The city of Barcelona has carved out a niche space for itself in Europe’s political, sports, and tourism chart. However, Barcelona wasn’t always the perfect exponent of a cosmopolitan that it is now. Its journey began in the neolithic age. The city itself was founded by the Romans. Barcelona had been under Muslim rule for over 200 years, and after the Christian reconquest, it became one of the Crowns of Aragon's main court residences. Barcelona entered a period of decline between the 15th and 18th centuries, struggling to maintain its political and financial stability. The 20th century saw the revival of urban development in Barcelona, reaching its peak during the 1992 Olympic Games. The city hasn’t looked back ever since. Here is our guide to the history of Barcelona.
Although Catalonia may have first been inhabited by the Iberian Laietana people, the earliest records show that Barcelona started life when it was founded by the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians.
Then, in the 8th century, Barcelona was captured by the Moors and held it for a full 100 years before the Franks took it away.
Finally, Barcelona became a part of the Crown of Aragon through a marriage of convenience between two royal lines that ought to have made the culture of Barcelona prosper more than ever, but that did not work out.
The great city began to lose its influence and value for many years. Conflicts between Barcelona and Madrid grew, and Barcelona was even barred from trading with American colonies.
Barcelona became the epicenter of bold self-government experiment in the 13th century.
The 14th Century represented Barcelona's golden age. The city's commercial prosperity accounted for the great Gothic buildings that adorn Barcelona to this day.
The Romanesque churches were restored and new buildings were designed in the magnificent Gothic-style and are still preserved today.
The Llotja market, religious buildings such as the Cathedral and the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, are perfect examples of Catalan Gothic, palaces, mansions, convents, monasteries and more.
A development fever came over Barcelona that has left a magnificent heritage all over the region.
The 20th century marked the beginning of extensive urban renewal throughout the city of Barcelona, culminating in its flagship district of Eixample, which features some of the most distinctive Catalan art-new, or modernist, buildings.