under the Romans, it was a colony with the surname of ''Faventia'',<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Plin.]] iii. 3. s. 4</ref> or, in full, ''Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino''<ref>Inscr. ap. Gruter, p. 426, nos. 5, 6.</ref> or ''Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino''. [[Mela]]<ref>ii. 6</ref> mentions it among the small towns of the district, probably as it was eclipsed by its neighbour ''[[Tarragona|Tarraco]]'' (modern [[Tarragona]]), but it may be gathered from later writers that it gradually grew in wealth and consequence, favoured as it was with a beautiful situation and an excellent harbour.<ref>Avien. ''Ora Maritima.'' 520: "Et Barcilonum amoena sedes ditium."</ref> It enjoyed immunity from imperial burdens.<ref>Paul. Dig. 1. tit. 15, de Cens.</ref> The city minted its own coins; some from the era of [[Galba]] survive.
[[File:Basílica de la Mercè es del carrer d'en Carabassa.jpg|thumb|left|Basilic of la Mercè]]
Some important Roman ruins are exposed under the [[Plaça del Rei]], entrance by the city museum ([[Museu d'Història de la Ciutat]]), and the typically Roman grid-planning is still visible today in the layout of the historical centre, the ''[[El Gòtic|Barri Gòtic]]'' ("Gothic Quarter"). Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated into the cathedral.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/barcelona/walls/walls.html |title=Roman walls, Barcelona |publisher=Bluffton.edu |date= |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref> The cathedral, also known as basilica ''La Seu'', is said to have been founded in 343. The city was conquered by the [[Visigoths]] in the early 5th century, becoming for a few years the capital of the whole [[Hispania]]. After being conquered by the [[Arabs]] in the early 8th century, it was reconquered in 801 by [[Charlemagne]]'s son [[Louis the Pious|Louis]], who made Barcelona the seat of Carolingian "[[Marca Hispanica|Spanish Marches]]" (''Marca Hispanica''), a [[buffer zone]] ruled by the [[Counts of Barcelona|Count of Barcelona]].
The Counts of Barcelona became increasingly independent and expanded their territory to include all of [[Catalonia]]. In 1137, [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragon]] and the [[Counts of Barcelona|County of Barcelona]] merged by [[dynastic union]]<ref name="bisson_31">{{cite book | title = The medieval Crown of Aragon. A short story | chapter = II. The age of the Early Count-Kings (1137–1213) (The Principate of Ramon Berenguer IV 1137–1162) | year = 1986 | editor = Clarendon Press – Oxford | author = T.N. Bisson | page = 31 | isbn = 0-19-820236-9 | accessdate = 2008-05-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url = http://libro.uca.edu/aarhms/newsletters/AAHRMSFall07text.pdf | title = Els impostos indirectes en el regne de Mallorca. | author = Cateura Benàsser, Pau | accessdate = 2008-04-24 |format=PDF |ISBN= 84-96019-28-4}} El Tall dels Temps, 14. (Palma de) Mallorca: El Tall, 1996.</ref> by the marriage of [[Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona|Ramon Berenguer IV]] and [[Petronila of Aragon|Petronilla of Aragon]], and their titles were finally borne by only one person when their son [[Alfonso II of Aragon]] ascended to the throne in 1162. His territories were later to be known as the [[Crown of Aragon]], which conquered many overseas possessions, ruling the western [[Mediterranean Sea]] with outlying territories [[Naples|in Naples]] and Sicily and as far as [[Duchy of Athens|Athens]] in the 13th century. The forging of a dynastic link between the Crowns of Aragon and [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] marked the beginning of Barcelona's decline.
[[File:Monjuic's castle in Barcelona.jpg|thumb|300px|The fortress at Montjuïc that was the most southerly point from which measurements were made when constructing the prototype metre]]
The marriage of [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]] and [[Isabella I of Castile]] in 1469 united the two royal lines. The centre of political power became [[Madrid]] and the colonisation of the [[Americas]] reduced the financial importance (at least in relative terms) of Mediterranean trade. Barcelona was always the stronghold of Catalan separatism and was the center of the [[Catalan Revolt]] (1640–52) against [[Philip IV of Spain]]. The [[Black Death|great plague]] of 1650–1654 halved the city's population.<ref>[http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/payne15.htm Chapter 15: A History of Spain and Portugal], Stanley G. Payne</ref> The [[Peninsular War|Napoleonic wars]] left the province ravaged, but the postwar period saw the start of industrialization.
In the eighteenth century a fortress was built at [[Montjuïc]] that overlooked the harbour. In 1794, this fortress was used by the French astronomer [[Pierre Méchain|Pierre François André Méchain]] for observations relating to a survey stretching to [[Dunkirk]] that provided the basis of the [[metre]].<ref>{{cite book
|last1 = Adler | first1 = Ken
|title = The measure of all things – The seven year odyssey that transformed the world
|year = 2002
|publisher = Abacus
|isbn = 0-349-11507-9}}</ref> The definitive metre bar, manufactured from platinum, was presented to the French legislative assembly on 22 June 1799.
The resistance of Barcelona to [[Francisco Franco|Franco]]'s coup d'état was to have lasting effects after the defeat of the Republican government. The autonomous institutions of [[Catalonia]] were abolished,<ref>Decree of 1938-04-05.</ref> and the use of the [[Catalan language]] in public life was suppressed. Barcelona remained the second largest city in Spain, at the heart of a region which was relatively industrialised and prosperous, despite the devastation of the [[Spanish Civil War|civil war]]. The result was a large-scale immigration from poorer regions of Spain (particularly [[Andalucia]], [[Murcia]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]), which in turn led to rapid urbanisation. Barcelona hosted the [[Olympic Games]] in 1992, which helped revitalize the city.<ref>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/53030/Barcelona Barcelona (Spain)]". Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref>
{{wide image|Barcelona. View from Tibidabo.jpg|800px|A panoramic view of Barcelona (click to enlarge)}}
==Geography==
[[File:Barcelona ISS009-E-9987.jpg|thumb|right|Barcelona from space]]
Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], facing the [[Mediterranean Sea]], on a plateau approximately {{convert|5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} wide limited by the mountain range of [[Serra de Collserola|Collserola]], the [[Llobregat]] river to the southwest and the [[Besòs (river)|Besòs]] river to the north.<ref name="gec_3">{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana | title = Barcelona | year = 1971 | month = July | publisher = Edicions 62 | volume = 3 | location = Barcelona | pages = 193–229 }}</ref> This plateau has {{convert|170|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}},<ref name="gec_3" /> of which 101 km² (38.9 sq mi)<ref name="guies_estadistiques">{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/inf/guies/bcn.pdf |title=11 Barcelona.indd |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> are occupied by the city itself. It is 120 km (75 mi) south of the [[Pyrenees]] and the [[Catalonia]]n border with [[France]].
[[Tibidabo]], {{convert|512|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high, offers striking views over the city<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen/fullscreen33.html |title=Barcelona Spain Tibidabo Sagrat Cor Church. Full Screen QTVR panoramic image |publisher=Panoramas.dk |date= |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref> and is topped by the {{convert|288.4|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} [[Torre de Collserola]], a [[Radio masts and towers|telecommunications tower]] that is visible from most of the city. Barcelona is peppered with small hills, most of them urbanized and that gave their name to the neighbourhoods built upon them, such as [[El Carmel|Carmel]] (267 m), [[Putxet]] (181 m) and Rovira (261 m). The escarpment of [[Montjuïc]] (173 m), situated to the southeast, overlooks the harbour and is topped by [[Montjuïc castle]], a fortress built in the 17–18th centuries to control the city as a replacement for the Ciutadella. Today, the fortress is a museum and Montjuïc is home to several sporting and cultural venues, as well as Barcelona's biggest park and gardens.
The city borders are the municipalities of [[Santa Coloma de Gramenet]] and [[Sant Adrià de Besòs]] to the north; the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the east; [[El Prat de Llobregat]] and [[L'Hospitalet de Llobregat]] to the south; and [[Sant Feliu de Llobregat]], [[Sant Just Desvern]], [[Esplugues de Llobregat]], [[Sant Cugat del Vallès]], and [[Montcada i Reixac]] to the west.
===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Barcelona}}
Barcelona has a [[Mediterranean climate]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meteo.cat/mediamb_xemec/servmet/index.html |title=Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya |publisher=Meteo.cat |date= |accessdate=2009-05-22}}</ref> ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Csa''),<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/
| title=World Map of Köppen−Geiger Climate Classification}}</ref> with mild, humid winters and warm, dry summers.
