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{{otheruses1|the Catalan city}}
{{Spanish city |
image_skyline = BCN01.JPG |
image_skyline_size = 250px |
image_skyline_caption = Barcelona from the air |
native_name = Barcelona|
spanish_name = Barcelona |
nickname = Ciutat Comtal (Catalan)<br>|
city_motto = |
image_flag = Flag of Barcelona.svg|
image_flag_size = 150px|
image_coat_of_arms = Escut de Barcelona.svg|
image_coat_of_arms_size = 80px|
image_city_map = Localització de Barcelona.png|
image_city_map_size = 250px|
lat_long = {{coor dm|41|23|N|2|11|E|type:city(1,582,738)_region:ES}}|
time_zone = CET (GMT +1)|
time_zone_summer = CEST (GMT +2)|
founded = |
native_language = Catalan|
community = Catalonia |
community_link = Catalonia |
province = Barcelona |
province_link = Barcelona (province)|
comarca = Barcelonès|
comarca_link = Barcelonès |
divisions = 10|
neighbourhoods = 45|
mayor = Jordi Hereu i Boher|
political_party = PSC|
political_party_link = Socialists' Party of Catalonia|
area = 100.4 |
altitude = 12|
population = 1,605,602|
date-population = 2006|
population - metro = 5,324,763|
population-ranking = 2|
density = 15,969|
date-density = 2006|
website = http://www.bcn.cat/|
postal_code = 08001–08080|
area_code = 93|
}}
'''Barcelona ''' ([[Catalan language|Catalan]] {{IPA2|bəɾsəˈlonə}}, [[Spanish language|Spanish]] {{IPA2|baɾθeˈlona}}), '''برشلونة''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: '''Barshlounah,''') is the capital and most populous city of [[Catalonia]] and the second largest city in [[Spain]], with a population of 1,605,602 in 2006. It is located on the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast ({{coor dm|41|23|N|2|11|E|type:city(1,582,738)_region:ES}}), between the mouths of the rivers [[Llobregat]] and [[Besòs]], and is limited to the west by the [[Serra de Collserola]] ridge (512 m).
Barcelona is a major economic centre, with one of Europe's principal [[Mediterranean sea|Mediterranean]] [[port]]s, and its airport is the second largest in Spain. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona and 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 [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]].
As the capital of [[Catalonia]], Barcelona houses the seat of the Catalan government, known as the [[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 county ([[Comarques of Catalonia|''comarca'']]) of the [[Barcelonès]].
==Names==
The name ''Barcelona'' comes from the ancient Phoenician Iberian ''Barkeno''<!--Don't use [[Image:Barkeno.png|Barkeno in Levantine Iberian script]] for the moment: -KE- is missing-->; [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''{{polytonic|Βαρκινών}}'';<ref>[[Ptolemy]], ii. 6. § 8</ref> [[Latin]]: ''Barcino'', ''Barcelo''<ref>[[Avienus]] ''Or. Mar.'',</ref> and ''Barceno''.<ref>[[Antonine Itinerary|Itin. Ant.]]</ref>
During the Middle Ages the city was variously known as ''Barchinona, Barçalona, Barchelona'' and ''Barchenona''.
==History==
{{main|History of Barcelona}}
The foundation of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends. The first attributes the founding of the city to [[Hercules]] 400 years before the building of [[Rome]], and that it was rebuilt by the [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] [[Hamilcar Barca]], father of [[Hannibal]], who named the city ''Barcino'' after his family, in the [[3rd century BC]]. The second legend attributes the foundation directly to Hamilcar Barca.<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 ''[[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. ''Or. Mar.'' 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.
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 ''[[Barri Gòtic]]'' ("Gothic Quarter"). Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated into the cathedral.<ref>[http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/barcelona/walls/walls.html]</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 [[fifth century]], by the [[Moors]] in the early [[eighth century]], reconquered from the emir in [[801]] by [[Charlemagne]]'s son [[Louis the Pious|Louis]] who made Barcelona the seat of Carolingian "[[Spanish Marches]]" (''Marca Hispanica''), a buffer zone ruled by the [[Count of Barcelona]]. Barcelona was still a Christian frontier territory when it was sacked by [[Al-Mansur (Abi Amir)|Al-Mansur]] in [[985]].
