36 Interesting Facts about Barcelona, Spain (100% true)

Facts on Barcelona to Learn All About It

Ready to learn all about Barcelona?

Facts are one of the best ways to learn more about something, and I personally love to read them! I’ve put together for you quite a bit of fact on Barcelona; I’ve split them into 5 categories:

• The best Barcelona facts
• Barcelona fun facts
• Barcelona cathedral facts
• Barcelona facts for kids
• General facts of Barcelona

Let’s dive in straight away with our first category!

The Best Barcelona Facts

First things first, in this part of the list, you will find general Barcelona facts that you might not know about:

1. Barcelona’s beaches are artificial

That’s right! Though Barceloneta beach is the best urban beach in the world (according to National Geographic and Discovery channel), and Barcelona has been voted Best Beach City in the world, there were no beaches before the 1992 Olympic Games.

The seaside was full of local industries until the city decided to create the beautiful Barcelona beaches we now know

2. Barcelona is said to be older than Rome

No one really knows the exact origin of many famous cities, and Barcelona is one of them.

However, it is said that Hercules founded the city 400 years before Rome was built. This place, on the coast, was ideal for settlers, and some ruins have been found dating earlier than 5000 BC.

Another theory is that Hamilcar Barca, a historic general, founded the city.

3. Barcelona is one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities

This fact is not well-known, but there are 180 kilometers/112 miles of bicycle lanes in Barcelona.

It is ranked 11th in the most bike-friendly cities in the world, and Bicing, one of the most successful bike-sharing programs in the world, helps it a ton.

4. Barcelona is the only city in the world awarded a royal gold medal for architecture

You probably know Eixample or Sagrada Familia’s unique architecture, mostly due to famous architect Gaudí. The street corners are cut off to let trams turn safer, and the cathedral’s beauty speaks for itself.

Well, while the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture is usually awarded to people, Barcelona is currently the one and only city in the world to be honored with the Royal Institute of British Architects’ medal.

5. The busiest pedestrian street in Spain is in Barcelona

Portal de l’Àngel, a famous street in Barcelona, is the busiest pedestrian street in the whole country, on top of being one of the most expensive walkways.

If you need some numbers to understand that a little better, hear me out: there are 150,000 people walking it down, on average, daily!

6. There are 55 museums in Barcelona

You can find unique and fantastic museums in Barcelona, such as Fundació Joan Miró, Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) or Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC).

The city is full of historical surprises and architectural marvels, you will have an amazing time discovering all of this. That’s one of the reasons why Barcelona is a great destination, even in winter. 

7. Barcelona has the largest metropolitan park in the world

Barcelona’s Parc de Collserola is 84.65 km² / 32.4 sq mi large, making it the world’s largest metropolitan park.

If that does not seem so impressive to you, just remember that it is 22 times larger than Central Park, in New York.

8. There are 68 parks in Barcelona

The recent tendency in large cities is to reduce green spaces and to add buildings.

If that makes you sad, you should spend few days in Barcelona. There are 68 parks there and they represent more than 10 percent of the city’s area, and that’s growing from year to year!

9. Camp Nou, Barcelona’s football stadium, is the biggest in Europe

FC Barcelona is probably the most famous football club in the whole world. Tons of the best players ever have played at least once there, and it remains to this day one of the most successful organizations.

Its stadium, Camp Nou, is mythical and has a unique atmosphere. On top of that, it is Europe’s biggest stadium, and second in the world, were it not for Rungrado May Day Stadium (in North Korea).

10. Barcelona is the biggest city on the Mediterranean sea

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, behind Madrid of course.

However, if you look at the bigger picture, it is the biggest city on the whole mediterranean sea, with an area of 101.4 km² / 38.9 sq mi. More than 5.5 million people live in the city and the surrounding areas.

11. Barcelona is the most visited city in Spain

Europe’s most visited cities are Paris, London, Istanbul, and… Barcelona.

