Barcelona

Barcelona is the largest city in Catalonia. It is the capital of the autonomous community (Comunitat Autònoma) Catalonia and of the province of Barcelona. The city has 1.620.943 (2012) inhabitants and an area of 101.4 km². [1]  In the metropolitan area of Barcelona, (the city and its suburbs) live 5.029.181 (2011) people. In the capital MadridSpain only counts more inhabitants.

Barcelona is located on the Mediterranean Sea, on the Costa del Maresme, with the Costa Brava in the North and in the South the Costa del Garraf, and has an importantport. The city is 160 km from the Pyrenees. Barcelona organized various events such as the World exhibitions of 1888 and 1929, the 1992 Summer Olympics and the Fórum (universal cultural event) in 2004.

The inhabitants call the city called "Barna", not to be confused with "Barça" that refers to the football club FC Barcelona. The common abbreviation for the city is also theBCN, IATA code for the airport of Barcelona.



Content
[hide] *1 History  ==History[ Edit] == There are several theories about the origin of Barcelona. According to one of these is the city all 400 years before the Foundation of Rome by Hercules founded. Later theCarthager Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, the city in the [http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fnl.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2F3e_eeuw_v.Chr. 3rd century BC] have expanded and have named Barcino to itself. According to the other legend founded Hamilcar itself the city.
 * 2 Geography
 * 2.1 Climate
 * 3 Population
 * 3.1 Catalan language
 * 3.2 Demographic development
 * 4 Economy
 * 5 administrative divisions
 * 5.1 metropolis
 * 6 points of interest
 * 6.1 Churches
 * 6.2 Museums
 * 6.3 Parks
 * 7 Culture
 * 7.1 public holidays
 * 7.2 Gastronomy
 * 7.3 Media
 * 7.4 Education
 * 7.5 Sports
 * 7.6 Beaches
 * 7.7 nightlife
 * 7.8 Shopping
 * 8 transport
 * 8.1 Port
 * 8.2 Car
 * 8.3 public transport
 * 8.4 railways
 * 8.5 air transport
 * 9 Politics
 * 10 international relations
 * 10.1 town twinning
 * 10.2 partnerships
 * 11 Famous Locals
 * 12 see also
 * 13 external links

The first traces of civilization around Barcelona date from the period 2000-1500 BC the first people that inhabited the place, were the Laietanen, an Iberian people, in the[http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fnl.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2F7e_eeuw_v.Chr. 7th century BC.] During the Second Punic War, the city was conquered by the Carthaginians, and in 218 BC by the Romans. The city got from them the name "Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino". Barcino was used as a military fortress. In the 3rd century a.d. the city had about 6000 inhabitants and functioned as one of the many establishments in the Roman route from Rome to Cádiz. The city lay in "Hispania Tarraconensis", a Roman province that covered most of Spain and piloted from TarracoTarragona, the current.

In the 5th century was "Barcino" occupied by the Visigoths out there a Center for Commerce and administrative duties of made. In the 8th century the Moors conquered the city under the leadership of the Arab King "Al-Hurr". A large part of the population fled to the Pyrenees, where they founded small settlements.

In 801 the city came in possession of the Frankish Empire. In 985 devastated the Arab leader of the Córdoba Caliphate "Almansur" a large part of the city. However, he managed to occupy in the city. At the end of the 9th century Barcelona made part of the Kingdom of Aragon and started to rebuild under "Count Borrell II". Under his leadership, grew into a powerful County of Barcelona and in the 13th and 14th century it became one of the most important Mediterranean cities, along with Venice andGenoa.

Political tensions and unrest reached the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. After the King of the Spanish Empire, Ferdinand II of Aragon, married Isabella of Castile, conflicts arose across the country. These began with the "Catalan revolt", from 1640 to 1651, followed by the Spanish Succession war, from 1706 to 1714, which ended the independence of Catalonia, and a very dark period for the city began.

Barcelona again In the 19th century was an important political, economical and cultural center. This period is known as the rebirth of the city. In 1897 became part of the city walls removed to Barcelona with the surrounding villages to connect and so on to grow. The expansion began with the building of the Eixampledistrict, designed byIldefons Cerdà. At the beginning of the 20th century the economy and the industry grew and settled workers in the city. With them came new ideologies within the city. Only a portion of the population benefited from the economic boom and the contrast between rich and poor increased. Under the influence of left-wing ideologies, including especially the anarchism, there was unrest in the working class, which culminated in the "tragic week" of 1909.