The Counts of Barcelona became increasingly independent and expanded their territory to include all of Catalonia, later the [[Crown of Aragon]] which conquered many overseas possessions, ruling the western Mediterranean Sea with outlying territories in Naples and Sicily and as far as [[Duke of Athens|Athens]] in the [[thirteenth century]]. The forging of a dynastic link between the Crowns of Aragon and [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] marked the beginning of Barcelona's decline.
==Geography==
[[Image:Barcelona ISS009-E-9987.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Barcelona as seen from space]]
Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], facing the [[Mediterranean Sea]], on a plateau approximately 5 km wide limited by the mountain range of [[Serra de Collserola|Collserola]], the [[Llobregat]] river to the south-west and the [[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 170 km²<ref name="gec_3" />, of which 101 [[Square kilometre|km²]] (38.9 [[Square mile|mi²]])<ref name="guies_estadistiques">[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/inf/guies/bcn.pdf Guies Estadístiques. Barcelona en Xifres. Novembre 2006.]</ref> are occupied by the city itself. It is 160 [[Kilometre|km]] (100 [[Mile|mi]]) south of the [[Pyrenees]] and the [[Catalonia]]n border with [[France]].
[[Serra de Collserola|Collserola]], part of the coastal mountain range, shelters the city to the north-west. Its highest point, the peak of [[Tibidabo]], 512 m high, offers striking views over the city<ref>[http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen/fullscreen33.html]</ref> and is topped by the 288.4 m [[Torre de Collserola]], a 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 [[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 Montjuic 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; [[L'Hospitalet de Llobregat]] and [[Esplugues de Llobregat]] to the south; the Mediterranean Sea to the east; and [[Montcada i Reixac]] and [[Sant Cugat del Vallès]] to the west.
===Climate===
Barcelona has a [[Mediterranean climate]], with mild, dry winters and warm, humid summers. January and February are the coldest months, averaging temperatures of 10 [[Degree Celsius|°C]] (50 [[Degree Fahrenheit|°F]]). Snowfalls are so rare that they are remembered as special events. July and August are the hottest months, averaging temperatures of 25 °C (77 °F). The highest recorded maximum temperature in the city itself is 38.6 °C.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/jgiro2002/estiu2003.html Grup dels Sis: 2003: Un Estiu Infernal]</ref> At the Fabra Observatory, situated on the [[Tibidabo|Tibidabo hill]], the record summer temperature is 39.8 °C (103.6 °F). <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/jgiro2002/clima.html Grup dels Sis: Climatologia de Catalunya]</ref> However, it should be noted that the observatory is situated in the hills above the city near Collserola park - an area where the impact of the "heat island" effect is likely to be diminished.<ref>[http://geographyfieldwork.com/BarcelonaHeatIsland.htm Barcelona's heat island]</ref>
===Cityscape===
[[Image:Parcguell.jpg|thumb|250px|The entrance to Gaudi's "Park Güell"]]
====Parks====
Barcelona contains 68 municipal parks, divided into 12 historic parks, 5 thematic (botanical) parks, 45 urban parks and 6 forest parks.<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_mapa.htm Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Els Parcs de Barcelona]</ref> They range from vest-pocket parks to large recreation areas. The parks cover 10% of the city (549.7 ha),<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> growing about 10 ha per year,<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_his_ciu.htm Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Història > La ciutat i el verd]</ref> with a proportion of 18.1 m² of park area per inhabitant.<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_his_demo.htm Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Història > La democràcia]</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 [[Ciutadella Park]] (situated in the place of the old military [[citadel]] and which houses the [[Parliament of Catalonia|Parliament]] building, the [[zoo]] and several museums; 31 ha including the zoo), the [[Guinardó Park]] (19 ha), [[Park Güell]] (designed by [[Antoni Gaudí]]; 17.2 ha), [[Oreneta Castle Park]] (also 17.2 ha), [[Diagonal Mar Park]] (13.3 ha, inaugurated in 2002), [[Nou Barris Central Park]] (13.2 ha), [[Can Dragó Sports Park]] and [[Poblenou Park]] (both 11.9 ha) and the [[Labyrinth Park]] (9.10 ha), named after the garden maze it contains.<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> A part of the Collserolla Park is also within the city limits.