Its average annual temperature is {{convert|20|°C|°F|abbr=on}} during the day and {{convert|11|°C|°F|abbr=on}} at night. Average annual temperature of sea is about {{convert|18|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. In the coldest month – January, typically the temperature ranges from {{convert|8|to|17|C|F}} during the day, {{convert|2|to|10|C|F}} at night and the average sea temperature is {{convert|13|°C|°F|abbr=on}}.<ref name=weather2travel>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/spain/barcelona.php|title=Weather2Travel.com: Barcelona Climate Guide|accessdate=2011-06-16}}</ref> In the warmest month – August, the typically temperature ranges from {{convert|25|to|31|C|F}} during the day, about {{convert|20|°C|°F|abbr=on}} at night and the average sea temperature is {{convert|25|°C|°F|abbr=on}}.<ref name=weather2travel /> Generally – "summer's" / "holiday" season lasts about six months, from May to October. Two months – April and November – are transitional, sometimes temperature exceeds {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}}, with average temperature of {{convert|17|-|18|C|F}} during the day and {{convert|8|-|9|C|F}} at night. December, January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures around {{convert|14|°C|°F|abbr=on}} during the day and {{convert|5|°C|°F|abbr=on}} at night. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare, particularly in summer months. Sunshine duration is 2,524 hours per year, from 138 (average 4.5 hours of sunshine at day) in December to 310 (average 10 hours of sunshine at day) in July.<ref name="Meteorología">{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=0076&k=cat |title=Valores Climatológicos Normales. Barcelona / Aeropuerto |accessdate=2011-06-16}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Barcelona
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 13.4
|Feb high C = 14.6
|Mar high C = 15.9
|Apr high C = 17.6
|May high C = 20.5
|Jun high C = 24.2
|Jul high C = 27.5
|Aug high C = 28.0
|Sep high C = 25.5
|Oct high C = 21.5
|Nov high C = 17.0
|Dec high C = 14.3
|year high C = 20.0
|Jan mean C = 8.9
|Feb mean C = 10.0
|Mar mean C = 11.3
|Apr mean C = 13.1
|May mean C = 16.3
|Jun mean C = 20.0
|Jul mean C = 23.1
|Aug mean C = 23.7
|Sep mean C = 21.1
|Oct mean C = 17.1
|Nov mean C = 12.6
|Dec mean C = 10.0
|year mean C = 15.6
|Jan low C = 4.4
|Feb low C = 5.3
|Mar low C = 6.7
|Apr low C = 8.5
|May low C = 12.0
|Jun low C = 15.7
|Jul low C = 18.6
|Aug low C = 19.3
|Sep low C = 16.7
|Oct low C = 12.6
|Nov low C = 8.1
|Dec low C = 5.7
|year low C = 11.1
|Jan precipitation mm = 41
|Feb precipitation mm = 39
|Mar precipitation mm = 42
|Apr precipitation mm = 49
|May precipitation mm = 59
|Jun precipitation mm = 42
|Jul precipitation mm = 20
|Aug precipitation mm = 61
|Sep precipitation mm = 85
|Oct precipitation mm = 91
|Nov precipitation mm = 58
|Dec precipitation mm = 51
|year precipitation mm = 640
|Jan precipitation days = 5
|Feb precipitation days = 4
|Mar precipitation days = 5
|Apr precipitation days = 5
|May precipitation days = 5
|Jun precipitation days = 4
|Jul precipitation days = 2
|Aug precipitation days = 4
|Sep precipitation days = 5
|Oct precipitation days = 6
|Nov precipitation days = 5
|Dec precipitation days = 5
|year precipitation days = 55
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan sun = 149
|Feb sun = 163
|Mar sun = 200
|Apr sun = 220
|May sun = 244
|Jun sun = 262
|Jul sun = 310
|Aug sun = 282
|Sep sun = 219
|Oct sun = 180
|Nov sun = 146
|Dec sun = 138
|year sun = 2524
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] ([[United Nations|UN]]),<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.worldweather.org/083/c01232.htm
|title=Weather Information for Barcelona
|accessdate=}}</ref> [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref name="Meteorología" />
|date=August 2010}}
==Main sights==
[[File:Escola de Llotja a la plaça de la Verònica.jpg|thumb|183px|Former headquarters of the Llotja in the Plaza of Veronica of Barcelona ubicated in the [[El Gòtic|Barri Gòtic]]]]
The ''[[El Gòtic|Barri Gòtic]]'' ("Gothic Quarter" in Catalan) is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. Many of the buildings date from medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. [[File:Cathedral of Santa Eulalia Barcelona.JPG|thumb|left| View of the [[Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia|Cathedral of St. Eulalia]] interior]]Catalan ''[[modernisme]]'' architecture (often known as [[Art Nouveau]] in the rest of Europe), developed between 1885 and 1950 and left an important legacy in Barcelona. A great number of these buildings are [[World Heritage Site]]s. Especially remarkable is the work of architect [[Antoni Gaudí]], which can be seen throughout the city. His best known work is the immense but still unfinished church of the [[Sagrada Família]], which has been under construction since 1882, and is still financed by private donations. As of 2007, completion is planned for 2026.
Barcelona was also home to [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe|Mies van der Rohe]]'s [[Barcelona Pavilion]]. Designed in 1929 for the [[1929 Barcelona International Exposition|International Exposition]] for Germany, it is an iconic building that came to symbolize modern architecture as the embodiment of van der Rohe's aphorisms "less is more" and "God is in the details." The Barcelona pavilion was intended as a temporary structure, and was torn down in 1930 less than a year after it was constructed. A modern re-creation by Spanish architects now stands in Barcelona, however, constructed in 1986.
Barcelona won the 1999 [[Royal Institute of British Architects|RIBA]] [[Royal Gold Medal]] for its architecture,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080227000034/http://www.architecture.com/fileLibrary/pdf/Royal_Gold_Medallists_at_09112006.pdf RIBA Royal Gold Medallists]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref> the first (and as of 2009, only) time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect.
[[File:Barcelona_-_Plaça_Reial.jpg|thumb|center|700px|[[Plaça Reial]]]]
=== Heritage ===
In Barcelona there are several points of interest declared [[World Heritage]] by [[UNESCO]]: <ref> The seventh element of Place [[World Heritage]] "Works of [[Antoni Gaudí]]" is the [[Crypt in Colonia Güell]], which is located at [[Santa Coloma de Cervello ]].</ref>
<center>
{| class="wikitable" border="1" width="60%"
! Code
! Name
! Year
! Coordinates
! Image
|-
| 320-001
| [[Park Güell]]
| [[1984]]
| {{coord|41|24|59.6|N|2|09|07.9|E|name=Parque Güell}}
|[[File:Park Güell02.jpg|150px]]
|-
| 320-002
| [[Palau Güell]]
| 1984
| {{coord|41.379183|N|2.174445|E|name=Palacio Güell}}
|[[File:PalauGuell1.jpg|150px]]
|-
| 320-003
| [[Casa Milà]]
| 1984
| {{coord|41|23|51.3|N|2|09|46.9|E|name=Casa Milà}}
|[[File:Spain.Barcelona.Casa.Mila.jpg|150px]]
|-
| 320-004
| [[Casa Vicens]]
| [[2005]]
| {{coord|41|22|50.5|N|2|10|30.6|E|name=Casa Vicens}}
| [[File:Vicens03.jpg|150px]]
|-
| 320-005
| [[Sagrada Família|Facade of the Nativity and crypt of the Sagrada Familia]]
| 2005
| {{coord|41|24|19.8|N|2|10|30.2|E|name=Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia}}
|[[File:Sagradafamilia-overview.jpg|150px]]
|-
| 320-006
| [[Casa Batlló]]
| 2005
| {{coord|41|22|00.3|N|2|09|59.0|E|name=Casa Batlló}}
|[[File:CasaBatllo 0170.JPG|150px]]
|-
| 804-001
| [[Palau de la Música Catalana]]
| [[1997]]
| {{coord|41|23|16|N|2|10|30|E}}
| [[File:Palau de la Música - Interior general (2).JPG|150px]]
|-
| 804-002
| [[Hospital de Sant Pau|Hospital de Sant Pau]]
| 1997
| {{coord|41|24|50|N|2|10|30|E|name=Hospital de la Santa Cruz y San Pablo}}
|[[File:StPau-Administracio-façana-7179sh.jpg|130px]]
|-
|}</center>
===Historic buildings and monuments===
{{See|List of Modernisme buildings in Barcelona}}
{{Category see also|Buildings and structures in Barcelona}}
[[File:Pgracia.JPG|thumb|upright|260px|[[Passeig de Gràcia]].]]
[[File:Sta-eulalia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cathedral of Santa Eulalia|Barcelona Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Barcelona 209.JPG|thumb|right||View of Barcelona from [[Park Güell|Parc Güell]].]]
*[[Sagrada Família]], the international symbol of Barcelona
*[[Palau de la Música Catalana]] and [[Hospital de Sant Pau]], designed by [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]], included in the UNESCO Heritage List list in 1997.
*Works by [[Antoni Gaudí]], including [[Park Güell]], [[Palau Güell]], [[Casa Milà]] ([[La Pedrera]]), [[Casa Vicens]], [[Sagrada Família]] (Nativity façade and crypt), [[Casa Batlló]], Crypt in Colonia Güell. The first three works were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1984. The other four were added as extensions to the site in 2005.
*[[Barcelona Cathedral|The Cathedral of St. Eulalia]]
*Church of [[Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona|Santa Maria del Mar]] (Gothic)
*Gothic church of [[Santa Maria del Pi]]
*Church of [[Sant Pau del Camp]]
*[[Palau Reial Major]], medieval residence of the [[counts of Barcelona]] and the [[Kingdom of Aragon|Kings of Aragon]]
*The [[Columbus Monument, Barcelona|Columbus Monument]]
*[[Forum Building]], an example of contemporary architecture
*The [[Arc de Triomf]], a [[triumphal arch]] built in 1888
*Medieval church of [[Sant Pau del Camp]]
===Museums===
{{Main|List of museums in Barcelona}}
Barcelona has a great number of museums, which cover different areas and eras. The [[Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya|National Museum of Art of Catalonia]] possesses a well-known collection of [[Romanesque art]] while the [[Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art]] focuses on [[Post-war|post-1945]] Catalan and [[Spanish art]]. The [[Fundació Joan Miró]], [[Museu Picasso|Picasso Museum]] and [[Fundació Antoni Tàpies]] hold important collections of these world-renowned artists.
Several museums cover the fields of history and archeology, like the City History Museum, the Museum of the [[History of Catalonia]], the [[Archaeology Museum of Catalonia|Archeology Museum of Catalonia]], the Barcelona [[Maritime museum|Maritime Museum]] and the private-owned Egyptian Museum. The Erotic museum of Barcelona is among the most peculiar ones, while Cosmocaixa is a [[science museum]] that received the [[European Museum of the Year Award]] in 2006.