In July 1936 the Spanish civil war makes an abrupt end to the growth of Barcelona. The city was bombed several times and in January 1939 conquered by the Nationalist army of Francisco Franco. Dictator Franco ended the autonomy of Barcelona and Catalonia for 36 years. He ' used ' Barcelona the first 15 years of his regime as an industrial machine, for which a disproportionate growth of the city was enforced. By this growth came thousands of Spaniards from the South to Barcelona for work. A large proportion of them lived in barracks without gas, electricity or water. This phenomenon was called barraquismoin Spanish.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [2]  Defenders of the Catalan culture were imprisoned in the Castle of Montjuïc and risked even death, such as happened to Lluís Companys, who in 1940 at that fort was executed.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">It was only in the 1960s, vomiting there, from an economic point of view, better times, especially by the massive arrival of Northern European tourists.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [3]  This focused not in Barcelona, but around the then fishing villages, but the additional employment in the area was also in favor of the people of Barcelona.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Franco died In 1975 and brought an end to 36 years of oppression and isolation. Spain, Juan Carlos Igot a King, and Barcelona got the chance to develop. The Catalan language and culture were again free to use. The promotion of Catalan is still going on, but has a strong political signature.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona in 1987 was rocked by a bomb attack by the Basque separatist movement ETA on the Hipercor supermarket on Avinguda Meridiana. 21 people died. The 80 's of the last century brought more stability and tranquility. Then in 1986 it became known that Barcelona was allowed to organize the Olympic Games of 1992, work was made of a huge transformation of the city, under the leadership of the famous architect and urbanist Oriol Bohigas i Guardiola.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [4]  <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5]  the metro network was modernized, the current bypasses were built, the airport was expanded and a large part of the Centre ' cleaned '. The city, which for a long time through the port, roads and railways of the Mediterranean was closed again got a first line Beach and private beaches. Crime was successfully contested and many historic buildings (including some by Antoni Gaudí) were restored.The city has since 1 January 2006 four items on the list of world cities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [6] ==Geography<span class="mw-editsection" len="334" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona is located on the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is located on a plateau bordered by the Serra de Collserolamountain range,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]  the rivers Llobregat and Besòs in the South in the North and the Mediterranean Sea. The city is 160 km south of the Pyrenees. The Serra de Collserola is a kind of fence around the city, the highest point in that chain is the TibidaboHill, 512 feet high with on top the telecommunications mast "Collserola Tower". The city itself is built on many hills: the Carmel (267 m), Monte role plays (121 meters), Putxet (181 m), Rovira (261 m) and Peira (133 meters). The Hill of Montjuïc(173 meters high) is located in the Southeast, to the sea, and looks like it's true about the city. This Hill was historically used as a fort.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [8]  Now there are museums and restaurants, the stadium and the swimming pool of the 1992 Summer Olympics . Further there is a cemetery. Along the coast one can find sandy beaches that are laid out in the run-up to the Olympics. ===Climate<span class="mw-editsection" len="332" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Climatic diagram of Barcelona<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate. This means long summers and mild winters, with few extremes. Usually start in March the first days with temperatures above 20 degrees, while those temperatures to continue until the end of november. The hottest months are July and August, when it regularly warmer than 30 degrees, and especially the Mediterranean warm nights (minimum temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius). Partly for this reason many residents flee the city heat in those months.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The winters are usually mild, with soft temperatures, little rain and hot sun. Also the precipitation is typically Mediterranean: this often consists of concentrated Hamel showers,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" len="170" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9] which in only a limited number of days per year for the total annual precipitation concerns.

==Population<span class="mw-editsection" len="334" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">More than 1.6 million people live In the city of Barcelona and the metropolitan area of Barcelona has a population of 5 029 181 (figures 2011). The population density in the city is 15 739 people per square kilometer. In 2005, about 14% of the urban population from immigrants, which works out at about 224 000 inhabitants. Most of them come from Morocco and Latin America, particularly from Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina,Boliviaand the Dominican Republic .<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [11]  Other striking large groups of foreigners come from Romania, Franceand Italy . In recent years also have more immigrants from northern European countries such as Germanyand England in the city. ===Catalan language<span class="mw-editsection" len="340" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The official language of Catalonia, and with that of Barcelona, it is Catalan. In addition, according to the Spanish Constitution also the Castilian (or Spanish) the official language. ===Demographic development<span class="mw-editsection" len="351" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p len="252" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">
 * Source: INE; 1857-2011: census records
 * Note: population figures in thousands; Attachment of Gracia (1857), Corts, Gracia, San Andrés de Palomar, San Gervasio the Cassolas, Sans, Sant Martín the Provensals (1897), Horta (1910) and Sarrià (1930)

==Economy<span class="mw-editsection" len="333" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona is an important trading town for many decades. The industry covers a wide range of sectors, including the textile, chemical, automobile, electronics and pharmaceutical industries are the most important.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [12] outside of the industry sector is one service sector, in which logistics, media and computer science the main branches are.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The last 20 years, many factories moved to industrial areas around suburbs as Terrassa, Sabadell and Mataró.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [13]  as a result, one can transform many of origin industrial districts in residential areas, such as Diagonal Mar.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]  Barcelona is not the greatest financial centre of Spain, that honor goes to the Spanish capital Madrid. However, a number of international companies are in, or close to, the city, including Bayer, Hewlett Packard,Air Products, Sony, IBM, Nestlé, Danone and Citibank.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [15]  Barcelona is home to companies such as the Catalan bank La Caixa and lollipop manufacturer Chupa Chups.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [16]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona was one of the first industrialized cities of Europe. At the end of the 18th century the then small scale industry mainly from textile factories. In the course of the 19th century grew the textile production. The textile market is today an important part of the economy. Barcelona is known as a fashion city. Famous Catalan brands are Armand Basi, Mango, Camper,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17]  Adolfo Dominguez, Desigual and Custo.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [18]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Tourism is another source of income, which increased enormously since 1992 . About 7 million tourists annually visit the city today (figures 2010),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]  or average visitors per week as recommended n 138.500.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has the largest and most important port of the Mediterranean and also attracts cruise ships.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [20]  in addition the city is host to national and international events and conferences, such as the 3GSM World Congress<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[21]  and the Barcelona World Race.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [22]  the airport of Barcelona, in El Prat de Llobregat, is Spain's second largest. In 2009, extended it with a new terminal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [23]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The construction of the "Alta Velocidad España (AVE)", the high-speed line that Barcelona with Madrid, and will link with Paris .<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [24]  On 20 February 2008, this compound the route Barcelona-Madrid into use. The travel time is in the early days 2 hours 38 minutes, but will post a test period shorter. ==Administrative divisions<span class="mw-editsection" len="346" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona is administratively divided into ten urban districts. Their territorial distribution corresponds to the city history, because most were once independent villages that Barcelona was in the 19th century. As a result, a number of districts have their own character. For example, In Gràcia and Sarrià, the original village centers to recognize clear, though they are now fully urbanized. On the other hand, the Eixample, the largest district in terms of population, is the result of an urban renewal project from the end of the nineteenth century. It does not have its own core, but will be clear from a certain period of the development of the city.