====Beaches====
[[Image:050529 Barcelona 059.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Barceloneta beach]]
Barcelona has seven beaches, totalling 4.5 [[Kilometre|km]] (2.8 [[Mile|mi]]) of coastline. [[Sant Sebastià]] and [[Barceloneta]] beaches, both 1100 m 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) were opened as a result of the city restructuring to host the [[1992 Summer Olympics]], when a great number of industrial buildings were demolished. The [[2004 Universal Forum of Cultures]] left the city a sandless bathing zone, a sort of sea pool.
====Other====
The area around the [[Plaça Catalunya]] makes up the city's historical centre and, alongside the upper half of the Diagonal avenue, 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 in the lowest, La Maquinista, Glòries in the place of the same name and the Maremagnum by the port.
Barcelona has several skyscrapers, the highest being the [[Hotel Arts]] and its twin the [[Torre Mapfre]], both 154 m high, followed by the newest [[Torre Agbar]] 144 m high.
==Demographics==
[[Image:Demografía Barcelona (España).PNG|250px|right|thumb|Demographic evolution, 1900–2005, according to the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]
According to Barcelona's City Council, Barcelona's population as of [[2006-06-01]] was
1,673,075 people,<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0203010.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Indicadors demogràfics. 2005]</ref> while the population of the [[Barcelona metropolitan area|Metropolitan Area]] was 3,161,081. It is the central nucleus of the [[Urban Region of Barcelona]], which relies on a population of 5,327,872 and covers an area of 4,268 km².
The [[population density]] of Barcelona was 15,779 people per km²,<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201040.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Densitat de població. 2005]</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]], [[Italy]], [[Pakistan]] and [[China]].<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201090.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Nacionalitat per sexe. 2005]</ref>
95% of the population understand [[Catalan language|Catalan]], 74.6% can speak it, 75% can read it, and 47.1% can write it.<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0202050.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Coneixement de la llengua catalana per grans grups d'edat. 2001]</ref> While most of the population profess to be of the [[Catholic]] religion (208 churches), actual church attendance figures are low. There are also a number of other groups, including various [[Evangelist]] (71 locations, mostly professed by [[Roma in Spain|Roma]]), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (21 [[Kingdom Halls]]), Jews, Muslims and [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (13 locations).<ref>[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= Barcelona: Directory: Theme: Religion]</ref>
In 1900, Barcelona had a population of 533.000 people<ref name="gec_3" />, which grew steadily but slowly until 1950, when it started absorbing an hight 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>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201010.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Evolució de la població. 1900-2005]</ref>
== Economy ==
[[Image:Spain.Catalonia.Barcelona.Vista.Port.jpg|thumb|Barcelona's old harbour]]
Barcelona has a long-standing mercantile tradition. Less well known is that it was one of the earliest regions in continental Europe to begin industrialization, beginning with textile related works at the end of the [[eighteenth century]] but really gathering momentum in the mid [[nineteenth century]], when it became a major center for the production of textiles and machinery. Since then, manufacturing has played a large role in its history. The traditional importance in textiles is still reflected in Barcelona's importance as a major fashion center. In summer 2006, Barcelona became an host for the prestigious [[Bread & Butter]] urban fashion fair. The fair was so successful than, starting in 2007, Barcelona became the only host for Bread & Butter, that closed its original [[Berlin]] ___location.