In Spain, it is the most visited city, with over 8.2 million visitors per year. In the world, it is ranked 12th.

12. The first name of Barcelona was Barcino

Before the city was founded, the area was called Barcino. It was named after the famous general Hamilcar Barca, which I told you about in fact #2.

If the Hercules theory is true, it is said that Barcelona came up because his only ship surviving wreckage was the 9th one, “Barca Nona”.

13. Barcelona used to be a Muslim region

You might know Barcelona as an extremely Catholic city, and that is completely true nowadays: 94% of the locals are Roman Catholics.

However, during the 8th century, the region was seized by the Moors, which were Muslims. It stayed a Muslim city for over a century.

14. Catalonia was once separated from Spain

Catalonia is a very unique and separatist region, even to this day.

It was actually separated from Spain along 7 other countries, unified later as the country we now know. That is probably why the people of Catalonia are so proud of their identity.

Read more: Discover more facts about Catalonia

15. Magic in Europe started in Barcelona

The practice of magic has been around for a long while, but Barcelona made it official.

The first magic shop and museum of magic in the world was founded there in 1881, rapidly spreading the art throughout Europe, way faster than before.

16. There are 2 official languages in Barcelona

You got it, Barcelona is located in Catalonia and has a unique identity.

So unique that there are actually 2 official languages in the city: Spanish and Catalan. You will see both languages all around the city. But make no mistake, Catalan is not a dialect, it is a completely distinct language from Spanish.

17. There are more than 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona

If you want to eat well, be ready, because Barcelona has tons of awarded restaurants.

Catalan cuisine, just like all other Mediterranean gastronomy, is mostly made of fresh vegetables, olive oil, fruits, and seafood.

18. Barcelona used to be Spain’s capital city

While the context is very special and saddening, Barcelona became the Republic of Spain’s capital during the Spanish Civil War, from November 1937 to January 1939.

During that time, both Madrid and Barcelona were still under the rule of the republic.

19. La Rambla is actually five streets

You probably already know La Rambla, it is a famous tree-lined pedestrian street in Barcelona. It is both very beautiful and very popular.

However, what most people don’t know, is that it is actually made of 5 sections: Rambla de Canaletes, Rambla dels Estudis, Rambla de Sant Josep, Rambla dels Caputxins, and Rambla de Santa Mònica. That’s why it is sometimes called “Las Ramblas” (plural).

And there you go, these were the best Barcelona facts!

We’re not done yet though, so let’s dig a little deeper and learn about other ones too:

Barcelona Fun Facts

Alright, we’ve gone through the general and informative stuff, now it is time to discover the funny side of Barcelona.

In this second part, you will learn about unusual and surprising facts about Spain Barcelona:

20. Smoking cannabis is legal in Barcelona

You might hear people talk about Spain as “Holland of the South”, and the Netherlands is very famous for being a cannabis smokers’ paradise.

Well, you can easily understand why: there are over 700 cannabis clubs in Spain, and more than half of them are located in Barcelona alone!

21. The Eiffel Tower could have been built in Barcelona

The Eiffel Tower is Paris’ most famous monument. It draws 7 million visitors every year and is definitely something everyone wants to see at least once.

This marvel was built by Gustave Eiffel during the 1889 Universal Exhibition. His initial plans were actually to build it in Barcelona, but Spain rejected the project because it did not fit the city landscapes.

22. There are 12 abandoned underground stations in Barcelona

Under the city, you can find 12 unused metro and train stations. They have been retired because of new additions or changes to the tracks.

Lots of people think they are haunted, feeling and seeing metaphysical activity, especially in Gaudí station.

23. The most visited museum in the city is actually the FC Barcelona museum

While there are lots of amazing museums in Barcelona, the most visited one is not the most obvious one. Over 1.5 million visitors go to the FC Barcelona museum every year.

