4 interesting facts about the history of Barcelona!
Despite going unnoticed for many years amid everything else the city has to offer, Barcelona’s history is marked by many great highlights and turning points, all enormously important to the country and the world. And the Catalan capital has played host to some of Europe’s most important historical moments since being founded as a city.
Below are just 4 of the most significant historical events in Barcelona. Enjoy!
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Barcelona history: the first train line in Spain
On 28 October 1848, the first train journey on the Iberian peninsula took place, lasting just 35 minutes on a journey between Barcelona and Mataró. This line, which is still in use today, was just 29.1km long and linked the towns of Barcelona, Mataró, San Adrián de Besós and Badalona. The opening of the line was an undisputed success and contributed to Barcelona’s history and the economic development of the entire region.
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How was Barcelona actually founded? Another interesting fact!
One of the most fascinating facts about Barcelona is how the city first came about. There are two competing legends to this day. The first claims that, 400 years before the founding of Rome, Hercules crossed the Mediterranean in search of the golden fleece and, owing to a big storm in the area, had to divert to the Catalan coast, in this instance, near Montjuïc. It was at that moment that he settled in the area and thus began the history of Barcelona by building a protective sea defence wall.
On the other hand, another account claims that Hannibal’s father, Hamilcar Barca, founded the city in 230BC, naming the region ‘Barcino’ in honour of his family name. In any event, neither of these legends have any real historical basis and are simply the thoughts of 15th century medieval archaeologists…
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Barcelona and Don Quixote
Another moment firmly marked in the Barcelona history books that few know about is when Miguel de Cervantes decided to set his protagonist’s last battle in the city, where the final 6 chapters of the famous novel take place. Barcelona is also the only city visited by Don Quixote de la Mancha and Sancho in the whole tale.
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Barcelona history and Columbus
In Plaza del Portal de la Paz, you’ll find one of the most symbolic landmarks in the city, the Christopher Columbus Monument. One of the most interesting facts about Barcelona is that the Columbus statue doesn’t actually point towards America, as many people claim. To do so, the statue would have to be pointing down Las Ramblas, but when it was built, it was thought people wouldn’t understand why, so it was decided the statue should face the sea instead.
Categories: barcelona
