Barcelona
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This article is about the capital of Catalonia. For other uses, see Barcelona (disambiguation).
Barcelona
Clockwise from top: The Barcelona Skyline, La Barceloneta, Camp Nou, Diagonal Mar, Sagrada Familia, and Castell dels tres Dragons

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts),
Barna,
BCN
Barcelona is located in Catalonia
Barcelona
Location of Barcelona within Catalonia
Barcelona is located in Spain
Barcelona
Location of Barcelona within Spain
Coordinates: 41°23′N 2°11′E / 41.383°N 2.183°E / 41.383; 2.183Coordinates: 41°23′N 2°11′E / 41.383°N 2.183°E / 41.383; 2.183
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Catalonia
Province Barcelona
Comarca Barcelonès
Districts Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Les Corts, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu, Sants–Montjuïc, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Sant Martí
Government
- Type Mayor-council
- Body Ajuntament de Barcelona
- Mayor Jordi Hereu i Boher (PSC)
Area
- City 101.4 km2 (39.2 sq mi)
- Urban 803 km2 (310 sq mi)
Elevation(AMSL) 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2009)
- City 1,621,537
3,186,461 (Greater Barcelona)
- Rank 2nd in Spain
- Density 15,991/km2 (41,416.5/sq mi)
- Urban 4,200,000
- Metro 5,000,000
Demonym Barcelonan
barceloní, barcelonina
barcelonés, barcelonesa
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 08001–08080
Area code +34 (Spain) 93 (City)
Website www.bcn.cat

Barcelona (Catalan pronunciation: [bəɾsəˈlonə], Spanish: [baɾθeˈlona]) is the capital and the most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of 101.4 km2 (39 sq mi). The urban area of Barcelona extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of over 4,200,000[1][2] on a area of 803 km2 (310 sq mi),[1] it is the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan. About 5 million[3][4][5] people live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. It is also Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast. The main part of a union of adjacent cities and municipalities named Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) with a population of 3,186,461 in an area of 636 km² (density 5.010 hab/km²). It is located on the Mediterranean coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs and is bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola ridge (512 m/1,680 ft).

Barcelona is recognised as a Global City due to its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism.[6][7] Indeed, it is a major economic centre and a growing financial center (Diagonal Mar area); one of Europe's principal Mediterranean ports can be found here as well as Barcelona international airport, which handles about 30 million passengers per year. It also boasts an extensive motorway network and is a hub of high-speed rail, particularly that which will link France with Spain and later Portugal. Barcelona was the 12th-most-visited city in the world and 4th most visited in Europe after London, Paris and Rome. It is in addition the most popular tourist destination in Spain (receiving above 5 million tourists every year).[8] Barcelona is the 15th most livable city in the World according to lifestyle magazine Monocle.[9] Similarly, according to Innovation Analysts 2thinknow, Barcelona occupies 13th place in the world on Innovation Cities globally.[10] It is the 4th richest city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with an output amounting to €177 billion, a figure nonetheless smaller than alternative estimates. [11] Consequently, its GDP per capita output stands at €35,975 - some 44% higher than the European Union average. Similarly, the city of Barcelona stands in 29th place in a list of net personal earnings headed by Zurich.[12] The city is Europe's 3rd and one of the world's most successful as a city brand, both in terms of reputation and assets.[13]

Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, it became one of the most important cities of 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. The city is well known in recent times for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona.

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 Province of Barcelona and the Barcelonès comarca (shire).

Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate. The summer's season lasts about 6 months, from May to October, although also in November and April sometimes there are temperatures above 20 °C (68.0 °F). Winters are mild, with average temperatures over 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) during the day and 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) at night in the period December to March.