As in other modern cities, the manufacturing sector has long since been overtaken by the services sector, though it remains important. The most important industries today are textile, chemistry, pharmaceutical, motor, electronic and printing. In the services sector, the most important are the logistics, publishing, telecommunications and computer sectors.
Drawing upon its tradition of creative art and craftsmanship, Barcelona is nowadays also known for its award-winning industrial design. Barcelona also has several congress halls, notably [[La Fira]] (Trade Fair), that host a quickly growing number of national and international events each year, which had also meant the opening of new hotels each year. The [[Port of Barcelona]] is an important Mediterranean port, both for general containers cargo and for cruise ships.
Barcelona has one of the highest costs of living in Spain, second only to [[Madrid]] and ocuping the 31st position according to a report by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.<ref>[http://www.abc.es/20070618/economia-economia/madrid-barcelona-entre-ciudades_200706181319.html ABC.es: economia - economia - Madrid y Barcelona, entre las ciudades más caras del mundo para vivir]</ref>
==Government and administrative divisions==
{{seealso|Municipal elections in Barcelona|List of mayors of Barcelona}}
[[Image:Glories.jpg|250px|right|thumb|[[Glòries]] at night]]
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 (the other being [[Madrid]]), 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">[http://www.boe.es/g/es/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=2006/04583 BOE - LEY 1/2006, de 13 de marzo, por la que se regula el Régimen Especial del municipio de Barcelona.]</ref> According to his 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>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,2687,200713899_200720868_1,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Ajuntament > El Govern de la Ciutat]</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>[http://www.bcn.cat/catala/laciutat/barcelona/organitzacio.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Organització política]</ref> It expands the powers of the city council in areas like telecommunications, city traffic, 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" />
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>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720894_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Council Executive]</ref> The plenary, formed by the 41 city councilors, has advisory, planning, regulatory, and fiscal executive functions.<ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720876_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Plenary]</ref> The six ''Comissions del Consell Municipal'' (City council comissions) have executive and controlling functions in the field of their jurisdiction. They are composed by a number of councilors proportional to the number of councilors each political party has in the plenary.<ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720890_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Committees of the Municipal Council]</ref> The city council has jurisdiction in the fields of [[city planning]], transportation, municipal taxes, public highways security through the ''[[Guardia Urbana]]'' (the municipal police), city maintenance, gardens, parks and environment, facilities (like schools, nurseries, sports centres, libraries, etc.), culture, sports, youth and [[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>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200722250_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The municipal administration]</ref>
The seat of the city council is on the Plaça 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|has been governed]] by the [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]], first with an absolute majority and later in coalition with [[Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya|ERC]] and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|ICV]]. Since the May 2007 elections, PSC is governing in minority only with IC, since ERC decided against a renewal of the previous coalition. The second most voted party in Barcelona is [[Convergència i Unió|CiU]], followed by [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]], both currently in the opposition.
===Administrative divisions===
Since 1997, the city has been divided into 10 administrative districts (''districtes''), 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 administrative divisions are based mostly on historical divisions. Several of the city's districts are former towns annexed by the city of Barcelona in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that still maintain their own distinct character. The official names of these districts are in the [[Catalan language]].
====Districts and neighbourhoods====
[[Image:MapaBCN Distritos01.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Districts]]
{{main|Districts of Barcelona}}
*''[[Ciutat Vella]]'' ("Old City"): [[El Raval]] (also known in Spanish as the ''Barrio Chino'', ("[[Chinatown]]"), the ''[[Barri Gòtic]]'' ("Gothic Quarter"), [[La Barceloneta]] and the ''Barri de la Ribera''.
*[[Eixample]]: Sant Antoni, ''Esquerra de l'Eixample'' ("the left side of the Eixample" facing away from the sea), ''Dreta de l'Eixample'' ("the right side of the Eixample"), ''Barri de la Sagrada Família'', Fort Pienc, ''Sant Antoni''
*[[Sants]]–[[Montjuïc]]: Poble Sec, La Marina, La Font de La Guatlla, La Bordeta, Hostafrancs, Sants, Badal.
