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Barcelona, a Gothic and Modernist marvel on the Mediterranean Sea, is a city well known for its quirky, cosmopolitan, cool character.
Whether it’s by unearthing Barcelona’s past in the hidden courtyards of the Barri Gòtic, or by enjoying the charms of the modernist city, you will discover many interesting things that make Barcelona one of Spain’s most livable and energetic cities and one of the most exciting destinations in Europe.
While you’ve probably heard of FC Barcelona and La Sagrada Familia, there are lots of interesting facts about this city you’re most likely unaware of.
So, here are 14 facts you might not know that will get you craving to visit the city.
1. Its founding origins are still in dispute
There are two Spanish legends concerning the establishment of Barcelona. One legend says that it was founded by Hercules 400 years before the building of Rome.
But, according to the other legend, the city was founded in the 3rd century BC by the Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal.
He named the city Barcino after his family, the Barca family of Carthage. Which one do you believe?
2. Barcelona is considered the “best beach city” in the world by National Geographic, but their beaches weren’t used for leisure until 1992
Today, there are seven beaches with a total of 4.5 km of coastline, but before 1992, Barcelona’s seaside was completely overrun by industry, and no beach existed for the use of the city’s populace and tourists.
It wasn’t until the city’s redevelopment for the 1992 Olympic Games that the city moved its industries and converted the seaside area into an exemplary leisure area for locals and tourists alike, including the improvement of two beaches and the creation of five new beaches.
According to Discovery Channel, Barceloneta Beach is the best urban beach in the world and the third best beach in the world. (I would dispute Discovery Channel and National Geographic‘s statements, though).
3. Barcelona is to be thanked for World Book Day
La Diada de San Jordi (St. Georges Day) is one of the biggest, most widely celebrated festival days in Barcelona. It takes place on April 23rd and is a celebration of love and literacy.
On this day, it’s a tradition to present your loved ones with roses and books. Inspired by this custom, UNESCO declared the day as the International Day of Books.
4. La Rambla is not just one street… it’s five streets
La Rambla is probably the most famous street in Barcelona, but in reality, it consists of 5 boulevards –or Ramblas– joined to make one long promenade.
It starts from Placa Catalunya and ends at the Columbus statue by the waterfront. For this reason, the 2-kilometer-long boulevard is also commonly known in plural as Las Ramblas.
Thousands of people stroll Las Ramblas every day and night, where they watch the performing street artists, shop, or sit for a nice meal or coffee.
Las Ramblas is the primary center of activities in the city and is undoubtedly the most famous promenade in Barcelona and probably in all of Spain.
5. It is Europe’s largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast
Barcelona is the second-largest city in Spain, after Madrid, and the 11th most populous urban area in the European Union. It’s also the second most-visited city in Spain after the capital, Madrid.
6. It is the first city to win a RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture
The Royal Gold Medal for architecture has been awarded annually since 1848 by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch in recognition of an individual’s or group’s substantial contribution to international architecture.
In 1999, Barcelona became the first and only city, to this date, to receive this honor instead of an individual architect. And it goes without saying that it is well deserved.
It’s no surprise that many travelers say the city’s architecture is among their favorite things about Barcelona.
Also, if you want to check out some of the most popular buildings in the city, don’t miss seeing these 10 iconic buildings in Barcelona by Gaudí.
7. Fiestas de la Mercè is the most important festival in Barcelona
The main event of La Mercè is held on the 24th of September each year, and the Festival is held in honor of the city’s Patron Saint and Protector, The Virgin de La Merce. It has been an official city holiday since the year 1871.
8. Flamenco is not well known in Barcelona
Even though Spain is well-known for its flamenco dancing, this popular dance is not a tradition in Barcelona or Cataluña. Catalans prefer the more contemporary rock-n-roll scene.
Having said that, if you want to see a Flamenco show, Los Tarantos has some of the best Flamenco performers in the city. You can buy your ticket here to skip the line.
9. The hallmark grid pattern of Barcelona came from a revolutionary utopian master plan
Most of the city of Barcelona was designed by Ildefons Cerdà i Sunyer for the 19th-century extension of the city.
The plan, called Eixample, intended to create the perfect environment for Barcelona’s fast-expanding population.
He considered traffic and transport along with sunlight and ventilation for the design of his characteristic octagonal blocks, where the streets broaden at every intersection, making for greater visibility, better ventilation, and more significant open spaces.
In the end, the plan wasn’t carried out with all the utopian characteristics he envisioned.
10. Gaudí was not the original architect of Sagrada Familia
This is probably one of the most surprising facts about Barcelona on this list.
Even though La Sagrada Família is one of the major works of Antoní Gaudí, he was not the first architect to be appointed to work on it.
Architect Francisco de Paula del Villar was the first one commissioned to design the church. Construction of the crypt of the church was begun on March 19, 1882, following Villar’s design.
It wasn’t until 1883 that Antoní Gaudí started working on the project. On March 18, 1883, Villar retired from the project, and Gaudí assumed responsibility for its design, which he changed radically.
Today, the basilica is still unfinished, but even as an active construction site, Gaudi’s design is one of the most awe-inspiring spaces in the entire city.
When visiting the Sagrada Familia, I highly recommend buying the skip-the-line pass as it’s always fully booked weeks in advance.
11. FC Barcelona Wasn’t Founded By Catalans
Although FC Barcelona has always been considered an important part of Catalan identity, it was actually founded by a Swiss entrepreneur called Joan Camper.
Still, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the club is a key symbol of Catalan identity, and this was particularly noticeable during Franco’s dictatorship.
If you want to learn more about the history of the club, I’d highly recommend visiting the FC Barcelona museum. You can also take a tour of the famous Camp Nou which is Spain’s largest football stadium.
12. Barcelona Was Briefly An Anarchist Republic During The Spanish Civil War
During Spain’s horrific civil war (1936 – 1939) Barcelona was, for a short time, a de facto anarchist republic. This was mainly a result of two groups: the Iberian Anarchist Federation and the National Confederation of Labor.
Today, it’s not uncommon to see posters and graffiti of anarchist symbols dotted around the city streets.
13. Picasso Held His First Exhibition In Barcelona
Pablo Picasso’s first-ever art exhibition was held at Els Quatre Gats in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, in 1900. Although he wasn’t born in the city, he spent his formative years in Barcelona, and his work has long been associated with it.
This led to the establishment of the Picasso Museum within the city which is home to one of the largest collections of his works.
14. The City Is Home To A Hospital That’s A UNESCO World Heritage Site
When you think of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, hospitals probably aren’t the first things that spring to mind. Yet, the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona is one of several hospitals in the world to receive this prestigious status.
It’s considered to be one of the most significant pieces of modernist Catalan architecture and was designed by the architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner.
Final Thoughts
So, that was a quick tour of some of the most interesting and lesser-known facts about Barcelona. If you want to discover more about the city, I recommend checking out Viator’s tours to get an in-depth look at what makes it so wonderful!
Additionally, save money on accommodation by checking these Barcelona hotel deals on Booking.com.
Images 1,2,4, and 6 from Flickr’s Creative Commons; 3 and 5 from Wikipedia.
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