[[File:050529 Barcelona 135.jpg|thumb|300px|left||The [[Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya|National Museum of Art of Catalonia]].]]
===Parks===
Barcelona contains 68 municipal parks, divided into 12 historic parks, 5 thematic (botanical) parks, 45 [[urban park]]s and 6 forest parks.<ref>{{cite web|author=Parcs i Jardins, Institut Municipal |url=http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_mapa.htm |title=Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Els Parcs de Barcelona |publisher=Bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> They range from vest-pocket parks to large recreation areas. The urban parks alone cover 10% of the city ({{convert|549.7|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}).<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> The total park surface grows about {{convert|10|ha|acre|0|abbr=on}} per year,<ref>{{cite web|author=Parcs i Jardins, Institut Municipal |url=http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_his_ciu.htm |title=Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Història > La ciutat i el verd |publisher=Bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> with a proportion of {{convert|18.1|m2|sqft|0}} of park area per inhabitant.<ref>{{cite web|author=Parcs i Jardins, Institut Municipal |url=http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_his_demo.htm |title=Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Història > La democràcia |publisher=Bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref>
Of Barcelona's parks, [[Montjuïc]] is the largest, with 203 [[Hectare|ha]] located on the mountain of the same name.<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> It is followed by [[Parc de la Ciutadella]] (situated in the place of the old military [[citadel]] and which houses the [[Parliament of Catalonia|Parliament]] building, the [[Barcelona Zoo]] and several museums; {{convert|31|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}} including the zoo), the [[Guinardó Park]] ({{convert|19|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}), [[Park Güell]] (designed by [[Antoni Gaudí]]; {{convert|17.2|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}), [[Oreneta Castle Park]] (also {{convert|17.2|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}), [[Diagonal Mar Park]] ({{convert|13.3|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}, inaugurated in 2002), [[Nou Barris Central Park]] ({{convert|13.2|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}), [[Can Dragó Sports Park]] and [[Poblenou Park]] (both {{convert|11.9|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}) and the [[Parc del Laberint d'Horta|Labyrinth Park]] ({{convert|9.10|ha|acre|1|disp=/|abbr=on}}), named after the garden maze it contains.<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> A part of the Collserolla Park is also within the city limits.
===Beaches===
[[File:050529 Barcelona 060.jpg|right|thumb|[[La Barceloneta|The Barceloneta]] beach]]
Beach in Barcelona gained status as the best urban beach in the World according to ''[[National Geographic]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/beach-cities-photos/#/beach-barcelona-spain_21757_600x450.jpg|title=Top 10 Beach Cities|accessdate=2010-07-30}}</ref> and ''[[Discovery Channel]]'', with total third best beach in the World.<ref>Movie "Worlds Best Beaches", Discovery Channel 2005</ref> Barcelona contains seven beaches, totalling 4.5 km (2.8 mi) of coastline. [[Sant Sebastià]] and [[La Barceloneta, Barcelona|Barceloneta]] beaches, both {{convert|1100|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} in length,<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> are the largest, oldest and the most frequented beaches in Barcelona. The [[Olympic Port]] separates them from the other city beaches: [[Nova Icària]], [[Bogatell]], [[Mar Bella]], [[Nova Mar Bella]] and [[Llevant]]. These beaches (ranging from 400 to 640 m/1,300 to 2,100 ft) were opened as a result of the city restructuring to host the [[1992 Summer Olympics]], when a great number of industrial buildings were demolished. At present, the beach sand is replenished from quarries given that storms regularly remove large quantities of material. The [[2004 Universal Forum of Cultures]] left the city a large concrete bathing zone on the eastmost part of the city's coastline.[[File:Platges de Barcelona.svg|center|thumb|500px|Beach in Barcelona]]
[[File:Plaça Catalunya Barcelona.JPG|thumb|Plaça Catalunya]]
===Other===
The area around the [[Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona|Plaça Catalunya]] makes up the city's historical centre and, alongside the upper half of [[Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona|Avinguda Diagonal]], is the main commercial area of the city. Barcelona has several commercial complexes, like [[L'Illa]] in the higher part of the Diagonal avenue and [[Diagonal Mar i Front Marítim del Poblenou|Diagonal Mar]] in the lowest, [[La Maquinista]], [[Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, Barcelona|Glòries]] in the place of the same name and the [[Maremagnum]] by the port.
Barcelona has several skyscrapers, the tallest being the [[Hotel Arts]] and its twin the [[Torre Mapfre]], both {{convert|154|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high, followed by the, [[Torre Agbar]] {{convert|144|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and the newest [[W Barcelona Hotel]]. Barcelona is situated 125 km from the ski resorts of the [[Pyrenees|Pyrenées]]. The skyline of the city is decorated in winter by the summit ({{convert|1712|m|2|abbr=on}} high) of the [[Montseny]] massif, normally covered by snow.
==Demographics==
[[File:Demografía Barcelona (España).PNG|right|300px|thumb|Demographic evolution, 1900–2007, according to the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]
According to Barcelona's City Council, Barcelona's population as of 1 June 2006 was
1,673,075 people,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0203010.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071221131651/http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0203010.htm |archivedate=2007-12-21 |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Indicadors demogràfics. 2005 |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2007-12-21 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> while the population of the [[urban area]] was 4,210,000. It is the central nucleus of the [[Barcelona metropolitan area]], which relies on a population of 5,083,000.<ref>[[United Nations]] Department of Economic and Social Affairs, [http://esa.un.org/wup2009/unup/index.asp?panel=2 World Urbanization Prospects (2009 revision)], (United Nations, 2010), Table A.12. Data for 2007.</ref>
The [[population density]] of Barcelona was {{convert|15779|PD/km2}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201040.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071221140514/http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201040.htm |archivedate=2007-12-21 |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Densitat de població. 2005 |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2007-12-21 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> with [[Eixample]] being the most populated district. 62% of the inhabitants were born in [[Catalonia]], with a 23.5% coming from the rest of Spain. Of the 13.9% from other countries, a proportion which has more than tripled since 2001 when it was 3.9%,<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> the majority come from (in order) [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Morocco]], [[Colombia]], [[Argentina]], [[Pakistan]] and [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201090.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071221131647/http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201090.htm |archivedate=2007-12-21 |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Nacionalitat per sexe. 2005 |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2007-12-21 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref>
As the national language, Spanish is understood almost universally in Barcelona. 95% of the population understand Catalonia's native [[Catalan language]], while 74.6% can speak it, 75% can read it, and 47.1% can write it,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0202050.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071221140520/http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0202050.htm |archivedate=2007-12-21 |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Coneixement de la llengua catalana per grans grups d'edat. 2001 |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2007-12-21 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> thanks to the linguistic immersion [[education|educational system]]. While most of the population state they are [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] (208 churches), there are also a number of other groups, including [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] (71 locations, mostly professed by [[Romani people in Spain|Roma]]), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (21 [[Kingdom Hall]]s) and [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (13 locations),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/ab/asia/equipament/controller/0,2317,1653_71890_3,00.html?accio=llista_eq&primera_busqueda=true&temaOriginal=&tema=0040101011_Religion&que=&opcio2=&opcio=districte&districte=&zona=&carrer=&numero=&al= |title=Barcelona: Directory: Theme: Religion |publisher=W3.bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> and a number of [[Muslim]]s due to [[immigration]].
In 1900, Barcelona had a population of 533,000 people,<ref name="gec_3" /> which grew steadily but slowly until 1950, when it [[File:BCN-ParcForum-4923.jpg|thumb|left|Forum Park in Barcelona]]started absorbing a high number of people from other less-industrialized parts of Spain. Barcelona's population peaked in 1979 with 1,906,998 people, and fell throughout the 1980s and 1990s as more people sought a higher [[quality of life]] in outlying cities in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. After bottoming out in 2000 with 1,496,266 people, the city's population began to rise again as younger people started to return, causing a great increase in housing prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201010.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071221131641/http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201010.htm |archivedate=2007-12-21 |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Evolució de la població. 1900–2005 |publisher=Web.archive.org |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref>
===Population density===
[[File:Eixample aire.jpg|thumb|Aerial wiew of Barcelona]]
Note: ''This text is entirely based on the municipal statistical database provided by the city council.''
Barcelona is one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. For the year 2008 the city council calculated the population to 1,628,090 living in the 102.2 km<sup>2</sup> sized municipality, giving the city an average population density of 15,926 inhabitants per square kilometre.
In the case of Barcelona though, the land distribution is extremely uneven. Half of the municipality or 50.2 km<sup>2</sup>, all of it located on the municipal edge is made up of the ten least densely populated neighbourhoods containing less than 10% of the city's population, the uninhabited [[Zona Franca (Barcelona)|Zona Franca]] industrial area and [[Montjuïc]] forest park. Leaving the remaining 90% or slightly below 1.5 million inhabitants living on the remaining 52 square kilometres at an average density close to 28,500 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Of the 73 neighbourhoods in the city, 45 had a population density above 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometre with a combined population of 1,313,424 inhabitants living on 38.6 km<sup>2</sup> at an average density of 33,987 inhabitants per square km. The 30 most densely populated neighbourhoods accounted for 57.5% of the city population occupying only 22,7% of the municipality, or in other words, 936,406 people living at an average density of 40,322 inhabitants per square kilometre. The city's highest density is found at and around the neighbourhood of [[Sagrada Família, Barcelona|la Sagrada Família]] where four of the city's most densely populated neighbourhoods are located side by side, all with a population density above 50,000 inhabitants per square kilometre.
==Economy==
[[File:Skyscrapers in Diagonal Mar, Barcelona.jpg|thumb|center|750px|Barcelona Business Centre.]]
[[File:Centro de Convenciones Internacional de Barcelona.jpg|thumb|225px|Fórum Convention Center.]]
