In 1992, Barcelona hosted theSummer Olympic Games. Many new parks were opened and other significant changes to the city were made. One example is opening the new beaches in thePoble Nou area.
In 2007, about 1.6 million people lived in Barcelona. Around 3.1 million people live in the Metropolitan Area and 4.9 million people live in the Urban Region. Barcelona is the second most populated city in Spain, and the tenth in theEuropean Union.
The origin of Barcelona is unclear. The ruins of an early settlement have been found dating to earlier than 5000 BC.[5]
City BarcinoMap of Barcelona metropolitan area in the 2000s
During theRoman Empire, Barcelona was acolony of theWestern Roman Empire calledBarcino (full name wasColonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino). A clear example of the Roman heritage in Barcelona is the preservedBarri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) in the center of city.
In theMiddle Age (5th century), Barcelona was conquered by theVisigoths. KingAthaulf moved his capital here for a short time. In 511, a battle between theOstrogoths and Visigoths took place near the city in which the Ostrogoths won.
In 8 century, Barcelona was conquered by theMoors.
Until the 15th century, Barcelona was the leadingslave trade centre.[6] Barcelona was a centre of Catalanseparatism for a long time.
Barcelona was for a long time anindustrial city. Currently, factories have been moved to the periphery, a fact that has allowed to transform the former industrial neighbourhoods in the residential areas, from research to products with high added value and services. The most representative industrial sectors of Barcelona are thetextile industry, chemical,pharmaceutical, automotive, electronics, medical Industry and printing. Services Barcelona stands out for its logistics activities, publishing and computer.
Barcelona is one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe, with millions of people visiting every year. The city is famous for its 19th century modernist architecture. The best known of those buildings was designed byAntoni Gaudi. It is the unfinished churchSagrada Familia,[7] which is the symbol of Barcelona.
↑Servei d'Arqueologia of Institut de Cultura de Barcelona. "Caserna de Sant Pau del Camp".CartaArqueologica (in Spanish). Ajuntament de Barcelona. p. Description and Historical Notes.