The football club is so famous that their museum is a huge success. You can see trophies, jerseys, and the whole history of the club. The museum was founded in 1899.

24. Barcelona’s Valentine’s Day is truly unique

You won’t see anyone handing out roses or chocolates on February 14th in Barcelona, just like in any other city in the world.

People actually celebrate it on April 23rd, on Saint George Day. The tradition is to give friends and lovers flowers and gifts. It is an official holiday and shares the date with Día del Libro, the day of the book.

25. There are tons of air raid shelters in Barcelona

The Spanish Civil War wreaked havoc on the country.

In Barcelona, 1400 air raid shelters were built, and even more in the surroundings. You can visit the shelters nowadays by going to the Museum of History of Barcelona.

26. Picasso studied in Barcelona

Pablo Picasso, a very famous artist, introduced cubism to the world.

He studied a lot in Barcelona, at the School of Fine Arts. You can even find a museum dedicated to this man’s art in the Born neighborhood.

That’s it for the fun facts about Barcelona, but there is still lots of other interesting information I wanted to share with you.

Next up is Barcelona’s famous basilica, the Sagrada Familia:

Barcelona Cathedral Facts

The Sagrada Familia is probably Barcelona’s Eiffel Tower, the most famous landmark in Barcelona. It is an architectural marvel, unique and extravagant.

I feel like you don’t know everything about it, and some facts might surprise you, so here are 6 facts about the Sagrada Familia:

27. It has taken longer to build the Sagrada Familia than the great pyramids

The Sagrada Familia remains incomplete to this day, and it is famous to compare it to the Great Pyramids, which took 20 years to be built.

Its construction began in 1882, which means it has been going on for almost a century and a half!

28. The original architect of the Sagrada Familia was not Gaudí!

Everyone knows that the Sagrada Familia is Antoni Gaudí’s most famous work of art.

However, originally, it was architect Francesco de Paula del Villar who was appointed for the project. The construction started in 1882 according to his designs, but Gaudí took over the project a year later when Villar retired from the project and changed it radically.

29. Computers are very helpful for the Sagrada Familia construction

Obviously, in 1882, at the beginning of the construction of the Sagrada Familia, there were no computers or any digital help whatsoever.

With their invention in the middle of the 20th century, the progress of construction sped up extremely rapidly.

30. The Sagrada Familia is no longer a cathedral

It used to be a regular church when it was first built. Later on, it became a cathedral, and that is how most people call it.

Well, the correct way to name the Sagrada Familia is actually a “basilica” since Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration in 2010.

31. Gaudí is buried in the Sagrada Familia

Antoni Gaudí was unfortunately hit by a tram and died a few days later, on June 10th, 1926.

He is buried in the underground level of the building, which you can visit.

32. A group of people tried to burn the Sagrada Familia

As part of the Spanish Civil War, a group of anarchists tried to take down the Sagrada Familia.

They broke into it, set fire to the crypt, and many important materials were destroyed. Fortunately, some were saved, and the construction could carry on.

You probably immediately think of the Sagrada Familia whenever you are thinking of Barcelona, and for good reasons. I hope that you now know a little more about it and that you enjoyed those facts!

But don’t go too far, there are even more Barcelona Spain facts below.

Barcelona Facts for Kids

All the facts listed above are obviously meant for everybody to read, but I wanted to write a specific part dedicated to the young ones, in which they can satisfy their curiosity.

33. Barcelona is known for its tapas food

Tapas are lovely Spanish mezzes, which are appetizers served before the meal. Usually, you can find seafood, potatoes, meats, and vegetables in the average tapas.

If you love those, you will be pleased to go to Barcelona, as it is very well known for its tapas food.

Read more: Discover more facts about Spanish food

34. Barcelona’s airport is the second largest in Spain

Barcelona-El Prat Airport is the airport of Barcelona. It is 17 kilometers / 11 miles away from the city center and handles more than 45 million travelers.