<p lang="en" len="63" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The population numbers of the 10 districts of Barcelona are: ===Metropolis<span class="mw-editsection" len="334" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona is at the core of the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spanish: área metropolitana) that has a population of more than 5.2 million. This population refers to the city core with the suburbs and the staid to the city suburbs, which mainly function as industrial or residential addition to the city itself. Roughly, the metropolis, on the basis of the comarcasare divided into four very densely populated areas:
 * 1) Ciutat Vella. This is the historical center of Barcelona, and centuries ago was this Barcelona, before the remaining districts by the city would be included. It includes the districts of Barri Gòtic (SP: Barrio Gótico), full of attractions and monuments, El Raval and El Born (SP: El Borne). The fishermen's neighbourhood of Barceloneta also belongs to this district. Ciutat Vella is twice vertical cut in half by La Rambla and Via Laietana. The district has an extensive range of shops, restaurants and night bars.
 * 2) Eixample(Spanish: Ensanche). This district is seen the largest demographic of Barcelona. It consists of the manzanas (square blocks) and long straight avenues with heavy traffic. The district is full of shops, restaurants, museums and parks. Ildefons Cerdà built the Eixample in the late 19th century to connect the old town with the surrounding villages.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [25]  there are many modernist buildings. A part of this district is known as "Gayxample" and is full of shops, nightclubs and hotels by and for gays and lesbians.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [26]  Beyond features the district itself by its nightlife, ranging from salsa bars nightclubs cafes and luxury design to students. It consists of the districts of Dreta de l'Eixample (Spanish: Ensanche Derecho), Esquerra de l'Eixample (Spanish: Ensanche Izquierdo), Sant Antoni (Spanish: San Antonio), Sagrada Familia and Fort Pienc.Today the Eixample part from the city centre.
 * 3) Sants-Montjuïc. This area covers both the well-known Hill on the Sea (Montjuïc) if the area Sants with the districts of La Bordeta, hostafrancs, Poble Sec, Magoria and Zona Franca. Despite the not so central location has the district about Spain's longest shopping street, the Carretera de Sants and the city's main train station: ' Estació de Sants ".
 * 4) Les Cortsis a popular place to live under Barcelonans, because one lives not in the Center but still has all amenities to hand. In this district is also Camp Nou, the stadium of FC Barcelona. It consists of many different areas; El Camp de la Creu-Loreto, El Camp Vell, Can Feu, Can Batllori, Can L'Església de Baix, Sòl i Can Rosés, La Maternitat, Can Bacardí, La Mercè, Sant Ramon i la Torre Melina and La Zona Universitària-Bederrida. Les Corts also has a large shopping center: L'Illa.
 * 5) Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. This district is ' above ' in Barcelona, beyond the Avinguda Diagonal (SP: Diagonal Avenue). Here one can find elegant apartments, but there are also many vestiges from the Centre of the original village "Sarrià" way. It is known for good but expensive restaurants and is officially out of the neighborhoods; Vallvidrera and Sarrià Sant Gervasi, (in the hills) Can Caralleu, Les Planes and Tibidabo. Also, is the District of Pedralbes, the richest neighborhood of Barcelona, with luxury design villas and large detached houses. Especially in Sant Gervasi, one finds many nightlife, around the streets Carrer Santaló, Carrer Aribau, Carrer Amigó and Carrer Muntaner, Carrer María Cubí.
 * 6) Gràcia. That ever was an independent village, is now a city part. The district is a big jumble of very narrow streets and squares. Gracia is adjacent to one of the main streets of Barcelona, the "Passeig de Gràcia" (Spanish: Paseo de Gracia) and on the north side to Park Güell. The district is a cultural very mixed part of the city.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [27]  There live not only Catalan families as well as foreign students, artists, Gypsies, Arabs and many more. One finds there is one of the major markets of the city, and the Carrer Gran de Gracia is the major commercial street of this district. The district consists of the districts of Villa de Gracia, Camp d'en Grassot, El Coll, La Salut, Vallcarca and Penitents. The district also has a lot of night life, among other things in the Carrer Verdi and on the terraces to the many squares.
 * 7) Horta-Guinardó. This district is located pretty far from the Centre and has, by its high position in the hills, about a wide view over Barcelona. The district consists of the districts of Baix Guinardó, Can Baró, El Carmel, Font d'en Fargues, Font del Gos, Guinardó, Horta, La Clota, Montbau, Sant Genís, and Vall d'Hebrón Taxonera.
 * 8) Nou Barris(Catalan for ' new neighbourhoods '). This is another district that is situated quite far from the Center. It was built in the 1970s to cope with the rapid population growth of Barcelona. It consists of the districts Can Peguera, Porta, Canyelles, Ciutat Meridiana, Guineueta, Prosperitat, Roquetes, Trinitat Nova, Torre Baró, Torre Llobeta, Turó de la Peira, Vallbona, Verdum and Vilapicina.
 * 9) Sant Andreu. This district has despite the traffic and large-scale new construction retains its village character, and has a busy commercial centre, which consists of about six streets full of shops. Avinguda Meridiana (Spanish: Avenida Meridiana) is a achtbaansweg that cuts throughout the district. It consists of the districts of Sant Andreu del Palomar, La Sagrera, Trinitat Vella, Bon Pastor, Navas, Baró de Viver and Congrés.
 * 10) Sant Martíis the area to the sea and the beach is, and runs from the city centre to the North. It consists of the districts of El Clot, Camp de l'Arpa, La Verneda, Poblenou(Spanish: Pueblo Nuevo) and Besòs, the expensive new construction wijk aan zee "Diagonal Mar" and the very tourist Vila Olimpica and Port Olímpic. The district is in the last 15 years quite transformed.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The following table lists the population of the largest sites around Barcelona. The figures are from 1 January 2006. ==Points Of Interest<span class="mw-editsection" len="345" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Architectural is Barcelona known for modernist houses the Gothic quarter and the Eixample. Nine buildings are on the World Heritage list of the UNESCO:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[28]
 * Barcelonès: consisting of the city of Barcelona and L'Hospitalet, Badalona, Santa Coloma and Sant Adrià. The population of this area is 2.222.623 (2006). This comarca is the core of the metropolitan area of Barcelona.
 * Vallès Occidental: the area west of the city, behind the Tibidabo. This area includes Terrassa, Sabadell, Rubí, Sant Cugatand Cerdanyola , Barberà
 * Baix Llobregat: the area southwest of the city, among other consisting of: Cornellà, Sant Boi, Gavà, El Prat, Sant Feliu, Esplugues, Castelldefels and Viladecans
 * El Maresme: the area northeast of the city, among other consisting of Mataró, Alella, Tiana, Premià de Mar and El Masnou.

