Barcelona is served by a comprehensive local public transport network that includes a metro, two separate tram networks, a bus network and several funiculars and 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 inter-run with suburban lines and are operated by the FGC.
The TMB also operates the city's tram networks, known as Trambaix and Trambesòs, and the city's daytime bus network. The night bus network, known as Nitbus, is operated by Mohn SL. Transports Ciutat Comtal, who also operate other tourist oriented services within the city. Other companies operate services that connect the city with towns in the metropolitan area.
The Funicular de Montjuïc, operated by the TMB, climbs the Montjuïc hill. The Funicular de Vallvidrera, operated by the FGC, and the tourist oriented Funicular de Tibidabo both climb the Tibidabo hill. The city also has two cable cars: one to the Montjuïc castle (operated by TMB) and another that runs via Torre Jaume I and Torre Sant Sebastia over the port.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Road
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 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.[37] With their black and yellow livery, Barcelona's taxis are easily spotted.
Barcelona has a 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.[37] With their black and yellow livery, Barcelona's taxis are easily spotted.
Rail
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. Renfe cercanías/rodalies and the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) run Barcelona's widespread commuter train service.
Sea
Barcelona's port 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 in three zones: Port Vell (the Old Port), the commercial port and the logistics 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.
Air
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. The airport is connected to the city by highway, commuter train and scheduled bus service. The 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 the Girona-Costa Brava Airport, situated about 90 km to the north of Barcelona and the Reus Airport, situated 77 km to the south.
Sports
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 X FINA World Championships and, in two occasions, of the Eurobasket.
FC Barcelona is a sports club best known for its football team, one of the biggest in Europe and the 2006 champion of both the Spanish league and the UEFA Champions League. FC Barcelona also has teams in the Spanish basketball ACB league (Winterthur FCB), the handball ASOBAL league (FC Barcelona-Cifec), and the roller hockey league. The basketball team's stadium is the Palau Blaugrana, which is just across from the Nou Camp footbal stadium. It also has amateur teams in several other sports. The club also has a museum, the second most visited museum in Catalonia. RCD Espanyol is the city's other Liga football team and the 2006 holder of the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona has two UEFA 5-star rated football stadiums: FC Barcelona's Nou Camp and the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, used for the 1992 Olympics and the current home of RCD Espanyol, pending completion of the club's new stadium. The Nou Camp is located in the Les Corts section of Barcelona, while Espanyol's Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is located in the Sants-Montjuïc part of Barcelona.
The Open Seat Godó, a 50-year-old ATP Tour 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), 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 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix and Moto GP races. Barcelona has also become very popular with skateboarders, which has led to a new anti-skateboarding law, which came into effect in 2006.
FC Barcelona is a sports club best known for its football team, one of the biggest in Europe and the 2006 champion of both the Spanish league and the UEFA Champions League. FC Barcelona also has teams in the Spanish basketball ACB league (Winterthur FCB), the handball ASOBAL league (FC Barcelona-Cifec), and the roller hockey league. The basketball team's stadium is the Palau Blaugrana, which is just across from the Nou Camp footbal stadium. It also has amateur teams in several other sports. The club also has a museum, the second most visited museum in Catalonia. RCD Espanyol is the city's other Liga football team and the 2006 holder of the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona has two UEFA 5-star rated football stadiums: FC Barcelona's Nou Camp and the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, used for the 1992 Olympics and the current home of RCD Espanyol, pending completion of the club's new stadium. The Nou Camp is located in the Les Corts section of Barcelona, while Espanyol's Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is located in the Sants-Montjuïc part of Barcelona.
The Open Seat Godó, a 50-year-old ATP Tour 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), 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 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix and Moto GP races. Barcelona has also become very popular with skateboarders, which has led to a new anti-skateboarding law, which came into effect in 2006.
Music
Barcelona is home to the Sónar Music Festival[34] which takes place around June every year. This is an electronica music festival split into three days with two main events on each day (Sónar By Night and Sónar by Day). Sónar by day is held just off Les Rambles, whereas Sonar by night takes place in a complex just outside the main city.
