History of Barcelona in Timeline

Barcelona, located on Spain's northeastern coast, is the capital of Catalonia and Spain's second-largest municipality. Its urban area, encompassing neighboring municipalities, houses approximately 5.7 million residents, ranking it among the EU's most populous. A major Mediterranean metropolis, Barcelona sits between the Llobregat and Besòs rivers, bordered by the Serra de Collserola mountains.

1900: Barcelona Population in 1900

In 1900, Barcelona had a population of 533,000.

1900: Demographics

In 1900, almost a third (28.9 percent) of Barcelona's population were children (aged younger than 14 years).

1920: Laboratori de Natura at the Castle of the Three Dragons

From 1920 to 2010: the Laboratori de Natura was located at the Castle of the Three Dragons. It was later merged into the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona.

1924: Martorell Museum opened to the public

The Martorell Museum was opened to the public from 1924 to 2010 as a geology museum. It later became part of the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona.

1929: Barcelona International Exposition (Expo 1929)

In 1929, Barcelona hosted the Barcelona International Exposition (Expo 1929).

1929: Design of Barcelona Pavilion

In 1929, Mies van der Rohe designed the Barcelona Pavilion for the International Exposition for Germany. The iconic building came to symbolize modern architecture. It was torn down in 1930 but recreated in 1986.

1930: Demolition of the Barcelona Pavilion

Designed in 1929 for the International Exposition for Germany, Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion was torn down in 1930, less than a year after it was constructed. A modern re-creation was later built in 1986.

1930: Founding of the Historical Botanical Garden of Barcelona

The Historical Botanical Garden of Barcelona was founded in 1930 and later became part of the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona.

1931: Capital of Autonomous Catalonia

In 1931, Barcelona became the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia after the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic.

1936: Epicenter of the Spanish Revolution

In 1936, Barcelona became the epicenter of the revolution experienced by Catalonia during the Spanish Revolution.

January 1939: Fall of Barcelona

On January 26, 1939, Barcelona fell, causing a mass exodus of civilians fleeing to the French border.

1939: Capture by Fascists

In 1939, Barcelona was captured by the fascists.

1945: Focus of the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art

The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art focuses on post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art.

1950: Population Growth after 1950

After 1950, Barcelona started absorbing a high number of people from other less-industrialized parts of Spain, leading to significant population growth.

1957: Foundation of EADA Business School

In 1957, the EADA Business School was founded in Barcelona, becoming the first Barcelona institution to run manager training programmes for the business community.

1960: First version of Barcelona's Municipal Law passed

In 1960, the first version of Barcelona's Municipal Law (Carta Municipal) was passed and amended later.

1960: Focus of the Can Framis Museum

The Can Framis Museum, focuses on post-1960 Catalan Art owned by Fundació Vila Casas.

1975: Death of Franco

The death of Franco in 1975 initiated a period of democratization in Spain, with strong pressure for change in Barcelona.

September 1977: Massive Demonstration for Catalan Autonomy

On September 11, 1977, over a million people demonstrated in Barcelona, calling for the restoration of Catalan autonomy, which was granted less than a month later.

1979: Peak Population

Barcelona's population peaked in 1979 at 1,906,998.

1982: Barcelona hosts several matches during the FIFA World Cup

In 1982, Barcelona hosted several matches during the FIFA World Cup at two stadiums.

1986: Re-creation of Barcelona Pavilion

In 1986, a modern re-creation of Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion was constructed by Spanish architects. The original pavilion, designed in 1929, was torn down in 1930.

1986: Barcelona's designation as host city of the 1992 Summer Olympics

The development of Barcelona was promoted by two events in 1986: Spanish accession to the European Community, and particularly Barcelona's designation as host city of the 1992 Summer Olympics.

1987: ETA Car Bombing at Hipercor

In 1987, an ETA car bombing at Hipercor resulted in the death of 21 people.

1987: Division into Administrative Districts

Since 1987, Barcelona has been divided into 10 administrative districts.

