History
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Photo courtesy of Ajutament de Barcelona.
Who Was Galla Placidia?
Galla Placidia is one of the relatively few women who left an indelible mark on the history of the world during the era that preceded the Middle Ages.
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Francesc Macià, image courtesy of the Arxiu Nacional de Catalunya (CC BY-NC-ND).
Francesc Macià: Grandfather of the Catalan People
Francesc Macià was one of the most beloved men in the history of Catalan politics, and was affectionately referred to as "l'Avi," (the grandfather) of Catalunya.
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Església de Sant Pere Nolasc. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
The Bells of Barcelona
While other forms of marking time’s passage are now more common, the ringing of bells still has something to tell us.
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The new fossil found in Atapuerca, Spain (left face fragment), with mirror reconstruction of the right side using imaging techniques. CENIEH/ Nature.
Western Europe’s Oldest Human Face Discovered in Spain
This discovery reveals the existence of a human species that, until now, had not been documented in Europe.
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Photo by Tara Shain
Early Signs
Usually found on the corners of buildings and placed at a height of over two meters, these plaques remind us of a time when traffic control was quite a hectic proposal.
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"The Rape of the Sabine Women," painted here by Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz, is an example of the practice of "raptio." Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Abducting Women: Early Modern Europe’s Solution to Marital Problems
When disputes arose over marriage in the medieval period, there was one very common solution: abducting the woman in question.
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The gegants are brought from Sant Cugat to l'ermita de Sant Medir for the Sant Medir's Day celebrations. Photo by Jordi Garcia (CC BY NC 2.0)
Sant Medir, the Revered Saint of… Sweets?
Every year in the days leading up March 3rd the Barcelona neighborhoods of Gràcia, Sarrià, Sant Gervasi and La Bordeta explode in what has come to be known as la "festa més dolça"—the sweetest festival.
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The "gegantona" Laia on the patio of the Ajuntament de Barcelona. Photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Santa Eulàlia, Barcelona's First Patron Saint
Long before her name became associated with a 175-year-old Barcelona-based fashion brand, Santa Eulàlia was widely known as young Christian martyr.
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Sant Esteve church in Andorra la Vella, photo by FrankAndProust, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Europe’s Microstates: The Medieval Monarchies That Survive in Our Midst
Continental Europe is home to four microstates with populations of between 30,000 and 80,000 people: Andorra, between France and Spain; Liechtenstein, between Switzerland and Austria; Monaco, on the French Riviera; and San Marino, in northern Italy.
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Statue of Isidore of Seville in front of the National Library of Spain, Madrid. Sculpted by José Alcoverro y Amorós in 1892, photo by Héctor Gómez Herrero (CC BY-SA 3.0 ES) via Wikimedia Commons.
Isidore of Seville: The Patron Saint of the Internet Who Shaped Knowledge for Generations
Imagine living in a time when the internet didn’t exist, books were scarce, libraries were few and most people couldn’t even read.