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. Founded in 1944 as Barcelona's Municipal Orchestra, it became the OBC in the 1994–95 season with the participation of the Generalitat de Catalunya. 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
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. Founded in 1944 as Barcelona's Municipal Orchestra, it became the OBC in the 1994–95 season with the participation of the Generalitat de Catalunya. 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
Media
El Periódico de Catalunya (Catalan and Spanish editions) and La Vanguardia (Spanish) are Barcelona's two major daily newspapers while 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 (both in Spanish), and by several free newspapers like Metro, ADN, Que and 20 minutos (bilingual).
Several major FM stations include Catalunya Ràdio, RAC 105 and Cadena SER. Barcelona also has several local TV stations, among them 'www.barcelona.tv' [4], the first internet television in the city, BTV (owned by the city council) and TD8 (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.
Several major FM stations include Catalunya Ràdio, RAC 105 and Cadena SER. Barcelona also has several local TV stations, among them 'www.barcelona.tv' [4], the first internet television in the city, BTV (owned by the city council) and TD8 (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.
World Heritage Sites in Barcelona
UNESCO 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
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
Architecture
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 builidings 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. Other examples of his work are the Palau Güell, the Park Güell, the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and the Casa Batlló.
Another notable architect was Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who designed the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Hospital de Sant Pau and the Casa Lleó Morera. Josep Puig i Cadafalch's well-known Casa Ametller can also be seen on Passeig de Gràcia.
Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first (as of 2007, only) time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect.
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 builidings 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. Other examples of his work are the Palau Güell, the Park Güell, the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and the Casa Batlló.
Another notable architect was Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who designed the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Hospital de Sant Pau and the Casa Lleó Morera. Josep Puig i Cadafalch's well-known Casa Ametller can also be seen on Passeig de Gràcia.
Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first (as of 2007, only) time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect.
Museums
Barcelona houses a great number of museums, which cover different areas and eras. The City History Museum, situated in a medieval building that used to be a royal residence, explains the story of the city, and includes a visit to the Roman ruins in the museum's basement. It also comprises the Museum-Monastery of Pedralbes, one of the best examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, the Museum-House Verdaguer, dedicated to poet Jacint Verdaguer, the Park Güell Interpretation Center and several other minor sites.[29]
The Museum of the History of Catalonia, open in 1996, covers the story of Catalonia since prehistoric times and administers the monuments that belong to the Generalitat de Catalunya.[30] The Archaeology Museum of Catalonia covers the story of Catalonia up to the Middle Ages, and of the cultures it came it contact with, and also runs several other archaeological sites in Catalonia.[31]
The National Museum of Art of Catalonia possesses a well-known collection of Romanesque art, including wall-paintings from Romanesque churches and chapels around Catalonia that have been transferred to the museum, Gothic art from the thirteenth–fifteenth centuries, Renaissance and Baroque art from the 16th-18th centuries, Modern art from the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, as well as the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection.
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, usually known as MACBA (acronym of Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona), focuses on post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art, though it also includes foreign works. Adjacent to the MACBA, the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, or CCCB, hosts temporary exhibitions, a cinema, concerts and other cultural events.
The works of Joan Miró are found in the museum of the Fundació Joan Miró, together with guest exhibitions from other museums around the world, while the Picasso Museum features early works by Pablo Picasso and his "Las meninas" series. The Fundació Antoni Tàpies holds a collection of Tàpies works.
The Museu Marítim de Barcelona,[32] founded in 1929, is a nautical museum situated in the historical Barcelona's royal shipyard complex, with the mission to illustrate Catalan seafaring culture and maritime history. Cosmocaixa (formerly the Science Museum) is a science museum run by the La Caixa Foundation that received the European Museum of the Year Award in 2006.
The Erotic museum of Barcelona[33] is the first Museum of erotic art and culture where the visitor can contemplate the development of eroticism through the various artistic and cultural facets of the human being. The Museum's assets consist of more than 800 pieces of great historical value, spanning various cultures' erotic manifestations of both a ritual/religious as well as recreational nature.