1990: Infrastructure Development

Between 1990 and 2004, in preparation for the Olympic games and beyond, Barcelona experienced significant infrastructure development, including increased road capacity, sewage handling, and green areas.

1990: Increased Tourism

In 1990, Barcelona had 1.7 million tourists.

1992: 1992 Olympics

Barcelona has three UEFA elite stadiums: The publicly owned Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, with a capacity of 55,926; used for the 1992 Olympics.

1992: Barcelona Hosts Summer Olympics

Barcelona hosted the highly successful 1992 Summer Olympics.

1992: Hosting the Summer Olympics

In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics, leading to major changes in the city's infrastructure and perception.

1992: Renovation of Estació del Nord for the Olympic Games

In 1992, the Estació del Nord (Northern Station), a former railway station, was renovated for the Olympic Games and now serves as the terminus for long-distance and regional bus services.

1992: Opening of beaches as a result of city restructuring to host the Summer Olympics

In 1992, the beaches Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant were opened as a result of the city restructuring to host the Summer Olympics.

1992: Barcelona's designation as host city of the 1992 Summer Olympics

The development of Barcelona was promoted by two events in 1986: Spanish accession to the European Community, and particularly Barcelona's designation as host city of the 1992 Summer Olympics.

1996: Foreign Born Population

In 1996, 3.9% of Barcelona's population was born outside of Spain.

1997: Industry in Barcelona Metropolitan Area

In 1997, the Barcelona metropolitan area had 67% of the total number of industrial establishments in Catalonia.

1999: Barcelona wins RIBA Royal Gold Medal

In 1999, Barcelona won the RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, marking the first time the award was given to a city rather than an individual architect.

1999: The Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra Inaugurates New Venue

In 1999, the Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra inaugurated its new venue in the brand-new Auditorium (L'Auditori).

1999: Founding of the Botanical garden of Barcelona

The Botanical garden of Barcelona was founded in 1999 and later became part of the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona.

2000: Cultural roots back 2000 years

Barcelona's cultural roots go back 2000 years.

2000: Population Bottoms Out

In 2000, Barcelona's population bottomed out with 1,496,266 residents.

2000: Bread & Butter urban fashion fair arrives to Barcelona

In the summer of 2000, Barcelona began hosting the Bread & Butter urban fashion fair.

2001: Population Reversal

Since 2001, Barcelona's population decline reversed due to a new wave of immigration, particularly from Latin America and Morocco.

2001: Foreign Born Population

Since 2001, the proportion of the Barcelona's population born outside of Spain has more than doubled.

2002: Inauguration of Diagonal Mar Park

Diagonal Mar Park, with 13.3 ha or 32.9 acres, was inaugurated in 2002.

2004: Increase in Hotel Rooms

Between 1990 and 2004, the number of hotel rooms in Barcelona doubled.

2004: GDP

In 2004, Barcelona city had a very high GDP of €80,894 per head, according to Eurostat.

2004: Universal Forum of Cultures and the World Urban Forum

In 2004, Barcelona hosted the Universal Forum of Cultures and the World Urban Forum.

2004: Construction of a large concrete bathing zone

The 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures left the city a large concrete bathing zone on the eastmost part of the city's coastline.

March 2006: Approval of current version of Barcelona's Municipal Law

In March 2006, the current version of Barcelona's Municipal Law (Carta Municipal) was approved, defining the organization of the city council and its relationship with the central government.

2006: CosmoCaixa receives European Museum of the Year Award

In 2006, CosmoCaixa, a science museum in Barcelona, was awarded the European Museum of the Year Award.

March 2007: Launch of the Bicing service

On March 22, 2007, Barcelona's City Council initiated the Bicing service, a public bicycle transport system. Users with a card could access bicycles from over 400 stations, achieving 50,000 subscribers in three months.

May 2007: Barcelona's Election

After the May 2007 election, the ERC did not renew the coalition agreement and the PSC governed in a minority coalition with ICV as the junior partner.

