Of the first impressions you get of Barcelona, the quality of light, enhanced by the morning sun reflecting on a calm Mediterranean sea, is amongst the most memorable.
In the bay of the capital city, the wake of a supertanker attended by a shrieking gaggle of hungry seagulls, breaks the near perfection of the mirror-like surface. Barcelona wakes in the morning, confident of its unique position in the commercial life of Spain and dazzling in the aspirations of those who live there.
The origins of the province are long and complex. Early settlers included the Iberian tribe known as the Layetanos. The Romans took the city from the Carthaginians, to whom some authors attribute the origin of city’s name, in the year 201 B.C.
There followed a long period in which Barcelona, or Barcino, formed the capital of the Roman province of Laietania with the city growing around the easily defended Mount Taber. Subsequently, for nearly a century, Barcelona was the capital city of the kingdom of the Visigoths, a status that was eventually superseded by the rise of the fortunes of Toledo.
Contrary to the rest of Spain, Barcelona remained within the Moorish empire for a relatively short time. The initial impetus of the Arabic armies was so strong that expeditions reached well into the kingdom of France. However, less than one hundred years after this, Barcelona was retaken by Luis el Piadoso, the son of Charlemagne.
Later, the marriage between Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronila meant that the Barcelona fell under the jurisdiction of the Province of Aragón. There followed a period of major influence, driven mainly by the establishment of Barcelona as an important port.
Both the economy and the cultural life flourished, a position that was maintained until the Barcelona’s star was eclipsed by that of Seville during the discovery and growth in importance of trade between Europe and the Americas.
Barcelona has a long history of independence of character from its neighbouring states. During the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona formed a focus for Republican aspirations and was the headquarters of the democratically elected Republican Government. In 1977, with the death of the dictator and the subsequent reinstatement of democratic principles, Barcelona became the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia.
Today, its relations with the rest of Spain remain ambivalent. Catalan, the indigenous language spoken in Catalonia has now been elevated to official status, equivalent to that of Castillian but, even though the independence movement in Catalonia is strong, its position within Spain is governed mainly by the principals of democracy and respect for the basic freedoms of the individual.
This makes it a favoured destination for tourists and an attractive region for business investment. In the twenty first century, Barcelona’s position as the power-house of Spanish industry remains assured.
Fiestas and Events:
Carnaval - 29 to 25th February. One of the most exciting events of the Barcelona calender. Check out the official web page to find everything you need to know.
More information:
www.bcn.es/english/ihome.htm
Page of the Town Hall of Barcelona. Lots of information and links to tourism, hotels etc. In both Spanish and English.
Tourism website for Barcelona
Brilliant, lots of links and full of information.
http://www.bcn.es/
Official web of the city of Barcelona.
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Last Updated ( domingo, 14 septiembre 2008 )
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