Barcelona

Abstract

This entry traces the history of Barcelona since the foundation of the city during the Roman empire. In the Middle Ages it was a major commercial center in the western Mediterranean. It later became one of the first industrial cities in Spain and went through various stages of expansion. The city grew through newly planned large‐scale construction and through the annexation of surrounding villages. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth‐century building boom, the city saw the creation of remarkable architecture which has become a major attraction in modern times. Important spurts of urban development were the Universal Exhibition (1888), the International Exhibition (1929), and the Olympic Games (1992). Local democratic governance and planning have guided urban regeneration and distinctive public spaces. Today Barcelona is a globalized city that attracts large numbers of visitors.