Detailed interactive map Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital and most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona and the Crown of Aragon. It is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Barcelona has many quarters, but the most important and interesting for visitors are: Ciutat Vella - Barcelona's old town; Eixample - modernist quarter, noted for its art nouveau buildings; Gràcia - historically a working class neighborhood, and very lively Barceloneta is historically a fisherman's quarter. Barcelona, more than just a single city, is really a collection of multi-faceted and diverse cities. The visitor unfamiliar with its history might be surprised that such a modern and enterprising city preserves its historic Gothic center almost intact, or by the curious contrast between the maze of narrow streets and the grid-like layout of the Eixample, the urban planning "Enlargement" project of the end of the 19th century.
Some important Roman ruins are exposed under the Plaça del Rei, entrance by the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat, and in the historical centre, the Barri Gòtic ("Gothic Quarter"). The cathedral, also known as basilica La Seu is said to have been founded in 343. The city was conquered by the Visigoths in the early fifth century, and reconquered from the emir in 801 by Charlemagne's son Louis who made Barcelona the seat of Carolingian "Spanish Marches". Barcelona was still a Christian frontier territory when it was sacked by Al-Mansur in 985.The Counts of Barcelona became independent and expanded their territory to include all of Catalonia, later the Crown of Aragon which conquered many overseas possessions, ruling the western Mediterranean Sea with outlying territories in Naples and Sicily and as far as Athens in the thirteenth century. The forging of a dynastic link between the Crowns of Aragon and Castile marked the beginning of Barcelona's decline.
The number of people who visit Barcelona's fifty or so public and private museums each year is currently running at 7 million. Of particular note in terms of number of visits are the Museo Picasso (with its important collection of the painter's work, in addition to temporary exhibitions), and the Fundación Joan Miró. By night Barcelona provides exciting cultural activities, entertainment and leisure for all tastes. There are two official languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Castillian Spanish.