<p lang="en" len="27" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Other places of interest:
 * 1) Palau de la Música Catalana, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner
 * 2) Hospital de Sant Pau, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner
 * 3) Sagrada Família, church designed by Antoni Gaudí
 * 4) Park Güell, park designed by Antoni Gaudí
 * 5) Casa Milà (La Pedrera), designed by Antoni Gaudí
 * 6) Casa Batlló, designed by Antoni Gaudí
 * 7) Palau Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí
 * 8) Casa Vicens, designed by Antoni Gaudí
 * 9) Crypts in Colonia Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí

===Churches<span class="mw-editsection" len="332" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Museums<span class="mw-editsection" len="331" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Parks<span class="mw-editsection" len="332" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ==Culture<span class="mw-editsection" len="333" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Public Holidays<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona knows besides the national Spanish holidays, also a large number of official local holidays.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [31]  <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[32]  The Exchange data from the official public holidays per year, because if a particular feast day in the weekend, there is usually another feast day to celebrate, if regional, feast day is chosen. This is due to the far-reaching autonomy of the Spanish Comunidades, with certain holidays nationwide are determined and other regional or even local.
 * Ciutat Vella, the old city, which is wedged between La Rambla and the Parc de la Ciutadella
 * Arc de Triomf (Spanish: Arco de Triunfo)
 * Parc Zoo: Barcelona Zoo, former residence of snowflake<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[29]
 * Font Màgica: (Spanish: Fuente Mágica), Magic Fountain
 * La Rambla
 * Plaça de Catalunya: (Spanish: Plaza de Cataluña) the main square of the city centre.
 * Camp Nou: the football stadium of FC Barcelona.
 * University of Barcelona
 * Montjuïc, a hill/mountain, including the Olympic Stadium, the Castle of Montjuïc (a fort), several museums, the Jardí Botànic de Barcelona and beautiful views
 * Plaça Reial (Spanish: Plaza Real)
 * Palau de la Generalitat, on the Plaça de Sant Jaume
 * Town Hall of Barcelona (Spanish: Ayuntamiento de Barcelona)
 * El Liceu: beautiful opera house on La Rambla
 * Barcelona Aquarium, the Sea Aquarium
 * Poble Espanyol, the Spanish village that was built on the occasion of the international exhibition in 1929<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[30]
 * Colon (column that identifies the place where Columbus returned from his trip to America)
 * The old synagogue of Barcelona, one of the oldest synagogues in Europe.
 * The Barcelona Cathedral: Catedral de Santa Eulàlia
 * Santa María del Mar: Cathedral in the District of El Born "
 * Casa Museu Gaudí: Gaudímuseum
 * Museu Picasso: Picassomuseum
 * Fundació Joan Miró: Miró-museum
 * Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya: art museum of Catalonia
 * Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA): museum of modern art
 * Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)
 * Fundació Antoni Tàpies
 * Museo Frederic Marès
 * Museu Marítim: maritime museum
 * Museu Egipci: Egyptian museum
 * CosmoCaixascience museum
 * CaixaForum: free modern museum, with changing exhibitions
 * Parc de la Ciutadella
 * Parc de Collserola
 * Park Güell
 * Parc del Laberint
 * Parc de Montjuïc
 * Parc del Turó