The Museum of the History of Catalonia, open in 1996, covers the story of Catalonia since prehistoric times and administers the monuments that belong to the Generalitat de Catalunya.[30] The Archaeology Museum of Catalonia covers the story of Catalonia up to the Middle Ages, and of the cultures it came it contact with, and also runs several other archaeological sites in Catalonia.[31]
The National Museum of Art of Catalonia possesses a well-known collection of Romanesque art, including wall-paintings from Romanesque churches and chapels around Catalonia that have been transferred to the museum, Gothic art from the thirteenth–fifteenth centuries, Renaissance and Baroque art from the 16th-18th centuries, Modern art from the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, as well as the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection.
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, usually known as MACBA (acronym of Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona), focuses on post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art, though it also includes foreign works. Adjacent to the MACBA, the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, or CCCB, hosts temporary exhibitions, a cinema, concerts and other cultural events.
The works of Joan Miró are found in the museum of the Fundació Joan Miró, together with guest exhibitions from other museums around the world, while the Picasso Museum features early works by Pablo Picasso and his "Las meninas" series. The Fundació Antoni Tàpies holds a collection of Tàpies works.
The Museu Marítim de Barcelona,[32] founded in 1929, is a nautical museum situated in the historical Barcelona's royal shipyard complex, with the mission to illustrate Catalan seafaring culture and maritime history. Cosmocaixa (formerly the Science Museum) is a science museum run by the La Caixa Foundation that received the European Museum of the Year Award in 2006.
The Erotic museum of Barcelona[33] is the first Museum of erotic art and culture where the visitor can contemplate the development of eroticism through the various artistic and cultural facets of the human being. The Museum's assets consist of more than 800 pieces of great historical value, spanning various cultures' erotic manifestations of both a ritual/religious as well as recreational nature.
Culture
Barcelona's culture is rich, stemming from the city's 2000 years of history. To a greater extent than the rest of Catalonia, where Catalonia's native Catalan is more dominant, Barcelona is a bilingual city: Catalan and Spanish are both official and widely spoken. The Catalan spoken in Barcelona, Central Catalan, is the one closest to standard Catalan. Since the arrival of democracy, the Catalan culture (repressed during the dictatorship) has been promoted, both by recovering works from the past and by stimulating the creation of new works.
Barcelona has a number of theaters, including the world-renowned Gran Teatre del Liceu opera theater, the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and the Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall. The GREC festival takes place every summer and brings highly renowned performers and companies to Barcelona.
Barcelona has a number of theaters, including the world-renowned Gran Teatre del Liceu opera theater, the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and the Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall. The GREC festival takes place every summer and brings highly renowned performers and companies to Barcelona.
Education
Barcelona, like Spain in general, has a well-developed higher education system of public universities. Most prominent among these is the University of Barcelona, a world-renowned research and teaching institution with campuses around the city. Barcelona is also home to the Technical University of Catalonia, the newer Pompeu Fabra University and, in the private sector, the Ramon Llull University. The Autonomous University of Barcelona, another public university, is located in Bellaterra, a town in the Metropolitan Area.
Districts and neighborhoods
Ciutat Vella ("Old City): El Raval (also known as the Barri Chino), 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
Sants–Montjuïc: Poble Sec, La Marina, La Font de La Guatlla, La Bordeta, Hostafrancs, Sants, Badal.
Les Corts: Les Corts, La Maternitat, Pedralbes.
Sarrià-San Gervasi: Tres Torres, Sarrià, Vallvidrera, Bonanova, Sant Gervasi, Putget-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.
San Andreu: La Segrera, Trinitat Vella, Bon Pastor, Sant Andreu, Navas, Baró de Viver
San Martí: Diagonal Mar, Fort Pius, San Martí de Provençals, Poble Nou, La Verneda, El Clot
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
Sants–Montjuïc: Poble Sec, La Marina, La Font de La Guatlla, La Bordeta, Hostafrancs, Sants, Badal.
Les Corts: Les Corts, La Maternitat, Pedralbes.
Sarrià-San Gervasi: Tres Torres, Sarrià, Vallvidrera, Bonanova, Sant Gervasi, Putget-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.
San Andreu: La Segrera, Trinitat Vella, Bon Pastor, Sant Andreu, Navas, Baró de Viver
San Martí: Diagonal Mar, Fort Pius, San Martí de Provençals, Poble Nou, La Verneda, El Clot
Administrative divisions
Since 1997, the city is divided into 10 administrative districts, each one with its own council directed by a city councillor. The council of each district depends of the number of votes each political party had in that district, so a district can be led by a councillor of a different party than the executive council.
