Barcelona

Barcelona



This article is about the Catalan city. For other uses, see Barcelona (disambiguation).
Barcelona

Barcelona from the air

Flag Coat of Arms

Location

Coordinates : 41°23′N, 2°11′E
Time Zone : CET (GMT +1)
- summer: CEST (GMT +2)
General information
Native name Barcelona (Catalan)
Spanish name Barcelona
Nickname Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts)
Postal code 08001–08080
Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona)
Website http://www.bcn.cat/
Administration
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Catalonia
Province Barcelona
Comarca Barcelonès
Administrative Divisions 10
Neighborhoods 45
Mayor Jordi Hereu i Boher (PSC)
Geography
Land Area 100.4 km²
Altitude 12 m AMSL
Population
Population 1,605,602 (2006)
- rank in Spain: 2
Density 15,969 hab./km² (2006)
Barcelona (Catalan IPA: [bəɾsəˈlonə], Spanish IPA: [baɾθeˈlona]), is the capital and most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, with a population of 1,605,602 in 2006. It is located on the Mediterranean coast (41°23′N, 2°11′E), between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and is limited to the west by the Serra de Collserola ridge (512 m).

Barcelona is a major economic centre, with one of Europe's principal Mediterranean ports, and its airport is the second largest in Spain. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona and the Crown of Aragon. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

As the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona houses the seat of the Catalan government, known as the Generalitat de Catalunya; of particular note are the executive branch, the parliament and the Supreme Court of Catalonia. The city is also the capital of the county (comarca) of the Barcelonès.