The Barcelona metropolitan area comprises over 66% of the people in one of the richest regions in [[Southern Europe]] – Catalonia, with a [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] [[Purchasing power parity|PPP]] per capita amounting to [[euro|€]]30,700 [[Economy of the European Union#Richest & Poorest NUTS Regions (GDP PPP 2007)|European Union's GDP PPP per capita]]). Furthermore, the Barcelona metropolitan area has a [[List of cities by GDP|GDP amounting €177 billion]] what is equivalent to €35,975 in per capita terms.<ref name="pricewater"/>
Barcelona has a long-standing mercantile tradition. Less well known is that the region was one of the earliest to begin industrialization in [[continental Europe]], beginning with textile related works from the mid 1780s but really gathering momentum in the mid 19th century, when it became a major centre for the production of textiles and machinery. {{citation needed|date=December 2010}} Since then, manufacturing has played a large role in its history. The traditional importance in textiles is reflected in Barcelona's repeated attempts to become a major fashion centre. In summer 2000, the city became a host for the prestigious [[Bread & Butter]] urban fashion fair until 2009 when it was announced that it would be held again on Berlin.<ref name="bread">{{cite web | title = Bread & Butter Barcelona. Dates, Times, Location | publisher = [[Bread & Butter]] | url = http://www.breadandbutter.com/winter2009/en/bread-butter-barcelona/dates-times-location/ }}{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | work = [[El Periódico de Catalunya|El Periódico]] | title = El presidente del Bread&Butter confirma oficialmente que la feria abandona Barcelona | author = [[EFE]] | date = 2009-01-23 | url = http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAS&idtipusrecurs_PK=7&idnoticia_PK=580966 | quote = [Karl Heinz Muller, the entrepreneur behind B&B in announcing the move in a press conference held on January 23, 2009 said] No llores Barcelona, levántate y haz algo [don't cry Barcelona, get up and do something about it] Barcelona in Europe is a metropolis of fashion. | accessdate = 2009-07-22 }}</ref> This was a hard blow for the city as the fair brought €100 m to the city in just three days.<ref>{{cite news | title = La feria de moda urbana Bread and Butter deja Barcelona | author = Leticia Blanco | work = [[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] | date = 2009-01-20 | url = http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2009/01/19/barcelona/1232400722.html | accessdate = 2009-07-22 }}</ref> There have been many attempts to launch Barcelona as a fashion capital, notably ''Gaudi Home''. ''[[The Brandery]]'', an urban fashion show, is held in Barcelona twice a year.
[[File:Montjuic Placa Espanya Barcelona.jpg|thumb|left|Plaça Espanya from Montjuïc]]
[[File:Granvia L'H, Barcelona in 2010.jpg|thumb|right|[[Gran Via (Barcelona)|Gran Via]] center, part of [[Fira de Barcelona]].]]
As in other modern cities, the [[Secondary sector of the economy|manufacturing sector]] has long since been overtaken by the services sector, though it remains very important. The region's leading industries today are textiles, chemical, pharmaceutical, motor, electronic, printing, logistics, publishing, telecommunications and [[information technology]] services. {{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}
Drawing upon its tradition of creative art and craftsmanship, Barcelona is nowadays also known for its award-winning [[industrial design]]. It also has several congress halls, notably [[Fira de Barcelona]] (Trade Fair) - second largest trade fair and exhibition centres in [[Europe]],<ref>[http://www.roombarcelona.com/pl/hot-spots-pl/fira-de-barcelona-2.html Fira de Barcelona] - roombarcelona.com</ref> that host a quickly growing number of national and international events each year, which had also meant the opening of new hotels each year. However, the economic crisis and deep cuts in business travel are affecting the Council's positioning of the city as a convention centre.<ref>[http://www.negocios.com/negocios/01-02-2009+crisis_pone_jaque_proyectos_nuevos_hoteles_barcelona_madrid,noticia_1img,28,28,46013 La crisis pone en jaque los proyectos de nuevos hoteles en Barcelona y Madrid]{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref>
An important business centre in Barcelona, the [[World Trade Center Barcelona]], is located in Barcelona's harbour [[Port Vell]].
=== Infrastructures impact on the economy ===
[[File:Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona 01.jpg|thumb|right|Fira de Barcelona in [[Gran Via]]]]
==== Fira de Barcelona ====
The '''[[Fira de Barcelona]]''', [[Fira de Barcelona | Barcelona trade show]], organized numerous exhibitions, shows, congresses and fairs for professionals, some of which are among the first in the world, as the [[Mobile World Congress]], which is the largest in the world in its sector, the urban fashion fair [[The Brandery]], or the fair construction
[[Construmat]] on a biannual basis. These and other shows makes it one of the most important fairs of [[Europe]] and former [[Spain]] with over 3.5 million annual visitors, <ref> La Fira de Barcelona - also generated a great activity for hotel and restaurant sector with the incentive of evenly distributed throughout the year. </ref>
'''Fira de Barcelona''' is a [[trade fair]] ground and organizer that was officially constituted in 1932 in [[Barcelona]], [[Catalonia]], [[Spain]].<ref name="Fira">{{cite web|url=http://www.firabcn.es/showsCongresses/changeLanguage.do?lang=en&cl_url=/begin.do |title=Fira de Barcelona |accessdate=2010-11-11 |publisher=Fira de Barcelona }}</ref> It is publicly owned company with autonomous management, organizing more than 80 trade shows, bringing together 40,000 companies and receiving three and a half million visitors.<ref name="Fira"/>
Fira de Barcelona has 365,000 m2 of exhibition floor space, one of the largest areas in Europe, divided into two exhibition centres, the initial one at [[Montjuïc]] (165,000m2 of exhibition floor space, 50,000 outdoor) and the new one at the [[Gran Via (Barcelona)|Gran Via]] business district, opened in 2007 close to [[Hospitalet de Llobregat]] (200,000m2 exhibition floor space).<ref name="Fira"/>
[[File:BarcelonaExpositionPanorama.1929.ws.jpg|thumb|800px|center|In 1929 Barcelona hosted the Universal Exhibition and turned around the [[Plaça d'Espanya]] where now is the main entrance of the Fira de Barcelona in Montjuic.]]
==== Port of Barcelona ====
Even today, the [[Port of Barcelona]] is an economic engine of the city. It has become in recent years one of the largest ports in the [[Mediterranean Sea | Mediterranean]] in freight tonnage and number of Freight traffic from the port of Barcelona and fishing canneries where they settle in Spain, like [[Port of Isla Cristina # consortia and companies | USIS]] (based on over a thousand miles away in [[Isla Cristina]]), and can export and import industrial production or semi-processed raw materials. It is also the first Mediterranean port and fifth in the world on cruise ships, carrying up to two million passengers Barcelona annual port.
[[File:Agencia t. colon..JPG|thumb|225px|Tax Agency of the [[Port of Barcelona]].]]
The port of Barcelona was born while the city of Barcelona as a natural port located on a beach that was among a small peninsula that formed the mountain [[Montjuic (Barcelona) | Montjuic]], and the old mouth of the river [[Llobregat]]. This was the only point that could be used minimally protected ancient mariners for many miles of coastline. Over the centuries, the city and its port were gaining in importance, to become the maritime capital of the kings of Aragon.[[File:Barcelona Docks Panorama.jpg|thumb|left|Panorama of the Port Vell with the [[World Trade Center Barcelona| World Trade Center]] building and the monument of Colon.]] Despite that the port remained south of the mountain [[Montjuic (Barcelona) | Montjuic]] until the year 1378 the city authorities asked the Pedro IV of Aragon to continue the work that began on Pedro port III of Aragon, who had ordered the building of Barcelona Drassanes ("yards" in Catalan), which even today still stand forming the Barcelona Maritime Museum and the construction of a port north of the mountain Montjuic, because the old site had lost depth by the accumulation of sand. Permission to build the new artificial harbor opposite the town came the December 8, 1438, by order of Alfonso V the Magnanimous. Unfortunately, a decade after the storms had destroyed all the work, and it was not until 1477, under the reign of Juan II of Aragon, which was placed what would be the cornerstone of the doors permanently. He joined the former island to the mainland by Maians a breakwater. With the successive enlargements of the port, and the accumulation of sand, the island has been joined to the mainland to form the land where now stands the district of [[Barceloneta]].
Some tourist sites of the port are:
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = W Barcelona by Ricardo Bofill.jpg
| width1 = 217
| caption1 = [[Hotel Vela]]
| image2 = Monument a Colom, Barcelona, Spain - Jan 07.jpg
| width2 = 96
| caption2 = [[Columbus Monument, Barcelona]]
| image3 = Fale - Barcellona - 36.jpg
| width3 = 230
| caption3 = Torre del Rellotge
}}
* [[Torre Jaume I]].
* [[Torre Sant Sebastià]].
* Torre Colom.
* [[Hotel Vela]].
* Plaça de la Carbonera.
* Plaça del Portal de la Pau.
* La Rambla del Mar.
* Passeig d'Ithaca.
* [[World Trade Center Barcelona]].
* [[Columbus Monument, Barcelona|Monument to Columbus]].
* Drassanes Reials de Barcelona.
* Museu d'Història de Catalunya.
* Museu de les Belles Arts.
* Museu de Cera de Barcelona.
* [[Aquarium Barcelona|Aquarium of Barcelona]].
* Las Golondrinas.
* [[General Captaincy]].
* Military Command.
* Torre del Rellotge
* Porta d'Europa.
