History
-
Paseo de la Constitución in Zaragoza, Spain. Photo by Willtron (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
What Is Constitution Day in Spain?
For those of us who moved to Spain within the past decade or two (or three), it’s easy to forget that less than 50 years ago, the country was under the thumb of a dictatorship. In terms of Western democracy, Spain is still very young. Read more
-
History Underfoot: The City's Tiles
Of the countless steps that can be taken through the alleyways and avenues of Barcelona, how many are contemplated in terms of their historical significance? Read more
-
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. Read more
-
![Color-copper-engraving-of-Doctor-Schnabel-[i.e-Dr-Beak],-a-plague-doctor-in-seventeenth-century-Rome,-published-by-Paul-Fürst,-ca.jpg](https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/downloads/33531/download/Color-copper-engraving-of-Doctor-Schnabel-%5Bi.e-Dr-Beak%5D%2C-a-plague-doctor-in-seventeenth-century-Rome%2C-published-by-Paul-F%C3%BCrst%2C-ca.jpg?cb=8e3b97ab6f3d1327b2481a43467f193e "Color-copper-engraving-of-Doctor-Schnabel-[i.e-Dr-Beak],-a-plague-doctor-in-seventeenth-century-Rome,-published-by-Paul-Fürst,-ca.jpg")
Barcelona in the Plague Years
Still recovering from the famine in the previous decade that killed ten thousand in the city—25% of the population—the black plague is likely to have eliminated 40% of Catalunya's population. Read more
-
Detail of a miniature of witches being burnt and tortured, from "Chroniques de France ou de St Denis," 1332-1350. Image courtesy of the British Library.
Witchcraft in Catalunya
Witches and wizards, healers and sorcerers: Héctor Cols relates the complicated and tumultuous history of witchcraft in Europe and its persecution in Catalunya. Read more
-
Montjuic Castle photo by Domenico Convertini (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr.
Barcelona's Montjuïc Castle, Past & Present
Barcelona’s iconic castle, located 173 meters above sea level on the mountain of Montjuïc dates back to the 15th century, and has a long and often bloody history. Read more
-
Cercavila amb l'Aliga de Barcelona at Festa de la Mercè, photo courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
La Mercè, Barcelona’s Second Patron Saint
Just like every neighborhood has its "festa major," nearly every town in Catalunya has a city-wide festival in honor of its patron saint. Barcelona has two patron saints: Santa Eulàlia and the Mare de Déu de la Mercè—known simply as La Mercè. Read more
-
La Diada, September 11, 2014. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
La Diada: Catalunya’s National Day
A guide to Catalunya’s national day on September 11th. Read more
-
6 Ways the 1992 Olympics Transformed Barcelona
The 1992 Olympics had a lasting impact on the city, from infrastructure to its status as a top destination for tourists. Read more
-
The ruins of the Greek city Empòrion at Empúries on the Costa Brava, photo by Enric (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
The Roman Way: Explore Catalunya's Via Augusta
Follow the Roman Via Augusta and discover the historical treasures that span Catalunya. Read more
![Color-copper-engraving-of-Doctor-Schnabel-[i.e-Dr-Beak],-a-plague-doctor-in-seventeenth-century-Rome,-published-by-Paul-Fürst,-ca.jpg](https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/downloads/33531/download/Color-copper-engraving-of-Doctor-Schnabel-%5Bi.e-Dr-Beak%5D%2C-a-plague-doctor-in-seventeenth-century-Rome%2C-published-by-Paul-F%C3%BCrst%2C-ca.jpg?cb=8e3b97ab6f3d1327b2481a43467f193e&w={width}&h={height} "Color-copper-engraving-of-Doctor-Schnabel-[i.e-Dr-Beak],-a-plague-doctor-in-seventeenth-century-Rome,-published-by-Paul-Fürst,-ca.jpg")