The administrative divisions are based mostly on historical reasons. 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 districs are in Catalan language.
The administrative divisions are based mostly on historical reasons. 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 districs are in Catalan language.
Government and administrative divisions
Barcelona is governed by a city council formed by 41 city councillors, elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage. The executive (Comissió de Govern—Government Commission) is formed by 21 councillors, led by the Mayor, with 5 lieutenant-mayors and 15 city councillors, each in charge of an area of government.
The seat of the city council is on the Plaça Sant Jaume, opposite the seat of Generalitat de Catalunya. Since the coming of the Spanish democracy, Barcelona has been governed by the PSC, first with an absolute majority and more recently in coalition with ERC and ICV. The municipal opposition is formed by the CiU and the PP.
The city council has jurisdiction in the fields of city planning, transportation, municipal taxes, public highways security (through the Guardia Urbana or 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 Spanish government.
Barcelona, as one of the two biggest cities in Spain, 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.[27] This law 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.[28] 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 favorable report from the council.[27]
The seat of the city council is on the Plaça Sant Jaume, opposite the seat of Generalitat de Catalunya. Since the coming of the Spanish democracy, Barcelona has been governed by the PSC, first with an absolute majority and more recently in coalition with ERC and ICV. The municipal opposition is formed by the CiU and the PP.
The city council has jurisdiction in the fields of city planning, transportation, municipal taxes, public highways security (through the Guardia Urbana or 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 Spanish government.
Barcelona, as one of the two biggest cities in Spain, 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.[27] This law 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.[28] 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 favorable report from the council.[27]
Economy
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 nighteenth 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.
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, 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.
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, 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.
Demographics
According to Barcelona's City Council, Barcelona's population as of 2006-06-01 was 1,673,075 people,[21] while the population of the Metropolitan Area was 3,161,081. The population density was 15,779 people per km²,[22] 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%,[14] the majority come from (in order) Ecuador, Peru, Morocco, Colombia, Argentina, Italy, Pakistan and China.[23]
95% of the population understand Catalan, 74.6% can speak it, 75% can read it, and 47.1% can write it.[24] While the vast majority of the population profess to be of the Catholic religion (208 churches), there are also a number of other groups, including various Evangelist (71 locations, mostly professed by Roma), Jehovah's Witnesses (21 Kingdom Halls) and Buddhists (13 locations).[25]
Barcelona's population peaked in 1979 with 1,906,998 people, and descended through the 1980s and 1990s, where more people looked for a higher quality of life in the suburban cities of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. After it bottomed out in 2000 with 1,496,266 people, it started to increase again when more younger people started to return, causing a great increase in housing prices.[26]
95% of the population understand Catalan, 74.6% can speak it, 75% can read it, and 47.1% can write it.[24] While the vast majority of the population profess to be of the Catholic religion (208 churches), there are also a number of other groups, including various Evangelist (71 locations, mostly professed by Roma), Jehovah's Witnesses (21 Kingdom Halls) and Buddhists (13 locations).[25]
Barcelona's population peaked in 1979 with 1,906,998 people, and descended through the 1980s and 1990s, where more people looked for a higher quality of life in the suburban cities of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. After it bottomed out in 2000 with 1,496,266 people, it started to increase again when more younger people started to return, causing a great increase in housing prices.[26]
Other
The area around the Plaça Catalunya makes up the city's historical center. This includes Passeig de Gracia, the Rambla de Catalunya, the Barri Gòtic and the upper half of the Avinguda Diagonal, which is the main commercial area of the city.
Barcelona has several skyscrapers, the highest being the Hotel Arts and its twin the Torre Mapfre, both 154 m high. The latest artistic skyscraper is the Torre Agbar, 144 m high.
Barcelona has several skyscrapers, the highest being the Hotel Arts and its twin the Torre Mapfre, both 154 m high. The latest artistic skyscraper is the Torre Agbar, 144 m high.
Beaches
Barcelona has seven beaches, totalling 4.5 km (2.8 mi) of coastline. Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta beaches, both 1100 m in length,[14] are both the largest and the most frequented beaches in Barcelona. The Olympic port separates them from the other city beaches: Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella. 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.
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