*[[Les Corts]]: Les Corts, La Maternitat, Pedralbes.
*[[Sarrià-Sant Gervasi]]: Tres Torres, Sarrià, Vallvidrera, Bonanova, Sant Gervasi, Putxet-Farró, Galvany.
*[[Gràcia]]: Vallcarca, [[El Coll]], La Salut, Gràcia, El Camp d'en Grassot
*[[Horta-Guinardó]]: Horta, [[El Carmel]], La Teixonera, El Guinardó (Alt i Baix), La Clota, La Vall D'Hebron, Montbau
*[[Nou Barris]]: Can Peguera, Porta, Canyelles, Ciutat Meridiana, Guineueta, Prosperitat, Vallbona, Verdum, Vilapicina, Roquetes, Trinitat Vella, Trinitat Nova, Torre Baró, Torre Llobeta and Turó de la Peira.
*[[Sant Andreu]]: La Segrera, Trinitat Vella, Bon Pastor, Sant Andreu, Navas, Baró de Viver
*[[Sant Martí]]: Diagonal Mar, Fort Pius, San Martí de Provençals, Poble Nou, La Verneda, El Clot
==Education==
{{main|Education in Catalonia}}
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]], the newer [[Pompeu Fabra University]] and, in the private sector, the [[Ramon Llull University]] encompassing internationally renowned institutions like [[ESADE]] Business School. The [[Autonomous University of Barcelona]], another public university, is located in [[Bellaterra]], a town in the [[Barcelona metropolitan area|Metropolitan Area]].
The city has a network of public schools, from nurseries to high schools, under the responsibility of the city council (though the student subjects are the responsibility of the Generalitat de Catalunya). There are also many private schools, some of them [[Roman Catholic]]. Like other cities in Spain, Barcelona now faces the integration of a large number of immigrant children from Latin America, Africa and Asia.
==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Barcelona}}
[[Image:Liceu.jpg|thumb|200px|The façade of the Liceu, as viewed from La Rambla]]
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 languages 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 [[Spain under Franco|dictatorship]]) has been promoted, both by recovering works 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===
Barcelona has many venues for 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 [[Sónar]] Music Festival<ref>[http://www.sonar.es Sónar Music Festival]</ref> which takes place around June every year, and to the Barcelona and Catalonia National Symphonic Orchestra (Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, usually known as OBC) is 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>[http://www.auditori.org/seccions/auditori/oferta_musical/auditori_obc/index.aspx L'Auditori: OBC]</ref>
===Museums===
Barcelona houses 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-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]], the Barcelona Maritime Museum and the private-owned Egiptian 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.
===Architecture===
[[Image:Sagradafamilia-overview.jpg|thumb|250px|The Sagrada Família church, Gaudi's masterpiece]]
The ''[[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. 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 Sites]]. 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 won the 1999 [[RIBA]] [[Royal Gold Medal]] for its architecture<ref>[http://www.architecture.com/fileLibrary/pdf/Royal_Gold_Medallists_at_09112006.pdf RIBA Royal Gold Medallists]</ref>, the first (as of 2007, only) time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect.
===World Heritage Sites in Barcelona===
*Works of [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]], [[Palau de la Música Catalana]] and [[Hospital de Sant Pau]], included in the list in 1997.
*Works of [[Antoni Gaudí]], including [[Park Güell]], [[Palau Güell]], [[Casa Milà]], [[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.
===Media===
''[[El Periódico de Catalunya]]'' (Catalan and Spanish editions) and ''[[La Vanguardia]]'' (Spanish) are Barcelona's two major daily newspapers while ''[[Sport (newspaper)|Sport]]'' and ''[[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 ''[[Avui]]'' and ''[[El Punt]]'' (both in Catalan), by nation-wide newspapers with special Barcelona editions like ''[[El Pais]]'' and ''[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]'' (both in Spanish), and by several free newspapers like ''[[Metro International|Metro]]'', ''[[20 minutos]]'', ''ADN'' and ''Què'' (bilingual).