==Government and administrative divisions==
{{See also|Municipal elections in Barcelona|List of mayors of Barcelona}}
[[File:PiC-Serra-rb.catalunya-1340-01.jpg|thumb|La Casa Serra, headquarters of the Provincial Council of Barcelona]]
[[File:Casa generalitat web.jpg|thumb|left|The Palau de la Generalitat of Barcelona]]
Barcelona is governed by a city council formed by 41 city councilors, [[Municipal elections in Barcelona|elected]] for a four-year term by [[universal suffrage]]. As one of the two biggest cities in Spain, Barcelona is subject to a special law articulated through the ''Carta Municipal'' (Municipal Law). A first version of this law was passed in 1960 and amended later, but the current version was approved in March 2006.<ref name="ley 1/2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.boe.es/g/es/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=2006/04583 |title=BOE – LEY 1/2006, de 13 de marzo, por la que se regula el Régimen Especial del municipio de Barcelona |publisher=Boe.es |date=2006-03-14 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> According to this law, Barcelona's city council is organized in two levels: a political one, with elected city councilors, and one executive, which administrates the programs and executes the decisions taken on the political level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,2687,200713899_200720868_1,00.html |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona > Ajuntament > El Govern de la Ciutat |publisher=W3.bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> This law also gives the local government a special relationship with the central government and it also gives the mayor wider prerogatives by the means of municipal executive commissions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.cat/catala/laciutat/barcelona/organitzacio.htm |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona: Organització política |publisher=Bcn.cat |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> It expands the powers of the city council in areas like telecommunications, city traffic, [[road traffic safety|road safety]] and [[public safety]]. It also gives a special economic regime to the city's treasury and it gives the council a [[veto]] in matters that will be decided by the central government, but that will need a favourable report from the council.<ref name="ley 1/2006" />
[[File:GeneralitatPatiGotic 0022-01.jpg|thumb|Into the [[Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya]].]]
The ''Comissió de Govern'' (Government Commission) is the [[executive (government)|executive]] branch, formed by 24 councilors, led by the [[List of mayors of Barcelona|Mayor]], with 5 lieutenant-mayors and 17 city councilors, each in charge of an area of government, and 5 non-elected councilors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720894_3,00.html |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Council Executive |publisher=W3.bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> The plenary, formed by the 41 city councilors, has advisory, planning, regulatory, and fiscal executive functions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720876_3,00.html |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Plenary |publisher=W3.bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> The six ''Commissions del Consell Municipal'' (City council commissions) have executive and controlling functions in the field of their jurisdiction. They are composed by a number of councilors proportional to the[[File:BIG 278502812040411.jpg|thumb|left|Gotic Gallery into the [[Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya]].]] number of councilors each political party has in the plenary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720890_3,00.html |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Committees of the Municipal Council |publisher=W3.bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> The city council has jurisdiction in the fields of [[Urban planning|city planning]], transportation, municipal taxes, public highways security through the ''[[Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona|Guàrdia Urbana]]'' (the municipal police), city maintenance, gardens, parks and environment, facilities (like schools, nurseries, sports centres, libraries, and so on.), culture, sports, youth and [[welfare|social welfare]]. Some of these competencies are not exclusive, but shared with the Generalitat de Catalunya or the central [[Government of Spain|Spanish government]].
The executive branch is led by a Chief Municipal Executive Officer which answers to the Mayor. It is made up of departments which are legally part of the city council and by separate legal entities of two tipes: autonomous public departments and public enterprises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200722250_3,00.html |title=Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The municipal administration |publisher=W3.bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref>
The seat of the city council is on the Plaça de Sant Jaume, opposite the seat of Generalitat de Catalunya. Since the [[Spanish transition to democracy|coming of the Spanish democracy]], Barcelona [[Municipal elections in Barcelona|had been governed]] by the [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]], first with an [[absolute majority]] and later in coalition with [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]] and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|ICV]]. After the May 2007 election, the ERC did not renew the coalition agreement and the PSC governed in a minority coalition with ICV as the junior partner.
After 32 years, on 22 May 2011, [[Convergence and Union|CiU]] gained a plurality of seats at the municipal election, gaining 15 seats to the PSC's 11. The [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] hold 8 seats, ICV 5 and ERC 2.
[[File:Panoràmica del Salo de Cent (Ajuntament de Barcelona).jpg|thumb|center|700px|Panoramic of the Saló de Cent, into the town hall of Barcelona.]]
===Districts===
[[File:MapaBCN Distritos01.jpg|right|thumb|Districts of Barcelona]]
{{main|Districts of Barcelona}}
Since 1987, the city has been divided into 10 administrative [[Districts of Barcelona|districts]] (''districtes'' in Catalan, ''distritos'' in Spanish), each one with its own council led by a city councillor. The composition of each district council depends on the number of votes each political party had in that district, so a district can be led by a councillor from a different party than the executive council.
The districts are based mostly on historical divisions. Several of the city's districts are former towns annexed by the city of Barcelona in the 18th and 19th centuries that still maintain their own distinct character. The official names of these districts are in the Catalan language.
==Education==
{{Main|Education in Catalonia}}
[[File:Paranimf de la Universitat de Barcelona.jpg|thumb|Paranymph of the Historic building of the [[University of Barcelona|UB]]]]
Barcelona has a well-developed [[higher education]] system of [[public university|public universities]]. Most prominent among these is the [[University of Barcelona]], a world-renowned research and teaching institution with [[campus]]es around the city. Barcelona is also home to the [[Polytechnic University of Catalonia]], and the newer [[Pompeu Fabra University]],and, in the private sector the [[IESE|IESE Business School]], as well as the largest private educational institution, the [[Ramon Llull University]], which encompasses internationally-prestigious schools and institutes such as the [[ESADE]] Business School. The [[Autonomous University of Barcelona]], another public university, is located in [[Bellaterra]], a town in the [[Àmbit metropolità de Barcelona|Metropolitan Area]]. The [[Open University of Catalonia]], a private Internet-centered [[open university]], is also based in Barcelona.
[[File:Vestíbul Universitat de Barcelona.jpg|thumb|left|Historic building of the [[University of Barcelona]], entrance vestibule]]
The city has a network of public schools, from nurseries to high schools, under the responsibility of a consortium led by city council (though the curriculum is the responsibility of the Generalitat de Catalunya). There are also many private schools, some of them [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]. Most such schools receive a public subsidy on a per-student basis, are subject to inspection by the public authorities, and are required to follow the same curricular guidelines as public schools, though they charge tuition. Known as ''escoles concertades'', they are distinct from schools whose funding is entirely private (''escoles privades'').
The language of instruction at public schools and ''escoles concertades'' is Catalan, as stipulated by the 2009 Catalan Education Act. Spanish may be used as a language of instruction by teachers of Spanish literature or language, and foreign languages by teachers of those languages. An experimental partial immersion programme adopted by some schools allows for the teaching of a foreign language (English, generally) across the curriculum, though this is limited to a maximum of 30% of the school day. No public school or ''escola concertada'' in Barcelona may offer 50% or full immersion programmes in a foreign language, nor does any public school or ''escola concertada'' offer International Baccalaureate programmes.
==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Barcelona}}
[[File:Palau de la Música - Interior general (2).JPG|thumb|300px|upright|Inside of [[Palau de la Música Catalana]]]]
Barcelona's cultural roots go back 2000 years. To a greater extent than the rest of Catalonia, where Catalonia's native [[Catalan language|Catalan]] is more dominant, Barcelona is a bilingual city: [[Catalan language|Catalan]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] are both [[official language]]s and widely spoken. The Catalan spoken in Barcelona, [[Central Catalan]], is the one closest to standard Catalan. Since the [[Spanish transition to democracy|arrival of democracy]], the Catalan culture (very much repressed during the [[Spanish State|dictatorship of Franco]]) has been promoted, both by recovering works [[File:Liceu - Interior.jpg|thumb|left|Inside of [[Liceu]]]]from the past and by stimulating the creation of new works. Barcelona is designated as a [[global city|world-class city]] by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citylist.html |title = Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network – Inventory of World Cities |accessdate = 2007-07-07 }}</ref>
===Entertainment and performing arts===
{{Main|List of theatres and concert halls in Barcelona}}
Barcelona has many venues for [[Concert|live music]] and theatre, including the world-renowned [[Liceu|Gran Teatre del Liceu]] opera theatre, the [[Teatre Nacional de Catalunya]], the [[Teatre Lliure]] and the [[Palau de la Música Catalana]] concert hall. Barcelona also is home to the Barcelona and Catalonia National [[Orchestra|Symphonic Orchestra]] (Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, usually known as OBC), the largest symphonic orchestra in Catalonia. In 1999, the OBC inaugurated its new venue in the brand-new Auditorium (''l'Auditori''). It performs around 75 concerts per season and its current director is [[Eiji Oue]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.auditori.org/seccions/auditori/oferta_musical/auditori_obc/index.aspx |title=L'Auditori: OBC |publisher=Auditori.org |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref>
[[File:Barceramblassrsteel.jpg|thumb|upright|right|View over the Rambla, famous for its living statues]]
Yearly two major pop [[music festival]]s take place in the city, the [[Sónar|Sónar Festival]] and the [[Primavera Sound Festival]]. The city also has a thriving [[alternative rock|alternative music]] scene, with groups such as [[The Pinker Tones]] receiving international attention.<ref>{{cite web|last=Roberts |first=Nina |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/arts/music/06rob.html |title=Catalan Musical Stew Keeps Barcelona Up All Night – New York Times |location=Barcelona (Spain) |publisher=Travel.nytimes.com |date=2006-08-06 |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref>
===Media===
''[[El Periódico de Catalunya]]'' and ''[[La Vanguardia]]'' are Barcelona's two major daily newspapers (both with Catalan and Spanish editions) while ''[[Sport (newspaper)|Sport]]'' and ''[[El Mundo Deportivo (newspaper)|El Mundo Deportivo]]'' (both in Spanish) are the city's two major sports daily newspapers, published by the same companies. The city is also served by a number of smaller publications such as ''[[Ara (newspaper)|Ara]]'', ''[[Avui]]'' and ''[[El Punt]]'' (in Catalan), by nation-wide newspapers with special Barcelona editions like ''[[El País|El Pais]]'' and ''[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]'' (both in Spanish), and by several free newspapers like ''[[20 minutos]]'', ''ADN'' and ''Què'' (all bilingual).
