Barcelona is a city on the coast of Catalonia, an autonomous region in southeastern Spain. Architectural sights, the hand of which was mainly made by the famous architect Gaudi, cannot be described in words. They must be seen. Sagrada Familia, Gothic Quarter, Gaudi’s house in Park Guell, Picasso and Miro, Tibidabo, Montjuic museums - the list goes on and on. In Barcelona it is very difficult to find a quarter in which there would be no park or a fountain. Even if you are not a fan of football, be sure to visit the Camp Nou stadium, where the famous team FC Barcelona trains.
Flag of Barcelona: interesting facts
The symbol of the city is a rhombus, which consists of 4 parts having 2 variants of ornament. The first is the cross of St. Jorge (guardian of Barcelona). The second is the stripes of Aragon (the color of the banner of Catalonia). The cross of St. Jorge has been depicted on a silver background since 1288. Officially, its red counterpart was approved in 1395.
Stripes of red on a golden background are the real flag of Catalonia and Barcelona. These are the so-called Aragon tapes. They are the emblem of the counts of Barcelona. 1035-1707 - the period of the existence of the kingdom of Aragon. Its territory occupied the areas of modern France and Spain. The latter included Aragon with its capital in Zaragoza in 1707.
Legend
A very interesting fact is the legend about the appearance of the colors that the flag of Barcelona has. In 897, Count Vifred Volosaty, who is the founder of the Catalan dynasty, played an important role in the life of Catalonia. He was badly wounded in battle. When the count was brought into the tent after the battle, the king came to him. The monarch asked what he wants for his courage. Count Bethred asked the king to give him a present - the emblem of Barcelona. The monarch stained his fingers with the blood of a brave subject and ran them over the golden shield. So there were red stripes on a gold background. This coat of arms has become a symbol of Barcelona and Aragon. People really liked him. The modern flag of Barcelona uses an ancient coat of arms. It is also an image of Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands.
At the end of the 16th century, Barcelona was made the capital of Catalonia. She became equal in power with the monarch. This served as an impetus for adding a crown to the coat of arms. The number of bands often changed. The flag of Barcelona also consists of 4 rectangles that repeat the rhombus ornament from the coat of arms of the city, but the crown is missing.
Barcelona cuisine
Special attention deserves the cuisine of the city. Paella is considered the most common dish - rice with various additives, such as greens, seafood, snails, cuttlefish, etc. As a rule, it is served in a pan for several people. Also, residents of the city love pork, grilled on charcoal.
When to visit the city?
It is up to you. The swimming season opens in May and lasts until mid-September. At the end of summer, as a rule, the largest influx of tourists. And on the streets, foreign speech is heard more often than Spanish. If you do not plan to swim in the sea, choose the end of September for your trip. You will have the opportunity to see all the sights without long lines. And the weather will still favor walking. It is very convenient to use the subway to get around the city. Using underground transport, without replacing, you can also get to neighboring towns.