Several major FM stations include [[Catalunya Ràdio]], [[RAC 1]], [[RAC 105]] and [[Cadena SER]]. Barcelona also has several local TV stations, among them [[Barcelona Televisió|BTV]] (owned by city council) and [[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 ===
[[Image:Camp nou.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''[[Camp Nou]] ''[[stadium]]]]
Barcelona has a long sporting tradition and hosted the successful [[1992 Summer Olympics]] as well as several matches from the [[1982 Football World Cup]]. It has also been host to the [[2003 World Aquatics Championships|X FINA World Championships]] and twice of the [[Eurobasket]].
[[FC Barcelona]] is a [[sports club]] best known for its [[football (soccer)|football]] team, one of the biggest in Europe, twice winner of the [[UEFA Champions League]]. FC Barcelona also has teams in the Spanish [[basketball]] [[Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto|ACB]] league ([[FC Barcelona (basketball)|Winterthur FCB]]), the [[team handball|handball]] [[Liga ASOBAL|ASOBAL]] league ([[FC Barcelona (handball)|FC Barcelona-Cifec]]), and the [[roller hockey]] league. The club's museum is the second most visited in Catalonia. [[RCD Espanyol]] is the city's other [[La Liga|Liga]] football team. Barcelona also has other clubs in lower categories, like [[CE Europa]] and [[UE Sant Andreu]].
Barcelona has two [[UEFA]] [[UEFA Stadia List|5-star rated]] football stadiums: FC Barcelona's [[Camp Nou]] and the [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys]], used for the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Olympics]] and the current home of Espanyol, pending completion of the club's new stadium.
The [[Open Seat Godó]], a 50-year-old [[ATP Tour]] [[International Series Gold tennis tournaments|International Series Gold tennis tournament]], is held annually in the facilities of the Reial Club de Tenis Barcelona (Barcelona Royal Tennis Club). Several popular running competitions are organized year-round in Barcelona: Cursa del Corte Inglés (with about 60,000 participants each year){{Fact|date=July 2007}}, Cursa de la Mercè, Cursa Jean Bouin, Milla Sagrada Família and the San Silvestre. Also, each Christmas, a swimming race across the port is organized. Near Barcelona, in [[Montmeló]], the 131,000 capacity [[Circuit de Catalunya]] racetrack hosts the [[Spanish Grand Prix|Formula One Spanish Grand Prix]] and the [[Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix]]. Barcelona has also become [[Skateboarding in Barcelona|very popular]] with [[skateboarding|skateboarders]], which has led to a new anti-skateboarding law, which came into effect in 2006.
== Transportation and infrastructures ==
===Airports===
Barcelona is served by [[Barcelona International Airport]] in the town of [[El Prat de Llobregat]], about 3 km from 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 [[Clickair]], and also a focus for [[Spanair]], [[Air Europa]] and [[Iberia Airlines|Iberia]]. The airport mainly serves domestic and European destinations, but some airlines offer destinations in [[Asia]] and the [[United States]]. The airport is connected to the city by highway, commuter train and scheduled bus service. The airport handled 30,008,152 passengers <ref>[http://www14.aena.es/csee/ccurl/Anyo%202006.pdf]</ref> in 2006. A new terminal is being built, and its expected to enter service in 2009.
[[Sabadell Airport]] is a smaller airport in the nearby town of [[Sabadell]], devoted to pilot training, advertising flights, aerotaxi and private flights. Some low-cost airlines, like [[Ryanair]] and [[Martinair]], prefer to use [[Girona-Costa Brava Airport]], situated about 90 km to the north of Barcelona and [[Reus Airport]], situated 77 km to the south.
[[Image:Catalunya-Barcelona-Maremagnum.jpg|thumb|200px|The footbridge that connects the Port Vell to the Maremagnum.]]