Several major FM stations include [[Catalunya Ràdio]], [[RAC 1]], [[RAC 105]] and [[Cadena SER]]. Barcelona also has several local [[Television channel|TV stations]], among them [[Barcelona Televisió|BTV]] (owned by city council) and [[8TV (Catalonia)|8TV]] (owned by the Godó group, that also owns ''La Vanguardia''). The headquarters of [[Televisió de Catalunya]], Catalonia's public network, are located in [[Sant Joan Despí]], in Barcelona's metropolitan area.
===Sports===
Barcelona has a long sporting tradition and hosted the highly successful [[1992 Summer Olympics]] as well as several matches during the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]] (on the two stadiums). It has also hosted, among others, the final of [[UEFA Champions League|European Champions League]] (1989, 1999), [[EuroBasket|Eurobasket]] (1973, 1997), [[Euroleague]] (1969, 1998, 2003, 2011), 2003 [[EuroHockey Nations Championship]] and the 1951, 1954, 1957, 1979 [[CERH European Roller Hockey ]][[File:Barcelona stadium.JPG|thumb|left|[[Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc]]]]
[[File:Palau San Jordi Torre Calatrava Barcelona.jpg|thumb|left|[[Palau Sant Jordi]] and [[Montjuïc Communications Tower]]]][[Championship|European Roller Hockey Championship]], 1958 [[European Judo Championships]], 1970 [[European Water Polo Championship]], [[1970 European Aquatics Championships]], 1976 [[European Taekwondo Championships]], 1980 [[European Karate Championships]], 1987 [[European Wushu Championships]], [[1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships]], [[2002 Euro Beach Soccer Cup]], [[2003 World Aquatics Championships]], [[2007 European Baseball Championship]], [[2010 European Athletics Championships]] and some other. Also, the city aspires to organize the [[2022 Winter Olympics]]. The opening, closing, medal ceremonies and indoor sports would be held in Barcelona, while outdoor sports would be held in ski resorts in the Pyrenees, mainly [[La Molina (ski resort)|La Molina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publico.es/deportes/285155/barcelona/optara/juegos/olimpicos/invierno/ano |title=Barcelona optará a los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno 2022 |publisher=Publico.es |accessdate=March 5, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Campnoumatch.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Camp Nou]]]]
[[FC Barcelona]] is a [[sports club]] best known worldwide for its [[association football|football]] team, one of the largest in Europe, four-time winner (last one in 2011) of the [[UEFA Champions League]] and the only men's club in the world to accomplish [[The Sextuple|a sextuple]]. FC Barcelona also has teams in the Spanish [[basketball]] [[Liga ACB|ACB]] league ([[FC Barcelona Bàsquet|Regal FC Barcelona]]), the [[team handball|handball]] [[Liga ASOBAL|ASOBAL]] league ([[FC Barcelona Handbol]]), and the [[roller hockey]] league ([[FC Barcelona Hoquei]]), all of them winners of the highest European competitions. The club's museum is the second most visited in Catalonia. Twice a season, FC Barcelona and cross-town rivals [[RCD Espanyol]] contest in the [[El derbi barceloní|local derby]] in [[La Liga]], while its basketball section has its own local derby in Liga ACB with nearby [[Joventut Badalona]]. Barcelona also has other clubs in lower categories, like [[CE Europa]] and [[UE Sant Andreu]].
Barcelona has two [[UEFA elite stadium]]s ([[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]][[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]][[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]][[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]][[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]]): FC Barcelona's [[Camp Nou]], the largest stadium in Europe with a capacity of 100,000 and the publicly owned [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys]], with a capacity of 55,000; used for the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Olympics]]. Also, the city has several smaller stadiums such as [[Mini Estadi]], [[Estadio Narcís Sala]] with a capacity of 15,000 and [[Nou Sardenya]] with a capacity of 7,000. In the suburbs of Barcelona there is a third UEFA elite stadium ([[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]][[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]][[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]][[File:Nuvola apps mozilla.svg|12px]]) - [[Estadi Cornellà-El Prat]], with a capacity of 40,000.
Several major [[road running]] competitions are organized year-round in Barcelona: the [[Barcelona Marathon]] every March with a participants of over 10,000 in 2010, the [[Cursa de Bombers]] in April, the Cursa de El Corte Inglés in May (with about 60,000 participants each year){{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}, the Cursa de la Mercè, the Cursa Jean Bouin, the Milla Sagrada Família and the San Silvestre.
The [[Torneo Godó|Open Seat Godó]], a 50-year-old [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP World Tour]] [[ATP World Tour 500 series|500 Series tennis tournament]], is held annually in the facilities of the [[Real Club de Tenis Barcelona]] (Barcelona Royal Tennis Club). Also, each Christmas, a swimming race across the port is organized. Near Barcelona, in [[Montmeló]], the 131,000 capacity [[Circuit de Catalunya|Circuit de Catalunya / Circuit de Barcelona]] racetrack hosts the [[Formula One|Formula One World Championship]], [[Spanish Grand Prix|Formula One Spanish Grand Prix]], [[Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix]], [[Spanish GT Championship]] and [[GP2 Series]]. In Barcelona very popular is [[skateboarding]] and [[bicycling]]. In the city and the metropolitan area is tens of kilometers of bicycle paths.
<center>'''Top sport clubs in Barcelona:'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | Primary league
! scope="col" | Sport
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Established
! scope="col" | Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[FC Barcelona]]
| [[La Liga]]
| [[Association football|Football]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Camp Nou]]
| 1899
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 100,000
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[RCD Espanyol]]<ref>To 2009, home stadium of club is [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys]] in Barcelona, today is [[Estadi Cornellà-El Prat]] lies in suburb of Barcelona, in [[El Prat de Llobregat]].</ref>
| [[La Liga]]
| [[Association football|Football]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Estadi Cornellà-El Prat]]
| 1900
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 40,500
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[FC Barcelona Bàsquet]]
| [[Liga ACB|ACB]]
| [[Basketball]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Palau Blaugrana]]
| 1926
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 7,585
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[FC Barcelona Handbol]]
| [[Liga ASOBAL|Asobal]]
| [[team handball|Handball]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Palau Blaugrana]]
| 1942
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 7,585
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[FC Barcelona Ice Hockey]]
| [[Superliga Española de Hockey Hielo|SEdHH]]
| [[Ice hockey]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Palau de Gel]]
| 1972
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 1,256
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[FC Barcelona Hoquei]]
| [[OK Liga]]
| [[Roller hockey]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Palau Blaugrana]]
| 1942
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 7,585
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[FC Barcelona Futsal]]
| [[Primera División de Futsal]]
| [[Futsal]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Palau Blaugrana]]
| 1986
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 7,585
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[FC Barcelona Rugby]]
| [[División de Honor de Rugby]]
| [[Rugby union]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ciudad Deportiva Municipal Valle de Hebrón-Teixonera|CDMVdHT]]
| 1924
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | no data
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Barcelona Dragons]]
| [[World League of American Football|World League]]
| [[American football]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys]]
| 1991 <small>(withheld)</small>
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 56,000
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Barcelona Búfals]]
| [[LNFA]]
| [[American football]]
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Estadio Narcís Sala]]
| 1987
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 15,000
|}
</center>
==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Barcelona}}
===Airports===
{{Main|Barcelona El Prat Airport}}
[[File:T1 Prat Aitor Agirregabiria.jpg|thumb|right|View of the T1 Barcelona Airport.]]
Barcelona is served by [[Barcelona El Prat Airport]], about {{convert|17|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the centre of Barcelona. It is the second-largest airport in Spain, and the largest on the [[Mediterranean coast]]. It is a main hub for [[Vueling Airlines]], and also a focus for [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]], [[Spanair]] and [[Air Europa]]. The airport mainly serves domestic and European destinations, but some airlines offer destinations in [[Latin America]], [[Asia]] and the [[United States]]. The airport is connected to the city by highway, commuter train ([[Aeroport railway station (el Prat)|Barcelona Airport railway station]]) and scheduled bus service. A new terminal (T1) has been built, and entered service on 17 June 2009.
[[Sabadell Airport]] is a smaller airport in the nearby town of [[Sabadell]], devoted to [[Flight training|pilot training]], aerotaxi and private flights. Some low-cost airlines, such as [[Transavia.com]] and [[Ryanair]], prefer to use [[Girona-Costa Brava Airport]], situated about {{convert|90|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the north of Barcelona and the [[Reus Airport]], situated {{convert|77|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the south, though they offer some flights from Barcelona El Prat Airport
===Seaport===
{{Main|Port of Barcelona}}
[[File:BarcelonaHarbour.jpg|thumb|[[Port of Barcelona]]]]
The [[Port of Barcelona]] has a 2000-year old history and a great contemporary commercial importance. It is Europe's ninth largest [[containerization|container]] port, with a trade volume of 2.57 million TEU's in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%2020081.pdf |title=AAPA World Port Rankings 2008 |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-08-24}}</ref> The port is managed by the Port Authority of Barcelona. Its {{convert|7.86|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} are divided into three zones: Port Vell (the Old Port), the commercial port and the logistics port ([[Barcelona Free Port]]). The port is undergoing an enlargement that will double its size thanks to diverting the mouth of the [[Llobregat]] river 2 km (1¼ mi) to the south.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apb.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hgz2DDIFNLYwMLfzcDAyNjQy9vLwNTV38LM_1wkA6zeH_nIEcnJ0NHAwNfUxegCh8XA2-nUCMDdzOIvAEO4Gig7-eRn5uqX5CdneboqKgIAAeNRE8!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfU0lTMVI1OTMwOE9GMDAyMzFKS0owNUVPODY!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/ExtranetAnglesLib/El%20Port%20de%20Barcelona/el+port/historia+del+port/cami+cap+el+futur/ |title=Port de Barcelona |language={{es icon}} |publisher=Apb.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref>
The [[Port Vell]] area also houses the Maremagnum (a commercial mall), a multiplex cinema, the [[IMAX]] Port Vell and Europe's largest [[aquarium]] - [[Aquarium Barcelona]], containing 8,000 fish and 11 sharks contained in 22 basins filled with 6 million litres of sea water. The Maremagnum, due to being situated a designated tourist zone, is the only commercial mall in the city that can open on Sundays and public holidays.