2007: Religious Affiliation

In 2007, most of Barcelona's inhabitants stated they were Roman Catholic.

2008: Extension of RENFE's AVE high-speed rail system

In 2008, RENFE's AVE high-speed rail system, designed for speeds of 310 km/h, was extended from Madrid to Barcelona with the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line, serving the Barcelona Sants terminal station.

2008: Barcelona Population

In 2008, the Barcelona city council calculated the population to be 1,621,090, resulting in an average population density of 15,926 inhabitants per square kilometre.

June 2009: New Terminal at Barcelona-El Prat Airport

On June 17, 2009, a new terminal (T1) at Barcelona-El Prat Airport entered service.

2009: FC Barcelona Wins Sextuple

In 2009, FC Barcelona won six trophies in a calendar year, becoming one of only 2 male football teams in the world to win the coveted sextuple.

2009: The Brandery urban fashion show begins

In 2009, The Brandery, an urban fashion show, began to be held in Barcelona twice a year.

2009: Catalan Education Act

In 2009, the Catalan Education Act stipulated that the language of instruction at public schools and escoles concertades is Catalan.

2009: GDP

In 2009, the greater Barcelona metropolitan area had a GDP amounting to $177 billion, making it the 4th most economically powerful city by gross GDP in the European Union.

2009: Bread & Butter urban fashion fair leaves Barcelona

In 2009, the organizers of the Bread & Butter urban fashion fair announced that it would be returning to Berlin, a significant economic loss for the city.

2010: Closure of Martorell Museum and Laboratori de Natura

In 2010, the Martorell Museum (as a geology museum) and the Laboratori de Natura, at the Castle of the Three Dragons, closed. They were later merged into the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona.

2010: Barcelona Marathon

In March 2010, the Barcelona Marathon saw over 10,000 participants.

May 2011: CiU gains a plurality of seats at Barcelona's municipal election

On May 22, 2011, CiU gained a plurality of seats at the municipal election, gaining 15 seats to the PSC's 11.

2011: Merge of institutions to form the Museum of Natural Sciences

In 2011, the Museum of Natural Sciences ended up with a merge of five institutions: the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona, the Martorell Museum, the Laboratori de Natura, at the Castle of the Three Dragons, the Historical Botanical Garden of Barcelona, and the Botanical garden of Barcelona.

2011: Religious Affiliation

In a 2011 survey, 49.5% of Barcelona residents identified themselves as Catholic, marking the first time that more than half of respondents did not identify as Catholic Christians.

2012: Popular Tourist Destination

By 2012, Barcelona had become the 12th most popular city destination in the world and the 5th amongst European cities.

2012: The Brandery urban fashion show ends

In 2012, The Brandery urban fashion show was held in Barcelona for the last time.

2013: Linguistic Census

According to the linguistic census held by the Government of Catalonia in 2013, Spanish is the most spoken language in Barcelona.

2013: Barcelona hosted the 2013 World Aquatics Championships

Barcelona was the host city for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, which were held at the Palau San Jordi.

2013: Launch of shared high-speed rail connecting Barcelona and France

In 2013, a shared RENFE-SNCF high-speed rail line connecting Barcelona and France (Paris, Marseille and Toulouse, through Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line) was launched, serving the Barcelona Sants terminal station.

2013: Pleasure cruise passengers in Barcelona harbour

In 2013, the Barcelona harbour saw 3.6 million pleasure cruise passengers, solidifying its position as the leading European cruiser port and a significant Mediterranean turnaround base.

2013: Visitors to FC Barcelona Museum

In 2013, the FC Barcelona Museum was the third most popular tourist attraction in Catalonia, with 1.51 million visitors.

2013: Trade volume of Port of Barcelona

In 2013, the Port of Barcelona had a trade volume of 1.72 million TEU's, making it Europe's ninth largest container port.

2014: Southern European City of the Future

Barcelona was recognized as the Southern European City of the Future for 2014/15, based on its economic potential, by FDi Magazine.