===Seaport===
The Port of Barcelona has a 2000-year history and a great contemporary commercial importance. It is the most important Mediterranean port for general cargo of containers and cruisers. The port is managed by the Port Authority of Barcelona. Its 7.86 km² 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 to the south.<ref>[http://www.apb.es/en/WELCOME Port de Barcelona]</ref>
The Port Vell area also houses the Maremagnum (a commercial mall), a multiplex cinema, the [[IMAX]] Port Vell and an aquarium.
===Public transportation===
[[Image:Tranbaix.jpg|thumb|right|Barcelona's new "Trambaix" streetcars]]
Barcelona is served by a comprehensive local public transport network that includes a [[metro]], a [[bus]] network, two separate [[tram]] networks (one of them, the Tramvia blau,<ref>[http://www.tmb.net/en_US/barcelona/moute/planols/planotramviablau.jsp Information of Tramvia Blau]</ref> connects to the Tibidabo [[funicular]]), and several funiculars and [[aerial tramway|aerial cable cars]]. The [[Barcelona Metro]] network comprises nine lines, identified by an "L" followed by the line number as well as by individual colours. Most of the network 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 longest underground metro line in Europe with 42.6km.
The TMB also operates the city's tram networks, known as [[Trambaix]] and [[Trambesòs]], and the city's daytime bus network, as well as a touristic bus service. The night bus network, known as Nitbus, is operated by [[Mohn SL. Transports Ciutat Comtal|Mohn]]. [[Transports Ciutat Comtal]] operates the regular Tomb Bus (across the Diagonal avenue) and Aerobus (to the airport) services. Other companies operate services that connect the city with towns in the metropolitan area.
The [[Funicular de Montjuïc]] cable car climbs the [[Montjuïc]] hill. The cable cars of [[Funicular de Vallvidrera|Vallvidrera]] and [[Funicular de Tibidabo|Tibidabo]] climb the [[Tibidabo]] hill. The city has two aerial cable cars: one to the Montjuïc castle and another that runs via [[Torre Jaume I]] and [[Torre Sant Sebastia]] over the port.
Barcelona is a major hub for [[RENFE]], the Spanish state railway network, and its main intercity train station is [[Sants Estació]]. The [[AVE]] [[high-speed rail]] system was recently extended from [[Madrid]] to [[Tarragona]] in southern Catalonia, and is expected to reach Barcelona by 2007. [[Cercanías|Renfe cercanías/rodalies]] and the [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya]] (FGC) run Barcelona's widespread [[commuter train]] service.
[[Image:050529 Barcelona 107b.jpg|thumb|left|Barcelona taxi]]
The [[Estació del Nord]] (Northern Station), a former train station that was renovated for the 1992 Olympic Games, now serves as the terminus for long-distance and regional bus services.
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 licenses are in the hands of 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 March 22, 2007<ref>[http://www.bicing.com/noticias/detalle_noticia.php?TU5fTk9USUNJQVM%3D&Ng%3D%3D&MQ%3D%3D Bicing: 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.]</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>[http://www.bicing.com/modulos/modulos.php?TU5fSU5GT1JNQUNJT04%3D&NA%3D%3D&Nw%3D%3D Bicing: Què és Bicing?]</ref>. The service has been a success, with 50.000 subscribed users in three months.<ref>[http://www.bicing.com/noticias/detalle_noticia.php?TU5fTk9USUNJQVM%3D&Ng%3D%3D&MzA%3D Bicing: Notícies: EL BICING JA TÉ MÉS DE 50.000 ABONATS.]</ref>
===Roads and highways===
Barcelona is belted by two Rondes, the Ronda de Dalt (on the mountain side) and the Ronda del Litoral (alongside the coast), two partially-covered<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/rutes/rondes_fr.htm The covered Rondes (by-pass)]</ref> fast highways with several exits that allow to bypass the city.
The city's main arteries include the Diagonal Avenue, which crosses the city in diagonal (hence the name); the Meridiana Avenue which leads to the Glories Place and connects with the Diagonal Avenue and the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, which crosses the city from north to south, including the center of the city.
