Barcelona: climate, geographical location, time zone, area

Any student knows where Barcelona is located, in which country. This is a beautiful resort city, the pearl of tourist Spain, in which the greatest number of shocking creations of the brilliant architect Antonio Gaudi is concentrated. Barcelona can be called an ecologically clean area, as there are a lot of parks and gardens. Also, the city is old, and therefore on its territory there is a huge number of ancient attractions. Do you want to get acquainted with the history of Barcelona, ​​whether you like walks along the picturesque streets, or still prefer a beach holiday - this resort is perfect anyway! Barcelona - what is it “inside”?

Where is Barcelona located in which country?

The city is located in the north-east of Spain, on the Mediterranean coast. Geographically, Barcelona is located in Catalonia, is the capital of this autonomous region and the province of the same name. This is the largest commercial and industrial center of the country, the most important port of the Mediterranean Sea. Also, the city is not the last in tourist routes in Europe. Barcelona is just 120 km from the border with France.

Historical reference

The exact date of the formation of Barcelona is impossible to determine, but, according to scientists, it was founded more than 2000 years ago. First, a settlement called Barkenon appeared on the site of the modern city. Then it was only a coastal plain surrounded by a ridge. The geographical position of Barcelona was such that it connected Central Europe with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, and therefore was of great strategic importance.

As for the reasons for the appearance of the settlement and, in fact, the founders, there is no definite answer. Two versions are considered, each of which has the right to exist. According to Carthaginian legend, Barcelona was founded in 230 BC by Amilcar Barka, who created a settlement near Mount Montjuic, naming it, as was already written above, Barkenon.

A more romantic Roman legend, according to which the area was named Barca Nona, which translates as "ninth boat." The story dates back to Jason's search for his Golden Fleece. The expedition consisted of nine ships that were scattered across the sea due to a severe storm. When they managed to get together again, it turned out that eight boats remained. Then Jason asked Hercules to find the ninth ship. An ancient Greek hero discovered a crew at the foot of Montjuic. People who found shelter there after a shipwreck loved this area so much that they decided to stay here, symbolically calling the settlement Barca Nona.

General information

The area of ​​Barcelona is 100.4 km². The city is located on five hills, which subsequently gave the names of part of urban areas. Barcelona is located between the mouths of two rivers - Besos from the north and Llobregat from the south. From the west, the Catalan capital is protected by the Sierra de Colserola mountain ranges, and from the east it is open to the Mediterranean Sea.

As of 2008, the population was 1,615,000. It is the most populous city in the Mediterranean, the second in Spain (after Madrid), and the ninth in the European Union.

The official language is Catalan, but almost all locals speak Spanish.

Barcelona time zone UTC / GMT + 01: 00. That is, time is an hour behind Moscow: if in the Russian capital 06:00, then in the Catalan - 05:00.

Fishing and Economics

The main fishing industries are textile, pharmaceutical, chemical, electronic and automotive. In Barcelona, ​​there are assembly plants of several large engineering companies. Among them are the Spanish automobile brand Seat, owned by the Volkswagen Group, the French Renault and Peugeot, the American Ford and some others.

Catalonia is generally considered a highly developed area of ​​Spain. Only 16% of the country's population lives here, but they produce 24% of the gross national product. It is in Barcelona and its environs that the main economic potential of Catalonia is concentrated. Most of the inhabitants of the autonomy work and live in the capital.

Of particular economic importance are two sectors - winemaking and tourism. Most attention is paid to the latter. Popular resorts around the world are located on the coast of the city, and cruise liner routes pass through the port of Barcelona .

Barcelona climate and weather conditions throughout the year

The weather in the capital of Catalonia is perfect for a comfortable stay at any time of the year. In summer there is no depressing heat and it is dry, autumn and spring relatively warm, but humid. In winter it is cool, western cold winds prevail with little precipitation. But even at this time, the temperature almost never drops below 0 degrees.

In general, as befits a coastal city, the climate in Barcelona is Mediterranean. The average temperature for months is indicated in the table.

Spring lasts from March to May, at which time the temperature gradually rises, the number of light hours per day increases. From June to September - summer. It is mostly warm at this time, it is rarely cloudy, and rains are even less common. Autumn begins in October and ends with the arrival of November. On the contrary, it is rainy during these months. It may still be warm during the day, but the night air temperature drops to +7 degrees.

In winter, the climate in Barcelona is also mild, snow is extremely rare. Daytime air temperature can rise to +15 degrees, and at night drop to +5.

Administrative division

The area of ​​Barcelona is divided into 10 districts:

1. Ciutat Vella is the oldest district in the city, located in the center.
2. Example is a cultural and tourist area near the Old Town.
3. Sarria-Sant Gervac - the “quarter of the rich”, there are many expensive mansions.
4. Gracia is a shopping and leisure area for creative people in Barcelona.
5. Horta-Guinardo - sleeping quarter.
6. Sants-Montjuic is an area with many night clubs.
7. Les Corts - business district.
8. Sant Andreu is a sleeping area.
9. Nou Barris is a poor neighborhood in which almost all immigrants live.
10. Sant Marti is a coastal area ideal for a beach holiday.

The main attractions

A lot of important and interesting sights of Italy are located in Barcelona. The description of each of them can go on indefinitely - what are only the works of Gaudi? Let us briefly consider the most important of them.

1. Gothic Quarter. Located in Ciutat Vella (Old Town), it is a labyrinth of narrow streets that, alternating one after another, move a person to this or that era.
2. Cathedral. The main temple of Barcelona was built in 1460. This building, like many other medieval buildings, is made in the Gothic style, and its interior and exterior are richly decorated with various decorative elements.
3. Park Guell. One of the works of Antonio Gaudi, in which the maestro designed gingerbread houses, cute fountains, statues and paid special attention to landscape design.
4. Casa Batlló. The building is amazingly beautiful, which stands out with its bright colors and winding lines. As you might guess, it was designed by Gaudi.
5. Mila's house. No less futuristic building, which visually resembles a monument. When designing, Gaudi did not use a single straight line.
6. Mount Montjuic. The area is very attractive for tourists, as a large number of interesting places are concentrated here. For example, the famous “Spanish Village” is an open-air museum city. There are also palaces and parks on the mountain. It is recommended to come here in summer, when the climate in Barcelona is most pleasant for long walks.
7. Rambla Boulevard. Once there was a river, and now at the place where the water flowed, a pedestrian path was laid. Street artists paint portraits, and actors show funny performances. There are also summer cafes and souvenir shops on the boulevard.
8. Sagrada Familia. The Holy Family Cathedral is also the “brainchild” of Gaudi, the design of which the maestro put 40 years of his life. The construction began in 1882 and continues to this day.

FC Barcelona

In the Catalan capital is one of the most famous professional Spanish football clubs in the world - FCB. Barca (as the team is also called) is quite successful, moreover, it has no equal in the number of cup trophies won. FC Barcelona repeatedly became the champion of Spain in La Liga, the Spanish Cup and the Spanish Super Cup - 18 times in history, while losing to the championship only to the no less strong and famous team - Real Madrid.