2014: Muslim Population in Barcelona

In 2014, 322,698 out of 5.5 million people in the province of Barcelona identified themselves as Muslim, which is 5.6% of the total population.

2015: Barcelona as the only city to win RIBA Royal Gold Medal

As of 2015, Barcelona is still the only city to have won the RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, which it received in 1999.

2015: Sagrada Família completion plan

As of 2015, the completion of the Sagrada Família church is planned for 2026. The church has been under construction since 1882 and is still financed by private donations.

2015: Most "livable city"

In 2015 Barcelona was the 24th most "livable city" in the world according to lifestyle magazine Monocle.

2015: Barcelona designated a City of Literature

In 2015, Barcelona joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Literature.

2015: Barcelona named seventh most important fashion capital

In 2015, Barcelona was named the seventh most important fashion capital of the world by the Global Language Monitor.

March 2016: Number of hotels

As of March 2016, Barcelona had 519 hotels including 35 five-star hotels.

2016: Barcelona named 15th safest city

In 2016, Barcelona was recognized as the 15th safest city globally by Business Insider, due to a successful policing strategy that reduced crime by 32% in over three years.

2016: Inhabitants of Barcelona

In 2016, about 59% of Barcelona's inhabitants were born in Catalonia and 18.5% came from the rest of the country.

May 2017: Barcelona included in "Eight Places That Hate Tourists the Most"

In May 2017, The Independent included Barcelona in a list of "Eight Places That Hate Tourists the Most," with Mayor Ada Colau expressing concerns about the city becoming a cheap souvenir shop.

August 2017: Terrorist Attack on La Rambla

On August 17, 2017, a van was driven into pedestrians on La Rambla, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries, claimed as a jihadist attack by the Prime Minister of Spain.

2017: Tourism boom poses threat to Barcelona's identity

In 2017, Barcelona faced concerns about overtourism as visitors spent an estimated €30 billion, but were viewed by some as a threat to the city's identity due to increased rental costs and overcrowding.

2017: Demographics

In 2017, Children (aged younger than 14 years) only constituted 12.7% of the population, people aged between 15 and 24 years made up 9 percent of the population, those aged between 25 and 44 years made up 30.6 percent of the population, while those aged between 45 and 64 years formed 56.9% of all Barcelonans. In 2017, people aged 65 and older made up 21.5 percent of the population.

2018: Barcelona-El Prat Airport

In 2018, Barcelona-El Prat Airport handled more than 50.17 million passengers.

2019: Religious Affiliation

In 2019, a survey showed that 53.2% of residents in Barcelona identified themselves as Catholic.

2020: Affordable cities

In 2020 Barcelona was one of the most affordable cities in the world for a luxury lifestyle.

2020: FC Bayern Munich Wins Sextuple

In 2020, FC Bayern Munich also won the sextuple.

July 2023: UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture

In July 2023, Barcelona was announced as the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture for the 2024–2026 term, becoming a hub for discussions on global challenges.

2023: Visited city

In 2023, Barcelona was the 9th most visited city in the world by international visitors and the fifth most visited city in Europe with around 9 million international arrivals.

April 2024: Protests against overtourism began in Barcelona

In April 2024, protests against overtourism began in Barcelona.

July 2024: Peak of protests against overtourism in Barcelona

In July 2024, the protests against overtourism reached its peak in Barcelona.

2024: Barcelona Population

As of 2024, Barcelona has a population of 1,686,208.

2024: UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture Term Begins

In 2024, Barcelona will begin its term as the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture, lasting until 2026.

July 2025: Protests against touristification in Southern Europe

In July 2025, protests against touristification, organized by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification (SET), took place in Southern Europe, including Palma and Lisbon, with some protesters using water guns to spray tourists.

2026: Planned completion for Sagrada Família

As of 2015, the completion of the Sagrada Família church has been planned for 2026. The church has been under construction since 1882 and is still financed by private donations.