1. Barcelona is over 2,000 years old. The original inhabitants were tribes of the Laietani, one of the early Iberian people. They called the town Barkeno. Coins and other artifacts of theirs have been found in the area. It is possible to see a remnant of what the original settlement may have looked like at the Pueblo Iberico archeological park in the suburb of Santa Coloma. One of Barcelona's major thoroughfares, Via Laietana, is named in honor of these ancient people.
2. Barcelona became the Roman town of Barcino around 19BC. Another major Barcelona street, Via Augusta, is built over the part of the ancient Roman road that stretched across the Iberian Peninsula from Cadiz, on the Atlantic Coast, to La Jonquera, on the border of modern-day France. Parts of the Roman wall that surrounded Barcino are still standing in the Gothic Quarter and many ruins can be seen in and around the Gothic Quarter, especially at the incredible Barcelona City History Museum.
3. Like any ancient city, Barcelona has its share of dark history. For example, the 'autos de fe' of the Spanish Inquisition. Although not marked on any tourist maps, many of Barcelona's popular tourist sites were once places where people were burned at the stake, garroted, shot and hung. Public executions were held in Spain until the end of the 19th century, and were on one level spectacles of horrific entertainment for the masses. According to Catalan historian Joan de Deu Domenech, the last public execution in Barcelona, by garrote, was held on June 15, 1897, at number 15 Egipcíaque Street – a site that today is a center for humanities research and education.
5. September 11th is a public holiday in Catalonia, but it has nothing to do with the tragedy of 2001 and everything to do with the tragedy of 1714, which saw the defeat of Barcelona in one of the final battles of the War of the Spanish Succession. Catalonia had unfortunately sided with the loser, the Habsburg Archduke Charles. As punishment the victorious King Philip V revoked the autonomy, institutions, privileges and rights of what until then had been the Crown of Catalonia and Aragon. Autonomy was not fully restored until after the death of the Dictator Franco. In 1980, the reestablished Autonomous Government of Catalonia proclaimed September 11th as La Diada, the Catalan national holiday. Other local holidays include Second Easter, La Merce, Saint John's Night, and Saint George's Day.
6. The Seville Fair, aka the April Fair (Feria de Abril), in Andalusia is one of the most popular festivals in Spain. Many people do not know that the second largest April Fair in the country is held in Barcelona. This Andalusian tradition came to Barcelona with the massive immigration from Southern Spain that began in the 1940s and peaked in the 1960s. Barcelona's April Fair was started by a group of these immigrants and their descendants in 1971. Like it's southern neighbor, it focuses on Andalusian culture, food and music, e.g., pienetas, mantillas, shawls, riding jackets, castanets, Jerez sherry, manzanilla wine, tapas, gazpacho, ham, churros, cantaores, bailaoras, flamenco, sevillianas, rumbas, boleros and more!
7. Barcelona's Collserola Park is 'the largest metropolitan park in the world: 8 times larger than the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, and 22 times larger than Central Park in New York.' I love taking the funicular up Mount Tibidabo to one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Barcelona, Vallvidrera, and walking down into the park. The views of the city and the Mediterranean are incredible!
9. Barcelona has terrific public transport, including an integrated system of commuter trains, subways (called the "Metro"), trams, and buses. There is also a public bicycle sharing program for residents, called Bicing. Bicycle rental companies catering to tourists are easily found. Some even arrange bike tours of the city.
10. If you want to travel around the region of Catalonia, or further afield, there are lots of options, including a great railway system. Day trips up or down the coast (e.g., Girona to the north, Tarragona to the south) or into the interior of Catalonia (the Catalan Pyrenees) are fascinating. Even Madrid is only about two hours away on the high speed AVE train.
Well, that's a little about the place I am lucky enough to live in. If you have not seen it yet, I hope some day you get the chance to.
