Founded in times of the Roman Emperor Augustus in 27 B.C., Barcelona formed a part of the Tarraco province, before being ruled by the Visigoths and then the Arabs. In 801 the King of Aquitaine, Louis the Pious, conquered the city and established the line of the Counts of Barcelona, who depended on the French kings.
The Counts of Barcelona became dominant over the other Counts of the "Marca Hispánica," to whom it exerted certain authority though all remained independent.
In 1137 the Count Ramón Berenguer IV married Petronila, daughter of the King of Aragon, and became sovereign of Aragon. His successors used the title of Kings of Aragon and Counts of Barcelona.
With the Catalan-Aragonese federation, it became the most powerful city in the entire Mediterranean. Its maritime power and dominion reached what today is Greece, the coasts of the Adriatic and Northern Africa.
In what was its walled enclosure, the city conserves abundant architectural examples of the cultures that have passed through it. In the famous Gothic Quarter can be found an impressive Roman temple, the Greater Royal Palace, the Cathedral, the church of Santa María del Mar, the Palace of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the City Hall, among many other Gothic and Renaissance buildings.
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Santa Ageda y murallas romanas |
Casa Batllò |
Barcelona is the home of Art Nouveau architecture, with the magnificent Casa Batlló, Casa Lleó Morera, San Pablo Hospital, the Palace of Catalan Music, etc. These peculiar buildings, which in the last century opened a new chapter in an architectural style of which Barcelona is the most emblematic center, are today one of the city’s main attractions.
This architectural summary is completed by the famous Sagrada Familia of Gaudí, still under construction, whose original conception makes it one of the world’s most significant buildings. Its artistic and religious symbolism is the greatest representation of the personal architectural art of the genius Gaudí, who had neither school not disciples. His works, few as they are, form in themselves a unique artistic conception, admired throughout the world.
The Ramblas are undoubtedly the spinal column of the city, the best place to get to know Barcelona. This spectacular stroll between flower stalls, press kiosks and bird stands runs from the Plaza de Cataluña to the Port, where the singular monument to Christopher Columbus and the historic Royal shipyard can be found.
The city has outstanding cultural vitality. From the opera seasons at the Liceo, the concerts and choral concerts at the Palace of Music to the functions of the National Theatre of Catalonia and exhibitions in its various Art Museums, Barcelona has permanent high-quality culture on offer.
With its history, beauty, cultural and artistic wealth, and the activities of its citizens, Barcelona steps firmly into the future, whilst remaining faithful to its past.
