Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is the second largest city of Spain in terms of population. Barcelona City Council is the local public administration that represents, governs and administers the city's interests.
Barcelona’s origins go back more than 2,500 years when Phoenicians and Carthaginians settled in the area and chose to have a commercial port. Barcelona is said to have been founded by either the Phoenicians or the Carthaginians, who had trading posts nearby. Once a part of the Roman Empire, it was later occupied by Goths, Moors, and Franks. The city became a great port in the Middle Ages, serving the trade between North Africa and Europe.
Barcelona has a typical Mediterranean climate. The winter is relativly humid but mild and the summer is dry. The rainy seasons are the once in between, autumn and spring. January is the coldest month, with top temperatures averaging 13°C (55°F), while August is the hottest, with an average high of 29°C (82°F).
Situated on a plain between the Llobregat and Besos rivers and lying between mountains and the sea, Barcelona is the second largest city of Spain, its largest port, and its chief commercial and industrial center. Barcelona has served as a crossroads of manufacturing - a vital centre of trading and shipping - since before Christopher Columbus set sail for the Americas. Its strategic location, on the Mediterranean Sea and near the border with France, has made its emergence as the principal industrial and commercial centre of Spain inevitable. Barcelona is Spain's foremost center of industry, both heavy (iron, steel, copper) and light (especially textiles). Spanish publishing houses are concentrated there. Traditional industries range from shipbuilding to skilled handicrafts. Tourism first became important in the late 1950s.
Barcelona's transport system includes the metro, trains, buses, funiculars and cable cars. The Metro is safe, clean, cheap and easy to use, for most, it is the preferred method of transport around the city. The bus network is extensive and is easy to master with a transport map. Once the regular Barcelona buses stop running around 11pm, a number of "Nitbusos" (Night Buses) continue until sometime between 3am and 5am depending on the line. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive and are a good option especially late at night.
Barcelona is known for its excellent public schools, falling under the responsibility of the city council (student matters, however, are the responsibility of the Government of Catalonia). There are also a number of private schools and schools subsidized by the State, many of them Roman Catholic institutions. Numerous international schools serve foreign nationals as well as local residents. Among these one should mention the German school, the Italian school, the Swiss school and the Japanese school. The big challenge that the schools in Barcelona are faced with today is to ensure the integration of a large number of immigrant children from Latin America, Asia and Africa. The city has a strong system of public universities, with the University of Barcelona being the most reputable of all. While the organization of the school system is uniform throughout the country, the language of teaching in all schools in Barcelona is Catalan.
Barcelona is a city filled with history, culture, and variety. As a result, the city has a million different sites, monuments, and shows to interest a wide range of visitors. The best known monuments in the city, are the great cathedral “Sagrada Familia”, “Parc Gϋell” and “Palau Gϋell”, all created by the brilliant architect Antonì Gaudì.
Sagrada Familia or the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia was begun in 1882 by public subscription. Year later Gaudí became director of the project, a post he would hold for more than 40 years until his death in 1926. Construction pace started to pick up again in the mid 1950s and now three facades and eight tower have been completed. Above each façade there will be four towers, 12 in total, which will be dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., will be dedicated to Jesus Christ. Even though the Sagrada Familia is far from finished, the remarkable church is well worth a visit. Inside the Sagrada Familia, areas will be dedicated to religious concepts such as saints, virtues and sins, and secular concepts such as the regions of Spain.
The Font Màgica or Magic fountain is located near Plaza Espanya at the foot of the MNAC, National Art Museum of Catalonia. It was part of a project built for the 1929 Universal Exhibition. Almost every evening this show offers the audience a fantastic play of water, lights and music.At the same time, the Palau National is illuminated, providing a beautiful background. The show runs every thirty minutes.
Festes de la Merce is Barcelona's main annual festival with plenty events taking place from 22nd September including competitions to see which group of “castellers” can form the highest human tower and processions involving wooden giants. There are lots of live music events, unbelievable firework displays and heavy consumption of Cava, the national drink of Catalonia.
April 23rd, festival of Sant Jordi (St. George) is the day of roses and books. Stalls throughout the city offer books and roses for sale. Men give women a rose reminiscent of St Valentine’s Day and women give men a book in tribute to Cervantes who died on this day in 1616.