<p lang="en" len="67" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The bank holidays that are celebrated on a fixed date:

Rose sellers on the Diada de Sant Jordi in BarcelonaMercat de la Boqueria at La Rambla<p lang="en" len="320" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">During the Semana Santa, the week before Easter, which in Spain from Palm Sunday to Easter lasts, many schools and other institutions closed.
 * 1 January: Fin de Año (new year 's)
 * January 6: Día de Reyes
 * 1 may: Fiesta del Trabajo
 * June 24: Día de Sant Joan (lots of festivities, "Coques de Sant Joan", and Fireworks)
 * 15 August: Asunción
 * 11 september: La Diada Nacional de Catalunya (Catalan national holiday)
 * 12 October: Fiesta de la Hispanidad (Spanish national holiday)
 * 1 november: Todos los Santos
 * december 6: Día de la Constitución (day of the Spanish Constitution)
 * december 8: Día de La Inmaculada
 * december 25: Día de Navidad (Christmas day)
 * december 26: San Esteban (Boxing Day)

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Another, key, holiday is La Diada de Sant Jordi on april 23. On this day is a big part of the Centre of Barcelona, particularly the La Rambla and the Passeig de Gracia, one large, well-attended, book market. It is then common for women to men a book as a gift and that men give to women a rose.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [33]  In 2009 there were more than 400 Book stalls and the turnover of books accounting for 8% of the total annual book sales in Catalonia. The number of sold roses amounted to about five million, of which 60% red roses. ===Gastronomy<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Catalonia has, like the rest of Spain, four meals per day. Breakfast usually consists of strong coffee (cortado) with something sweet like Churros or Cañas. Lunch will take place, as in most Mediterranean cities, around 2 pm. A large part of the restaurant visitors then eat the "Menú del Mediodía", that is, the lunch menu, which consists of a starter, main course and dessert. El sopar (the dinner) begins in Barcelona not for 7: 30 pm. Over the weekend a normal dinner time is 22: 00.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona features many restaurants, ranging from the traditional Mediterranean cuisine to sushi, and of Catalan haute cuisine to the exotic cuisines of Thailand and Brazil.Especially in the districts of Eixample, Gràcia, Sant Gervasi and El Born one finds a large number of better restaurants. The good tapas bars are located not only in Eixample and Sant Gervasi, but also in the Center, around the "Rambla de Catalunya" and the "Passeig de Gracia". Catalonia is one of the most important wine regions of Europe. The most famous Catalan wine regions are Penedés, Priorat and Alella. Another Catalan speciality is cava, a champagne-like bubbles wine, but then from Catalonia. Freixenet andCodorniu are the best known producers of cava.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Catalonian cuisine is refined and off white and has little to do with the southern Spanish traditional cuisine (Madrid and Andalusia) or those of the North Coast (Basque country, Galicia). The Catalonian cuisine is pure Mediterranean, with influences from the Italian and French cuisine. The main components are local products such as olive oil, fish, legumes, garlic, rice, seafood and a large number of Mediterranean region vegetables, such as Zucchini, Eggplant, bell pepper, tomato and onions. It is striking that foie graspasta and also to the Catalonian cuisine belongs, in particular ' macarrons ', cannelloni and lasagne are widely eaten, unlike in the rest of Spain.

<p lang="en" len="18" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Typical Catalan:

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has more than 25 ' fixed ' markets that are open five or six days a week. The largest of these, and one of the larger in Europe, the Mercat de la Boqueria on La Rambla. This market has, reportedly, the most extensive fresh assortment of all of Europe. Almost twice as many as the number 2, the market of Marseille. Here, but also on the other markets in the city, one finds throughout the year a huge amount of fresh fish and shellfish in living and moving State, squid, crab and lobster in all shapes and sizes, cigalas (Galician crayfish), galeras (praying mantis lobster), mairas (Mediterranean sardines), but also chirlas and almejas (clams), and navajas (Razor Clams). Around October and november there are an unprecedented number of mushrooms (among other ' ceps ', ' girgoles ', ' rossinyols ', ' ', and ' rovellons trompetes '), many of which are unique in Europe. These mushrooms come from the forests and mountains around Barcelona, and are harvested in the autumn ' massively ' by fanatics, so called ' boletaires '. ===Media<span class="mw-editsection" len="331" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Newspapers are the weekly newspaper La Vanguardia, a Spanish national daily newspaper with its headquarters in Barcelona, the more local El Periódico de Catalunya, from which a Spanish-language and a Catalan Edition comes out, and established the El Paísin Madrid. The city also has its own Edition of some very popular free daily newspapers, including 20Minutos, ADN and Qué.
 * Escalivada: grilled vegetables (pepper, tomato, eggplant, courgettes) with lots of olive oil and vinegar
 * Romesco: a sauce of nuts, dried tomatoes, dried peppers, herbs and olive oil, is eaten with Calçots, a kind of big spring-onions, which are eaten especially in January and February on a massive scale.
 * Aïoli: Garlic Mayonnaise
 * Pa amb tomàquet: bread (Xapata) with tomato, garlic and olive oil
 * Crema Catalana: The Catalan version of Crème Brûlée
 * Paella: actually a traditional Valencian dish (rice with saffron, dried peppers, various seafood and squid). A typical Catalan variant is with "arros negre", a soft rice dish with squid ink so black (negre) colors.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona also has two private tv stations (BTV and TD8) and have most other Catalan channels there their editors. The city also has a large number of radio stations. ===Education<span class="mw-editsection" len="335" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has the largest educational system of Spain. The most prominent University is the "Universitat de Barcelona", or abbreviated the UB. Further one finds in the city of the great "Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona" (UAB), the "Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya", the "Universitat Internacional de Catalunya" and the "Universitat Pompeu i Fabra".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [34]  Beyond there are private universities such as Universitat Ramon Llull ESADE "and the" ". ===Sports<span class="mw-editsection" len="331" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === The stadium of FC Barcelona<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona is home to the famous Spanish football club FC Barcelona or "Barça", that has its own stadium: Camp Nou in the district of Les Corts. The city of Barcelona Barça call is not correct by Spaniards, this term is only used for the football club FC Barcelona. The teams of FC Barcelona are, in the Spanish media, often, to the club colors, ' los azulgranas ' (blue-reds) called.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The second football club of Barcelona, Espanyolis that since the 2009-2010 season has a stadium called Estadi Cornellà-El Prat. From 1997 to 2009, at the club their home games still played in the Olympic Stadium, which is located on the Montjuïc mountain and the stadium was at the 1992 Summer Olympics by.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The population of Barcelona, the name to be sporty. The mild climate, without overly harsh winters and the fact that Barcelona to the sea is, does that make the boulevards along the beaches and parks often full of joggers, skaters and cyclists. Every year in april/may a formula 1 race held at the circuit of Montmeló, a village within the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The city has many annual and one-time sporting events, such as the Barcelona Marathon (Marató Barcelona) and a massive skate tournament. In the Palau Sant Jordi, built for the 1992 Summer Olympics, sports and music regularly have events. ===Beaches<span class="mw-editsection" len="334" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Barceloneta Beach<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">One of the most unique attractions of Barcelona is the beach. Whilst fully artificial, but literally next to the Centre, to the Mediterranean Sea. At the beginning of the 90 's, during the great city transformation for the Olympic Games, the entire coastline of Barcelona renewed and pretty much laid out again. Since then, a beach of more than four kilometers long, that offer showers, lifeguards, bars and restaurants. According to figures from the municipality, volleyball and swimming more than 7 million people each year.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The beach is divided into seven beach areas, from South to North: Sant Sebastià, La Barceloneta, Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and the recent Levante. This urban beach has two nudist beaches. Both at Sant Sebastià (tolerated), and Nova Mar Bella (official) can, as good as on the seafront promenade, plenty of healthy and swim without clothing. ===Nightlife<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The city has a busy and varied nightlife, that across the city is. The Gothic quarter and El Raval and Eixample, Gràcia, El Born neighbourhoods are full of bars and nightclubs.Also there are some clubs at the beach. Most chic bars and trendy nightclubs are found mostly at the top of the Avinguda Diagonal and Plaça Francesc Macia ' Sant Gervasi district ' around (Spanish: Plaza Francisco Macia). Some big names from the nightlife of Barcelona: La Paloma, Space BCN, The Sutton Club, Otto Zutz and Razzmatazz. Also in the vicinity of "La Rambla" there are enough bars and clubs, but these focus mainly on guiris, the nickname for tourists who look and behave as such there as tourists.

