Barcelona
is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous
Community of Catalonia and the second largest city in
Spain, with a population of 1,615,908 in 2008, while the
population of the urban area was 4,185,000,[1] Barcelona
metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population
of between 4,082,000 and 4,900,000. It is located on the
Mediterranean coast (41°23'N 2°11'E 41.383°N
2.183°E) between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat
and Besòs and is bounded to the west by the Serra
de Collserola ridge. The main part of a union of adjacent
cities and municipalities named Área Metropolitana
de Barcelona (AMB) with a population of 3,186,461 in area
of 636 km².
Barcelona
is a major economic centre with one of Europe's principal
Mediterranean ports, and Barcelona International Airport
is the second largest in Spain after the Madrid-Barajas
Airport. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the
capital of the Counts of Barcelona. After merging with
the Kingdom of Aragon, it became one of the most important
cities of the Crown of Aragon. Besieged several times
during its history, Barcelona 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. The city is well known in recent times for the
1992 Summer Olympics. The headquarters of the Union for
the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona.
As the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona houses the seat
of the Catalan government, known as the Generalitat de
Catalunya; of particular note are the executive branch,
the parliament, and the Supreme Court of Catalonia. The
city is also the capital of the Barcelonès comarca
(shire).
Barcelona
is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous
Community of Catalonia and the second largest city in
Spain, with a population of 1,615,908 in 2008, while the
population of the urban area was 4,185,000,[1] Barcelona
metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population
of between 4,082,000 and 4,900,000. It is located on the
Mediterranean coast (41°23'N 2°11'E 41.383°N
2.183°E) between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat
and Besòs and is bounded to the west by the Serra
de Collserola ridge. The main part of a union of adjacent
cities and municipalities named Área Metropolitana
de Barcelona (AMB) with a population of 3,186,461 in area
of 636 km².
Barcelona
is a major economic centre with one of Europe's principal
Mediterranean ports, and Barcelona International Airport
is the second largest in Spain after the Madrid-Barajas
Airport. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the
capital of the Counts of Barcelona. After merging with
the Kingdom of Aragon, it became one of the most important
cities of the Crown of Aragon. Besieged several times
during its history, Barcelona 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. The city is well known in recent times for the
1992 Summer Olympics. The headquarters of the Union for
the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona.