==Sister
Barcelona has [[Town twinning|sister relationships]] with many places worldwide:
{{col-start}}
{{col-3}}
*{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Alghero]], [[Italy]]
*{{flagicon|Algeria}} [[Algiers]], [[Algeria]]
*{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]]
*{{flagicon|United States}} [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[United States|USA]]
*{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Busan]], [[South Korea]]
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Cologne]], [[Germany]]
*{{flagicon|Russia}} [[St.Petersburg]], [[Russia]]
*{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
*{{flagicon|Palestine}} [[Gaza]], [[Palestinian National Authority]]
*{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Gdańsk]], [[Poland]]
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]
* {{flagicon|UAE}} [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
Other forms of cooperation and city friendship similar to the twin city programmes:
* {{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Niš]], [[Serbia]]
{{col-3}}
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]]
*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kobe]], [[Japan]]
*{{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Medellín]], [[Colombia]]
*{{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Montevideo]], [[Uruguay]]
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Montpellier]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Montreal]], [[Canada]]
*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]]
*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]]
*{{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Sarajevo]], [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]]
*{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]]
{{col-end}}
==Other sights==
<center><gallery>
image:Sta-eulalia.jpg|[[Barcelona Cathedral]]
Image:Sagrada familia by night 2006.jpg|[[Sagrada Família]] at night
Image:InteriorSantaMariaMarBarcelona.jpg|[[Santa Maria del Mar (Barcelona)|Santa Maria del Mar]] Church
Image:050529 Barcelona 099.jpg|[[Santa Maria del Pi]] Church
Image:Spain.Barcelona.Porta.del.Angel.jpg| [[Portal de l'Àngel]]
Image:Jfader batto facade.jpg|[[Casa Batlló]]
Image:Casa Milà - Barcelona, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg|[[Casa Milà]] (La Pedrera)
Image:050529 Barcelona 135.jpg| The [[Palau Nacional]] which houses the [[Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya|MNAC]]
Image:Domènech.i.Montaner.Palau.Musica.Catalana.8.Barcelona.JPG| [[Palau de la Música Catalana]]
Image:Arc de Triomf Barcelona.JPG| The [[Arc de Triomf]]
Image:Casavicens.jpg| [[Casa Vicens]]
Image:Barcellona palazzo.jpg|[[Castell dels tres Dracs]]
Image:PlayaBacelonetta2.JPG|[[Hotel Arts]] (l.) and [[Torre Mapfre]] (each 154 m in height) seen from [[Platja de la Barceloneta]]
Image:Torre Agbar - Barcelona, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg|[[Torre Agbar]]
Image:PortVell.JPG|Rambla de Mar in Port Vell (Old Harbour)
Image:Barcelona.Tibidabo.Torre.Collserola.jpg| The [[Torre de Collserola]] in the [[Tibidabo|Tibidabo Hill]] is the highest structure in Barcelona (288m).
</gallery></center>
==See also==
*[[Barcelona metropolitan area]]
*[[Urban Region of Barcelona]]
*[[List of tallest buildings and structures in Barcelona]]
*[[Skateboarding in Barcelona]]
*[[Guardia Urbana]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Bibliography==
*{{SmithDGRG}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | year = | title = Barcelona | encyclopedia = Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana | publisher = Ed. Enciclopèdia Catalana S.A. | ___location = Barcelona | id = }}
==
{{Sisterlinks|Barcelona}}
* [http://www.bcn.cat/english/ihome.htm Official Website of Barcelona]
* [http://www.map-barcelona.com Detailed Map of Barcelona]
* [http://www.tmb.net/en_US/home.jsp Official Website Of Barcelona's Metropolitan Transports]
{{Geolinks-cityscale|41.3856|2.1702}}
* [http://wiki.worldflicks.org/barcelona.html Wiki.WorldFlicks @ Barcelona: Wiki with Geolocated photos on Map/Sat]
*{{wikitravel}}
* [http://public-transport.net/bim/Bcn.htm tramway in Barcelona]
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[[Category:Municipalities in Barcelona]]
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[[Category:Port cities and towns in Spain]]
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