A Walk Through the History of Barcelona

You can even see 2,000 year old ruins!

The first human settlements in Barcelona date back to Neolithic times. The city itself was founded by the Romans who set up a colony called Barcino at the end of the 1st century BC. The colony had some thousand inhabitants and was bounded by a defensive wall, the remains of which can still be seen in the old town.

For over 200 years, Barcelona was under Muslim rule and, following the Christian reconquest, it became a county of the Carolingian Empire and one of the main residences of the court of the Crown of Aragon. The fruitful medieval period established Barcelona’s position as the economic and political centre of the Western Mediterranean. The city’s Gothic Quarter bears witness to the splendour enjoyed by the city from the 13th to the 15th centuries, especially in the crowning jewel of the district, the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, which was mostly built duing this period.

Photo by falco en Pixabay

From the 15th to 18th centuries Barcelona entered a period of decline where it struggled to maintain its economic and political independence. This struggle ended in 1714, when the city fell to the Bourbon troops and Catalonia’s and Catalans’ rights and privileges were suppressed.

A period of cultural recovery began in the mid-19th century with the arrival of the development of the textile industry. During this period, which was known as the Renaixença, Catalan regained prominence as a literary language.

The 20th century ushered in widespread urban renewal throughout Barcelona, culminating in its landmark Eixample district, which showcases some of Barcelona’s most distinctive Catalan art-nouveau, or modernista, buildings. The Catalan Antoni Gaudí, one of the world's most eminent architects, designed buildings such as Casa Milà (known as La Pedrera, the Catalan for stone quarry), Casa Batlló and the Sagrada Família, which have all become world-famous landmarks.

The freedoms achieved during this period were severely restricted once more during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and Franco's subsequent dictatorship. With the reinstatement of democracy in 1978, Barcelona society regained its economic strength and the Catalan language was restored once again. The city’s hosting of the 1992 Olympic Games gave fresh impetus to Barcelona’s potential and reaffirmed its status as a major metropolis.

In 2004, the Forum of Cultures reclaimed industrial zones to convert them into residential districts. An example of the renewed vigour with which Barcelona is looking towards the 21st century

Where To Stay During Your Visit

If you want to admire Barcelona's historic architecture and get carried away by the legends of the city, there is no other option than coming to Barcelona yourself. And if you're looking for somewhere to stay, you have come to the right place! ChicRoom Barcelona has a wide selection of luxury apartments in the centre of the city, so you will be near to all the important sites during your visit. Why not experience what it's like to stay inside one of Paseo de Gracia's spectacular, historic, modernist buildings by booking a stay in our exclusive apartment Living Principal Paseo de Gracia?

Living Principal Paseo de Gracia on ChicRoom Barcelona