<p lang="en" len="331" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has its own ' gay quarter ' in Eixample, thereby also called nicknamed ' Gayxample ', with a good number of bars and nightclubs are concentrated around the streets Carrer Consell de Cent (Spanish: Calle Consejo de Ciento), Carrer Diputació (Spanish: Calle Diputación), Carrer Muntaner and Carrer Casanova. ===Shopping<span class="mw-editsection" len="334" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has one of the largest commercial centres in Europe, and also far outside the village are many shopping streets. The shopping centre of Barcelona is very extensive and covers the Gothic quarter and El Born and most of Eixample and Gràcia. Also further areas as Sarrià, Sant Gervasi, Sant Andreu, Sants and Les Corts have a remarkably large number of shops.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In and around the Gothic quarter is a mixture of tiny shops with pottery, chic Spanish and Italian designer clothes, leather jackets, kitschy souvenirs, and hundreds of stores. The same is true of the district ' El Born ', all are here above all more expensive, but less known brands established. Carrer Pelai (Spanish: Calle Pelayo) is a street with many retail. On the Avinguda Portal de l ' Àngel (Spanish: Avenida Puerta del Ángel) are major stores of well-known Spanish chains such as Zara and Mango. A little further, on Passeig de Gracia, the stores of expensive fashion houses such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Parallel to the Passeig de Gracia, the Rambla de Catalunya (Spanish: Rambla de Cataluña), with from chic to cheap and many shoes stores. A bit further up, on Avinguda Diagonal, one can find shops like Hugo Boss and DKNY, Gonzalo Comella.Trendy men's clothing is especially found in the Esquerra del Eixamplegay district, located between the streets Villaroel/Aribau and Gran Via/Aragó. At the Plaça de Catalunya is an establishment of the large department store El Corte Inglés, whose top floor gives a good view on the square and on Passeig de Gràcia.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona also has a number of large indoor shopping malls. The largest ones are Glòries, on Plaça de les Glòries (Spanish: Plaza de las Glorias) and L'Illa Diagonal Mar. A more elegant version is, at the top of the Avinguda Diagonal, towards Plaça Maria Cristina. The market with the most extensive fresh-assorted Europe is the Mercat de la Boqueria (Spanish: Mercado de la Boquería). On the Mercat de Sant Antoni one finds except food and clothes, every Sunday a large amount of books and CDs. Other large food markets are the Mercat del Ninot, Mercat de l'Abaceria Mercat d ' Aragó and in Gràcia.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The opening time of major stores in the Centre of Barcelona, six days a week, from 10: 00 to 21: 00 or 22: 00. The smaller stores, and virtually all stores, usually close their doors from 14.00 to 16.00-17.00, or the typical Spanish-style siesta time. ==Transport<span class="mw-editsection" len="335" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Mare magnum with links the Port Vell and Barceloneta rear rightRonda del Mig===Port<span class="mw-editsection" len="331" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has one of the largest ports of the Mediterranean, one of the most important in Europe, both for passenger and freight traffic. From here ferries to the Balearic Islandsand Italy. The city also has three ports for private yachts (Port Vell, Port Olímpic and Port de Sant Adrià). ===Car<span class="mw-editsection" len="330" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Car traffic in Barcelona is very busy, but due to the enormous amount of traffic lights, though well-organized. The highways around the city, in order to reduce air pollution and accidents, a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.

<p lang="en" len="919" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The main arterial roads are the bypasses Ronda del Litoral and Ronda de Dalt, Avinguda Diagonal, Gran Via (SP: Avenida Diagonal), Avinguda Meridiana (SP: Avenida Meridiana) and Carrer Aragó (SP: Calle Aragón).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Parking is no problem as long as one of the many parking garages, affordable used. In May 2005, the city so-called blaves àreas verdes i laid out (green and blue parking areas), with which the parking for non-locals to tires has been laid. Partly due to the traffic and parking situation is Barcelona a city with a lot of mopeds, motorcycles and scooters. ===Public transport<span class="mw-editsection" len="342" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Espanya Metro station ' '<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has a very extensive network of public transportation with about 130 city bus lines, 40 night bus lines, four tram lines, and an underground Metro system, the Barcelona metro, which consists of nine City lines and six lines that extend far beyond the city. Also the yellow and black taxis, especially in the evening and at night, a good way of transport.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The metro network is continuously expanding. There is a new line (line 9 and line 10 combined) in construction, which with 50 km the longest metro line in Europe and, starting from 2014, some 52 stations will connect with each other. The first parts of this line are suburban in 2010 Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Badalona opened.

<p lang="en" len="134" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After these extensions the metro network will consist of eleven City lines with a total of 181 underground stations and six "suburb-lines".

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The largest bus station for national and international destinations can be found at the ' Estació del Nord '. Here will also start the bus to Girona airport. For the regional destinations leave the buses especially around Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça Urquinaona. ===Railways<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has several train stations, of which the largest is the Estació de Sants . From here trains to almost all cities in Spain. From 15 december 2013, Barcelona direct high-speed trains to Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon and Paris in France.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">For most international connections must be switched to the French border, due to the difference in track gauge between Spain and the rest of the continent. There are two direct trains Per day, of which the axis on the track gauge can be adjusted, to Montpellier. At the time, the finishing touches to a high-speed line with continental track gauge to France, leaving also direct (high speed) trains to other destinations in Europe will go riding.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">For destinations in Catalonia (such as Tarragona, Girona, the different places on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada) there are the so-called Rodalíes-trains. These trains leave from different drives: Passeig de Gracia, Plaza Catalunya, El Clot-Aragó, Sant Andreu Comtal and Arc de Triomf, all of the fully underground. These drives are also directly connected to the underground network of the city.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Breakfast is now a very modern station Sants station. This station connects Barcelona via the Spanish high speed line (AVE) among other things with Zaragoza, Madrid and Seville. Either way there are eleven daily connections that Barcelona and Madrid with a journey time of 2 hours and 38 minutes together. There are also 15 trains that stop in more places and therefore slower.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">To a new large train station, Sagrera called, with just 10 spores/5 platforms exclusively for the AVE, will be started in the course of 2009. This drive must be the city's largest and busiest train station, and one of the largest underground train stations of Europe. The drive will at the same time for the AVE, the short-and long-distance trains, urban and long distance buses and the metro. Parking provision for 2,800 cars is also planned.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">However, there are major problems with the financing of the station at 703 million budgeted. The funding comes for € 161 million for the account of the Adif, for € 255 million on behalf of the Government and for the remaining € 287 million from the proceeds of real estate, such as the yet to be built, 145 m high, building ' Núvia ' of architect Frank Ghery. By the crisis in the construction sector this last part of the funding is very uncertain and further delay should be taken into account.

