Guide of Barcelona

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is located on the north-eastern coast of Spain and is a fantastic city to visit. In the summer there are loads of events and things to do, but even during the winter the city still offers a lot culturally and socially.

History

In 300 a.C. there was a settlement called Barcino with a population of Iberian origin. Around the tenth century, the city of Barcelona had a great period of commercial development thanks to the port, and the Genoese merchants began to fear it. Thanks to political alliances and marriages, Barcelona became a principality of Catalonia, and in the following years was adorned with many gothic style buildings.

Then there was another marriage, between Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, but this time the union made the economic structure of the city go into decline. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries brought industrialization that developed the city into the important cultural, economic and commercial centre we see today. We must also remember that fairly recently, in the late 1930s, the city was occupied by the army of General Franco, a dictatorial regime that abolished the Catalan language and autonomy. During this period Barcelona was a destination for migratory flows of people coming mainly from the south of the country; this phenomenon inevitably changed the social structure of the city forever, which today is one of the most beautiful and interesting in Europe.

What to see 

Barcelona is an open-air museum where you can simply walk around to discover wonderful places and take in the party atmosphere of the city centre. The sights not to be missed include the Sagrada Familia, an unfinished work by Gaudì, it attracts loads of tourists every day and remains one of the symbols of the city. Another building by Gaudi Casa Milà, is known as La Pedrera, Casa Batlò, Parc Guell, there are also many museums including the Mirò Foundation. The market, Mercato de la Boqueria, is a place with a history that goes back to the thirteenth century when it was used by farmers to sell their goods. Do not miss a walk to the Gothic Quarter, the most evocative district of the city, the streets are divided into specific areas still preserve the Roman order. A walk along the Rambla is essential, the long street full of restaurants, cafes, street artists, musicians and shops.

Beaches around the city

The city has eight beaches, all within easy reach of the historic centre, they are all well equipped and provide all the services you could need, not only in the summer months, but some are available during the low season. Starting from the west to the east, the beaches are Sant Sebastià, Barceloneta, Somorrostro, Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella (naturist), Nova Mar Bella and Llevant.