[[File:Port Vell, Barcelona, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg|center|thumb|600px|The [[Port Vell]].]]
===Public transport===
{{Main|Autoritat del Transport Metropolità}}
[[File:LlefiàL10.JPG|thumb|Metro in Barcelona.]]
[[File:Barcelona Tram 01.jpg|thumb|Tram in Barcelona.]]
Barcelona is served by a comprehensive local [[public transport]] network that includes a [[rapid transit|metro]], a [[bus]] network, two separate modern [[tram]] networks, a separate historic tram line, and several funiculars and [[aerial tramway|aerial cable cars]]. The [[Barcelona Metro]] network comprises eleven lines, identified by an "L" followed by the line number as well as by individual colours. Most of the network (nine lines) is operated by the [[Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona]] (TMB), but three lines are FGC commuter lines that run through the city. When finished, the L9 will be the second longest underground metro line in Europe with 42.6 km; only shorter than London's 76 km Central Line.
The [[Estació del Nord]] (Northern Station), a former [[Train station|railway station]] that was renovated for the 1992 Olympic Games, now serves as the terminus for long-distance and regional bus services.
[[File:2007-02-05-barcelona-by-RalfR-26.jpg|thumb|left|Barcelona taxi]]
Another company, [[TRAMMET]], operates the city's two modern tram networks, known as [[Trambaix]] and [[Trambesòs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/V01/Serveis/Noticies/V01NoticiesLlistatNoticiesCtl/0,2138,1653_35144087_1_573780100,00.html?accio=detall&home=HomeBCN&nomtipusMCM=Noticia |title=News related with the council plans for the tram network union |publisher=W3.bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> The historic tram line, the [[Tramvia Blau]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmb.net/en_US/barcelona/moute/planols/planotramviablau.jsp |title=Information of Tramvia Blau |publisher=Tmb.net |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> connects the metro to the [[Funicular del Tibidabo]] (both operated by TMB). The Funicular de Tibidabo climbs the Tibidabo hill, as does the [[Funicular de Vallvidrera]] (FGC). The [[Funicular de Montjuïc]] (TMB) climbs the [[Montjuïc]] hill. The city has two [[aerial tramway|aerial cable cars]]: [[Montjuïc Aerial Tramway]] (to the Montjuïc castle) and [[Port Vell Aerial Tramway]] that runs via [[Torre Jaume I]] and [[Torre Sant Sebastia|Torre Sant Sebastià]] over the port.
Barcelona has a [[taxicab|metered taxi]] fleet governed by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi (Metropolitan Taxi Institute), composed of more than 10,000 cars. Most of the licences are in the hands of [[Self-employment|self-employed]] drivers.<ref>[http://bcnweb2.bcn.es:8885/taxi/infocorp/informacio.html L'Administració i la gestió del Taxi de Barcelona]</ref> With their black and yellow livery, Barcelona's taxis are easily spotted.
On 22 March 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bicing.com/noticias/detalle_noticia.php?TU5fTk9USUNJQVM%3D&Ng%3D%3D&MQ%3D%3D |title=Noticies: Data d'inici 22 de març a les 14:00 h. Pots realitzar l'alta al servei a partir del dia 16/03/07 |publisher=Bicing |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> Barcelona's City Council started the [[Bicing]] service, a bicycle service understood as a public transport. Once the user has their user card, they can take a bicycle from any of the 100 stations spread around the city and use it anywhere the urban area of the city, and then leave it at another station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bicing.com/modulos/modulos.php?TU5fSU5GT1JNQUNJT04%3D&NA%3D%3D&Nw%3D%3D |title=Què és |publisher=Bicing |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> The service has been a success, with 50,000 subscribed users in three months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bicing.com/noticias/detalle_noticia.php?TU5fTk9USUNJQVM%3D&Ng%3D%3D&MzA%3D |title=Notícies: El Bicing ja té més de 50.000 abonats |publisher=Bicing |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref>
===Railway===
[[File:Siemens Velaro high speed.jpg|thumb|Siemens Velaro at Barcelona-Sants AVE station.]]
Barcelona is a major hub for [[RENFE]], the Spanish state railway network, and its main [[Inter-city rail|intercity train]] station is [[Barcelona Sants railway station|Barcelona-Sants]] station. The [[AVE]] [[high-speed rail]] system – designed for speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph) – was extended from [[Madrid]] to Barcelona ([[Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line]]) in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avui.cat/noticia/article/2-societat/5-societat/252283-barcelona-estrena-tgv.html |title=Barcelona estrena TGV|publisher=[[Avui]] |date=2008-02-09 |accessdate=2011-07-11 |language=catalan}}</ref> Generally, Barcelona has high-speed rail links with major cities of Spain. A high-speed rail connecting Barcelona and [[France]] – [[LGV Perpignan–Figueres]] will be launched in 2012. [[Rodalies]] and the [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya]] (FGC) run Barcelona's widespread [[commuter rail|commuter train]] service.
===Roads and highways===
City cuts three international routes, including [[European route E15]] (north-south), [[European route E90]] (west-east) and [[European route E09]]. Also, Barcelona has a comprehensive network of [[motorway]]s and [[highway]]s throughout the city and metropolitan area, including [[Autovía A-2|A-2]], [[Autovía A-7|A-7]]/[[Autopista AP-7|AP-7]], [[C-16 highway (Spain)|C-16]], [[C-17 highway (Spain)|C-17]], [[C-31 highway (Spain)|C-31]], [[C-32 highway (Spain)|C-32]], [[Autopista C-33|C-33]], [[Autovia C-60|C-60]]. City is circled by three half [[Beltway|ring roads]] or bypasses, [[B20 motorway (Spain)|Ronda de Dalt]] (on the mountain side), [[Ronda del Litoral]] (along the coast) and [[Ronda del Mig]] (separated into two parts: [[Travessera de Dalt]] in the north and the [[Gran Via de Carles III]]), two partially covered<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/rutes/rondes_fr.htm |title=The covered Rondes (by-pass) |publisher=Bcn.es |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> fast highways with several exits that bypass the city.
The city's main arteries include [[Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona|Diagonal Avenue]], which crosses the city diagonally, [[Avinguda Meridiana, Barcelona|Meridiana Avenue]] which leads to [[Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, Barcelona|Glòries]] and connects with Diagonal Avenue and [[Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Barcelona|Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes]], which crosses the city from east to west, passing through the centre of the city.