<p lang="en" len="142" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The construction plans for train station Sagrera are already more than 20 years old and it is expected that the drive is not for 2013/2014 will be ready.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Next to the RENFE-railway lines, there are the regional rail lines, similar to the Paris RER, of the Catalan railways that serve the metropolitan area of Barcelona. The FGC are actually considered a part of the Barcelona Metro system, making the tickets of the FGC and TMB are priced right and are interchangeable. ===Air Traffic<span class="mw-editsection" len="338" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p lang="en" len="542" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has its own International Airport in El Prat de Llobregat, about 15 km outside the city centre.

<p lang="en" len="196" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The airport is accessible by private transport from Barcelona, taxi, bus (Aerobus and Nitbus) and by train (Rodalíes) from the stations "Sants Estació", "Passeig de Gracia" and "Estació de França".

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Because of the new terminal is built new parking for 11,000 cars. The new terminal will, also, be accessible by metro by 2014. Until the opening of the metro station will be between the new terminal, which is situated about one mile (1.6 km) from the current terminals, and the current train station every seven minutes a bus commute. For the passengers of the new terminal, the travel time to El Prat-Barcelona with some 10-15 minutes.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Other packages related to Barcelona Reus airport airports are affiliated and Girona-Costa Brava airport. Both airports are about 100 km from Barcelona.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Smaller aircraft (so-called. general aviation) can head to the airport of Sabadell, a major Center for training pilots and business flights. ==Politics<span class="mw-editsection" len="334" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Mayor of Barcelona is since 1 July 2011 Xavier Trias i Vidal de Llobatera of the CiU ( Jordi Hereu i Boher as successor of the PSC).

<p lang="en" len="88" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The distribution of seats in the City Hall since the municipal elections of 22 May 2011:

==International relations<span class="mw-editsection" len="349" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Town Twinning<span class="mw-editsection" len="338" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p lang="en" len="435" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Barcelona has town twinning with:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[35]
 * CiU (centre-right, Catalan nationalist): 14 seats
 * PSC-PM: 11 seats
 * PP: 9 seats
 * ICV-EUiA-EPM: 5
 * UpB-ERC-Ri.Cat-DCat-AM: 2

<p len="17" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;"> ===Partnerships<span class="mw-editsection" len="348" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p lang="en" len="263" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In addition, there are collaborations with:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" len="172" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[36]
 * Antwerp (Belgium), since 1997
 * Athens (Greece), since 1999
 * Boston (United States), since 1983
 * Busan (South Korea), since 1983
 * Dubai (United Arab Emirates), since 2006
 * Dublin (Ireland), since 1998
 * Gaza (Palestinian territories), since 1988
 * Havana (Cuba), since 1993
 * Isfahan (Iran), since 2000
 * Istanbul (Turkey), since 1997
 * Cologne (Germany), since 1984
 * Kobe (Japan), since 1993
 * Monterrey (Mexico), since 1977
 * Monte video (Uruguay), since 1985
 * Montpellier (France), since 1963
 * Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), since 1972
 * São Paulo (Brazil), since 1985
 * Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), since 2000
 * Shanghai (China), since 2001
 * Saint Petersburg (Russia), since 1985
 * Tel Aviv (Israel), since 1998
 * Valparaíso (Chile), since 2001

<p len="17" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;"> ==Famous Locals<span class="mw-editsection" len="346" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * Alexandria (Egypt), since 2007
 * Algiers (Algeria), since 1997
 * Budapest (Hungary), since 2007
 * Bogota (Colombia), since 2005
 * Buenos Aires (Argentina), since 1990
 * Casablanca (Morocco), since 2004
 * Chicago (United States), since 2006
 * El Mina (Lebanon), since 1991
 * Genoa (Italy), since 1998
 * Guayaquil (Ecuador), since 2005
 * Gyeonggi-do (South Kora), since 2000
 * Canton (China), since 2003
 * Lima (Peru), since 1999
 * Lyon (France), since 2004
 * Marseille (France), since 1998
 * Medellín (Colombia), since 1992
 * Mexico-City (Mexico), since 1992
 * Ningbo (China), since 1995
 * Oostende (Belgium), since 2006
 * Puebla (Mexico), since 2005
 * Quito (Ecuador), since 2005
 * Rosario (Argentina), since 1999
 * Salvador (Brazil), since 2004
 * San Salvador (El Salvador), since 2007
 * Santiago (Chile), since 1997
 * Seattle (United States), since 2003
 * Singapore (Singapore), since 2007
 * Tanger (Marakko), since 1991
 * Tétouan (Marakko), since 2006
 * Trujillo (Peru), since 1991
 * Turin (Italy), since 2004