It is the largest airport on the Mediterranean coast, but only the second biggest in Spain.

35. Barcelona is twinned with a lot of cities

There are lots of cities Barcelona is twinned with.

Among them, the most famous are San Francisco, Dubai, Shanghai, Athens, Istanbul, Dublin, Boston, and São Paulo.

36. French astronomers determined the official measurement of the meter in Barcelona

During the 18th century, French astronomer Pierre François André Méchain determined the official measurement of the meter.

For that, he used Montjuïc’s fortress, which overlooks Barcelona’s harbor, for observation purposes. He later presented the official meter bar, made in platinum, to the French legislative assembly.

Here you go, these were my facts about Barcelona for kids, I hope you enjoyed them!

So, these were the 36 interesting Barcelona facts. If you want to learn more about the city and the region as a whole, keep reading for more info.

General Facts of Barcelona

You’ll find below a few general facts of Barcelona, to learn more about this Spanish city:

• Name: Barcelona (English/Spanish/Catalan)
• Province: Barcelona
• Region: Catalonia
• Land area: 100.4 km² / 38.6 sq mi
• Population: 1.66 million
• Name of inhabitants: Barcelonan/Barcelonian
• Website: Barcelona

Barcelona Flag

More Facts!

Do you want even more facts about Spain?

Well, I have more facts about Spain, I’m sure you’ll love reading them! 

Here’s the main guide of the best Spain facts 👉 All the Facts about Spain 

Check out these facts by city/region:

• Facts about Madrid
• Facts about Catalonia
• Facts about Bilbao 
• Facts about Malaga
• Facts about Seville
• Facts about Granada
• Facts about Valencia
• Facts about Castilla la Mancha

Or these Spain facts by topic: 

• Facts about Christmas in Spain
• Facts about la Semana Santa in Spain
• Facts about religion in Spain
• Facts about schools in Spain
• Facts about Spainish food
• Facts about the Spanish language
• Facts about bullfighting in Spain
• Facts about sports in Spain
• Facts about music in Spain

Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.

The Full List of 36 Barcelona Facts

1. Barcelona’s beaches are artificial
2. Barcelona is said to be older than Rome
3. Barcelona is one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities
4. Barcelona is the only city in the world awarded a royal gold medal for architecture
5. The busiest pedestrian street in Spain is in Barcelona
6. There are 55 museums in Barcelona
7. Barcelona has the largest metropolitan park in the world
8. There are 68 parks in Barcelona
9. Camp Nou, Barcelona’s football stadium, is the biggest in Europe
10. Barcelona is the biggest city on the Mediterranean sea
11. Barcelona is the most visited city in Spain
12. The first name of Barcelona was Barcino
13. Barcelona used to be a Muslim region
14. Catalonia was once separated from Spain
15. Magic in Europe started in Barcelona
16. There are 2 official languages in Barcelona
17. There are more than 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona
18. Barcelona used to be Spain’s capital city
19. La Rambla is actually five streets
20. Smoking cannabis is legal in Barcelona
21. The Eiffel Tower could have been built in Barcelona
22. There are 12 abandoned underground stations in Barcelona
23. The most visited museum in the city is actually the FC Barcelona museum
24. Barcelona’s Valentine’s Day is truly unique
25. There are tons of air raid shelters in Barcelona
26. Picasso studied in Barcelona
27. It has taken longer to build the Sagrada Familia than the great pyramids
28. The original architect of the Sagrada Familia was not Gaudí!
29. Computers are very helpful for the Sagrada Familia construction
30. The Sagrada Familia is no longer a cathedral
31. Gaudí is buried in the Sagrada Familia
32. A group of people tried to burn the Sagrada Familia
33. Barcelona is known for its tapas food
34. Barcelona’s airport is the second largest in Spain
35. Barcelona is twinned with a lot of cities
36. French astronomers determined the official measurement of the meter in Barcelona

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