Magnificent Barcelona is spread over several hills on the Mediterranean coast. Nearly 2 million people live here, making Barcelona the second most populous city in Spain and the tenth most populous city in the EU. And overall, the province of the same name is home to about 5 million people.
The city traces its history back to antiquity. There are different versions of when Barcelona was founded, but in any case it happened several hundred years before Christ.
Barcelona was conquered by the Romans - the influence of the Roman layout is still evident in the historic city center. It was under the Visigoths and Moors, but remained an outpost of Christianity in the lands of Catalonia for hundreds of years.
The city has been plundered and expanded, experienced popular unrest and heavy sieges. But at all times Barcelona has evolved because, no matter who sets their own rules in the city, it has always remained one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean.
