Barcelona is the
capital 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 101.4 km2. It is also Europe's largest
metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea. It is located on the
Mediterranean coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat
and Besňs and is bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola
ridge (512 m).
Founded as a Roman
city, Barcelona became the capital of the County 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 has a rich cultural
heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major
tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural
works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domčnech i Montaner, which
have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The
headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean is located in
Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics
as well as world-class conferences and expositions, including the
1888 Exposición Universal de Barcelona, the 1929 Barcelona
International Exposition (Expo 1929), the 2004 Universal Forum of
Cultures, and the 2004 World Urban Forum.
<- Back to the index