==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}
===Twin towns and sister cities===
Barcelona is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with the following cities:<sup>(in [[Chronology|chronological]] order)</sup><ref name="Barcelona">{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/XMLServeis/XMLHomeLinkPl/0,4022,229724149_257215678_1,00.html|title=Barcelona internacional – Ciutats agermanades|publisher=© 2006–2009 [http://www.bcn.es/catala/copyright/welcome2.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona]|language=Catalan|accessdate=2009-07-13}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{Flagicon|France}} [[Montpellier]], France, 1963
*{{Flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, 1972
*{{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Monterrey]], Mexico, 1977
*{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Boston]], United States, 1983
*{{Flagicon|South Korea}} [[Busan]], South Korea, 1983<ref>List of Busan's sister cities, Busan Metropolitan City; {{en icon}} [http://english.busan.go.kr/city_government/sister/sister_01.jsp?nSelected=6], {{ko icon}} [http://www.busan.go.kr/open_content/busan/brother_city/brother_list/6260000-arc-2.0-001.jsp?nSelected=8]</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Germany}} [[Cologne]], Germany, 1984
*{{Flagicon|Brazil}} [[São Paulo]], Brazil, 1985 <small><ref name="São Paulo">{{cite web |url=http://www.netlegis.com.br/indexRJ.jsp?arquivo=/detalhesNoticia.jsp&cod=41796 |title=''São Paulo – Sister Cities Program'' |publisher=2005–2008 Fiscolegis – Todos os direitos reservados Editora de publicações periodicas – LTDA / 2008 City of São Paulo |accessdate = 2008-12-09}}</ref><ref name="São Paulo">[http://www2.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/secretarias/relacoes_internacionais/ingles/descentralized_cooperation/sister_cities/0001 Prefeitura.Sp – Descentralized Cooperation]</ref><ref name="São Paulo2">{{cite web|url=http://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/cidade/secretarias/relacoes_internacionais/cidadesirmas/index.php?p=1066 |title=International Relations – São Paulo City Hall – Official Sister Cities |publisher=Prefeitura.sp.gov.br |date= |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref></small>
*{{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Montevideo]], Uruguay, 1985
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Seville]], Spain<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noticias.info/archivo/2004/200403/20040320/20040320_20532.shtm |title=Noticias - Sevilla Y Barcelona Colaborarán Estrechamente Para Difundir Los Valores Del Fórum |publisher=Noticias.info |date= |accessdate=2011-04-10}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|United States}} [[San Francisco]], United States, 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbs5.com/local/sister.city.san.2.1812543.html |title=SF, Barcelona Sign Sister-City Pact |publisher=cbs5.com |date=2010-07-19 |accessdate=2010-08-24}}{{dead link|date=June 2011}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
||
*{{Flagicon|Poland}} [[Gdańsk]], Poland, 1990<ref name=Gdansk>{{cite web |url=http://www.gdansk.pl/samorzad,62,733.html |title=Miasta partnerskie i zaprzyjaźnione – Twin cities and partnerships |accessdate=2010-08-20}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Cuba}} [[Havana]], Cuba, 1993
*{{Flagicon|Ecuador}} [[Guayaquil]], Ecuador
*{{Flagicon|Japan}} [[Kobe]], Japan, 1993<ref name="Kobe">{{cite web|url=http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/17/020/en/international/worldmap.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071016210818/http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/17/020/en/international/worldmap.htm|archivedate=2007-10-16|title=Sister City, Friendly City, Friendship & Cooperation City|publisher=2007–2009 [http://www.city.kobe.jp/ City of Kobe]|language=Japanese|accessdate=2009-07-14}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Belgium}} [[Antwerp]], Belgium, 1997
*{{Flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey, 1997<ref name="Istanbul1">{{cite web|url=http://www.greatistanbul.com/sister_cities.htm|title=Sister Cities of Istanbul|accessdate=2009-07-01}}</ref><ref name="Istanbul2">{{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=94185|publisher=Radikal|language=Turkish|date=2009-07-01|quote=49 sister cities in 2003|title=İstanbul'a 49 kardeş|last=Erdem|first=Selim Efe|accessdate=2009-07-22}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Israel}} [[Tel Aviv]], Israel, 1998
*{{Flagicon|Palestine}} [[Gaza]], [[Palestinian National Authority]], 1998
*{{Flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} [[Dublin]], Ireland, 1998<ref name="Dublin">{{cite web|url=http://www.dublincity.ie/Press/FactsAboutDublin/Pages/FactsAboutDublin.aspx|title=Dublin City Council: Facts about Dublin City|publisher=2006–2009 Dublin City Council|accessdate=2009-07-14}}</ref>
||
*{{Flagicon|Greece}} [[Athens]], Greece, 1999
*{{Flagicon|Iran}} [[Isfahan]], Iran, 2000
*{{Flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Sarajevo]], Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2000<ref name="Sarajevo">{{cite web|author=daenet d.o.o. |url=http://www.sarajevo.ba/en/stream.php?kat=160 |title=Sarajevo Official Web Site : Sister cities |publisher=Sarajevo.ba |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Chile}} [[Valparaíso]], Chile, 2001
*{{Flagicon|People's Republic of China}} [[Shanghai]], People's Republic of China, 2001
*{{Flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Nicosia]], Cyprus, 2004
*{{Flagicon|UAE}} [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates, 2006<ref>[http://uaeinteract.com/news/default.asp?ID=328 Twinning Cities Agreements] UAE Official Website</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=UAEinteract.com |url=http://uaeinteract.com/docs/Twinning_agreement_brings_a_taste_of_Spain_to_Dubai/21927.htm |title=Twinning agreement brings a taste of Spain to Dubai UAE – The Official Web Site – News |publisher=Uaeinteract.com |date= |accessdate=2009-07-14}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Bolivia}} [[Santa Cruz de la Sierra]], Bolivia, 2008<ref>[http://www.wwf.es/que_hacemos/bosques/?uNewsID=3120]</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Philippines}} [[Cebu City]], Philippines, 2009<ref name="Cebu">{{cite web|url= http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20100302-256185/Province-eyes-investors-from-Spain|title=Province eyes investors from Spain – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos|work=globalnation.inquirer.net|accessdate=11 March 2010}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|VNM}} [[Ho Chi Minh City]], Vietnam, 2009-05-29.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/hoptac_qt/nr041014110554/#2O2JGVsVDHhB |title=CÁC ĐỊA PHƯƠNG NƯỚC NGOÀI ĐÃ THIẾT LẬP QUAN HỆ HỮU NGHỊ HỢP TÁC VỚI TPHCM |publisher=www.mofahcm.gov.vn |date=2010-10-09 |accessdate=2011-01-08}}</ref>
|}
Other forms of cooperation and city friendship similar to the twin city programmes exist to many cities worldwide.<ref name="Barcelona City Cooperation Agreements">{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/XMLServeis/XMLHomeLinkPl/0,4022,229724149_257217612_3,00.html|title=Barcelona internacional – Cooperation agreements|publisher=©[http://www.bcn.es/catala/copyright/welcome2.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona]|accessdate=2009-09-23}}</ref>
==Other sights==
<div class="center"><gallery>
File:Edifici de la Duana (Barcelona).jpg|Edifici de la Duana
File:Sagrada familia interior 00002.jpg|Inside of Sagrada Familia
File:Sagrada Familia interior over altar.jpg|Inside of Sagrada Familia
File:Via Laietana, 18th April 2009.JPG|Via Laietana
File:Basílica de la Mercè - Barcelona (Catalonia).jpg|[[Basílica de la Mercè]]
File:Catedral de Barcelona - Interior4.JPG|Inside of the Cathedral of Barcelona
File:Cripta Catedral Barcelona.jpg|Cript of the Cathedral of Barcelona
File:Santa Maria del Mar 4.jpg|[[Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona|Santa Maria del Mar]] church
File:050529 Barcelona 099.jpg|[[Santa Maria del Pi]] church
File:Plaça Reial fountain.jpg|Fountain of the [[Plaça Reial]]
File:Plaça Reial - Fanal de Gaudí.JPG|Lantern of the [[Plaça Reial]]
File:Spain.Barcelona.Porta.del.Angel.jpg| [[Portal de l'Àngel]]
File:Jfader batto facade.jpg|[[Casa Batlló]]
File:050529 Barcelona 030.jpg|[[Teatre Nacional de Catalunya]]
File:BarcelonaMNAC.JPG|View of the [[Plaça d'Espanya]] from the MNAC
File:Casa Milà - Barcelona, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg|[[Casa Milà]] (La Pedrera)
File:Barcelona.Tibidabo.Sagrat.Cor.jpg|[[Sagrat Cor]], at the summit of the Tibidabo mountain
File:Arc de Triomf Barcelona.jpg| The [[Arc de Triomf]]
File:Casavicens.jpg| [[Casa Vicens]]
File:Salo de Cent.jpg|Saló de Cent
File:Barcellona palazzo.jpg|[[Castell dels Tres Dragons]]
File:PlayaBacelonetta2.JPG|[[Hotel Arts]] (left) and [[Torre Mapfre]] (each {{convert|154|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in height) seen from [[La Barceloneta, Barcelona|Platja de la Barceloneta]]
File:Torre Agbar.jpg|[[Torre Agbar]]
File:Torre Collserola, Norman Foster.jpg| The [[Torre de Collserola]] on the Tibidabo is the tallest structure in Barcelona (288.4m).
File:Barcelona in Parc Güell.JPG| The view from Gaudi's [[Park Güell]]
File:Hospital de Sant Pau 01.jpg|[[Hospital de Sant Pau]]
File:IMG 8618.JPG|[[Port Vell Aerial Tramway]]
File:Gardens of Joan Brossa 1.jpg|[[Montjuïc Aerial Tramway]]
File:Spain.Barcelona.Colon.from.Maremagnum 1.jpg|<center>[[Columbus Monument, Barcelona|Statue of Christopher Columbus]]</center>
File:Hotel Vela (1).JPG|Hotel Vela
File:PlacadEspayaBarcelona.jpg|Former bull-ring of Las Arenas in [[Plaça d'Espanya]]
File:Barcelona Edificio Colón.jpg|Colón building
File:Palau de musica 2.JPG|[[Palau de la Música Catalana]]
File:Bcn 3530 Palauet Albeniz pp.jpg|Palauet d'Albéniz
File:Tunnelaquarium 14-05-2009 15-54-09.JPG|[[Aquarium Barcelona]]
</gallery></div>
==See also==
*[[Catalan people]]
*[[Catalan cuisine]]
*[[List of markets in Barcelona]]
*[[List of tallest buildings and structures in Barcelona]]
*[[1929 Barcelona International Exposition]]
*[[Exposición Universal de Barcelona]]
*[[Mossos d'Esquadra]]
*[[Urban Region of Barcelona]]
==References==
===Bibliography===
*{{SmithDGRG}}
*{{Cite encyclopedia | title = Barcelona | encyclopedia = Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana | publisher = Ed. Enciclopèdia Catalana S.A. | location = Barcelona }}
* Busquets, Joan. ''Barcelona: The Urban Evolution of a Compact City'' (Harvard UP, 2006) 468 pp.
* McDonogh, Gary W. "Review Essay: Barcelona: Forms, Images, and Conflicts," ''Journal of Urban History'' (Jan. 2011) v37#1 pp 117–123 doi: 10.1177/0096144210384250
* Marshall, Tim, ed. ''Transforming Barcelona'' (Routledge, 2004), 267 pp.
* Ramon Resina, Joan. ''Barcelona's Vocation of Modernity: Rise and Decline of an Urban Image'' (Stanford UP, 2008). 272 pp.
===Notes===
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links==
{{Sister project links|Barcelona}}
{{Wikitravel}}
*[http://www.bcn.cat/english/ihome.htm Official Website of Barcelona]
*[http://www.tmb.net/en_US/home.jsp Official Website Of Barcelona's Metropolitan Transports]
*[http://www.bcn.travel/ Guide with Photos, Videos and Maps of Barcelona on BCN.travel]
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[[Category:Barcelona| ]]
[[Category:10s BC establishments]]
[[Category:Ancient mints]]
[[Category:Host cities of the Summer Olympic Games]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Barcelona]]
[[Category:Phoenician colonies in Spain]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Spain]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Spain]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Royal Gold Medal]]
[[Category:Populated places in Barcelona]]
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