A Historical View on Barcelona Travel

Barcelona boasts of a rich culture and history, which can be observed in the diversity of the architecture of its heritage sites. A large number of Barcelona hotels are located near these sites.

Early History of Barcelona
The history of Barcelona dates back to 2,500 years ago, with the arrival of the Carthaginian and Phoenician settlers. The Romans took over Barcelona during the first century BC. The Roman Empire disintegrated in 415 AD with the invasion of the Visigoths. The city was later conquered by the Moors in the eighth century.

Important tourist sites from this period are:
* Plaça Sant Jaume: It served as a government building during the Roman Empire. It still houses government communities as well as the City Hall. It is also popular for hosting Sardana (a traditional Greek dance) on Sundays.
* Gothic Quarter: This ancient Roman village contains a large number of remnants of the Empire. However, it has been modernized and includes courtyards, restaurants and bars.

‘Middle-Ages' in Barcelona
Barcelona became an influential center for world trade during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, with the city's port gaining importance. This is marked as the Golden Age of Barcelona. The thirteenth century witnessed further prosperity, with the rise of the Church. The Cathedral of Barcelona was also established during this period.

There are a large number of buildings, heritage sites and churches that have survived to date and are important tourist destinations, such as:
* Sant Pau del Camp: This Romanesque style church is the oldest church in the city.
* The Chapel of Santa Llucia: Also built in Romanesque style, the chapel features magnificent carvings, pillars and columns. It also has a large riverside courtyard, ideal for social gatherings.
* Plaça del Rei: Also known as the King's Square, this urban version of old Barcelona houses a number of key tourist attractions. This includes the Saló Tinell (banqueting hall) and the Chapel of Santa Agatha.
* Santa Maria del Mar: This Basilica style church is located in the city's Ribera district. The interior has a very gothic design which is devoid of any form of imagery. It is also an ideal spot for music concerts, generally classical.

Modern History of Barcelona
Barcelona experienced rapid industrialization during the eighteenth century. However, it came to a standstill in the nineteenth century with the onslaught of the Napoleonic wars and the yellow fever epidemic. The city recovered quickly and got back on the development path with the establishment of a 30-kilometer railway line to Mataró. Incidentally, this was the first railway line to be built in Spain.

The Spanish Civil war weighed on Barcelona's progress. The city faced numerous urban planning problems due to heavy migration from impoverished parts of Spain in the 1950s through the 1960s. This lead to an unplanned construction boom.

The infrastructure of Barcelona improved to a great degree with the 1992 Olympics. A large number of roads, parks and museums were developed by the government to generate and cater to the tourist traffic. Barcelona has now become one of the most important cities and tourist destinations of Europe.