Written by Michael Bryan
Modified & Updated: 23 Sep 2023
Reviewed by Sherman Smith
Many are keen to read about Barcelona facts because this city is one of the best places for people who are not only interested in art, but also in architecture, food, sports, and culture in general. Barcelona is a city rich with history that can be traced back to more than about 5,000 BC. Barcelona is a living testament of the definition that being true to one’s identity can overcome the trials of time and should be nurtured rather than be replaced or buried. The beauty of the city does not only focus on emphasizing its endurance against time but how it evolves together with its developing technological advancements. With all the undiscovered mysteries that shroud the city’s contrasting vibrance, here are some Barcelona facts that might just perk your interest.
- Barcelona is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain.
- It is the largest city in Catalonia.
- The province of Barcelona is home to around 4.8 million people.
- It ranks 5th as the most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan.
- The Roman Empire has some remnant structures and still stands in Barcelona.
- Barcelona is one of the most congested cities in the world because it has a compact city center surrounded by a large area of industrial suburbs and towns.
- It has Spain’s most important Mediterranean Seaport.
- Immigrants make up 1/3 of Barcelona’s population.
- There is a statue of Christopher Columbus in Barcelona’s downtown to commemorate his announcement of the discovery of America.
- Most of Barcelona’s popular beaches lost over 25% of their sand to storms.
- Found in 1450, the oldest university in the city is the University of Barcelona.
- The University of Barcelona is a public university that caters to 63,000 students and is one of the biggest universities in Spain.
- Barcelona is bordered by the Besos River to the north and Llobregat River to the south.
- They celebrate “Fiesta del Libro” or a book party every April 23. It is celebrated because Barcelona is a major center for Spanish-language publishing.
- Barcelona’s cultural roots go way back 2000 years.
- Barcelona is a leading center for modern graffiti and street art.
- Barcelona’s soccer stadium, which is known as Camp Nou, holds up to 99,354 people. It is the largest in Europe and 4th largest in the world.
- Residents would pronounce “Barcelona” as “Barthelona.” It is said that this pronunciation came from King Ferdinand, who had a lisp.
- It is home to the Museu Picasso that houses 3,400 pieces of Picasso’s artwork.
- FC Barcelona has won 30 times in Spain’s “King’s Cup” over any other teams.
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