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Barcelona is a one of a kind destination that catches the eyes of many fascinated tourists each year. Because of this, we put together the most interesting facts for you to know and share about this famous city. Subsequently, this top 10 list of Barcelona Fun Facts may just inspire you to plan your next trip to Spain!
On March 19, 1882, the now famous Sagrada Familia had its first brick laid and after a century, the structure is still in construction today. It should be noted that the finish date is set in year 2026 (100 years after Gaudi’s death), making it a 144 year journey to complete.
Today La Sagrada Familia is known as Gaudi’s Masterpiece, but contrary to what most people think, Spanish architect Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano was first commissioned to do the job. However, he resigned after only one year due to disagreements. As a result, Antoni Gaudi lead the project that later became his greatest achievement.
From November 1937 to January 1939, Barcelona became the capital of the Republic of Spain. Despite this short moment in time, the city is now proud to be the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region. Whereas Madrid is the capital of Spain.
Before Barcelona became known for its leisurely coastal beach life on Barceloneta Beach, sunbathing and swimming had been non-existent as mercantile and fishing industries filled the area. To clarify, It was not until the 1992 Olympics that the area completely transformed from an unappealing strip of land to a tourist hot spot. In fact, this was made possible thanks to an import of hundreds of tonnes of sand from Egypt.
Gustave Eiffel offered the iconic Eiffel Tower to Barcelona before it became the famous landmark of Paris. In fact Spain rejected the structure because of utter dislike. That being said, can you imagine Paris without Europe’s most valuable monument?
By capacity Camp Nou holds 99,354 people, making it the largest football stadium in Europe. Without a doubt an impressive achievement that tells us Spain definitely loves its football! Although it should be noted that this massive stadium is only the 12th largest in the world.
There are 2 myths surrounding the origins of the name Barcelona. The first credits the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca with giving it the name Barkenon. Conversely, the second attributes the name to the Iberian word Barkeno. Furthermore, if you have an interest in history and other given names, find out more here!
La Rambla is the most famous street in Barcelona, with millions of people walking on it every year. However, what most people do not know is that La Rambla once acted as a sewer draining the streets of water.
Along with being known as the tree lined street where La Boqueria, kiosks, and cafes are found, did you know that the street is actually 5 different streets? Moreover, the next time you are walking down La Rambla, you will have a unique Barcelona fun fact to share!
Even though Barcelona is not Spain’s capital, it certainly is the most popular city in Spain, it brings in millions of international tourists each year. Particularly, visitors come for the delicious tapas, relaxing beaches, and the rich art and culture encompassing this coastal seaside.
Ready for a trip to Barcelona? Then head to our Barcelona City Guide for planning your trip with the best tips, suggestions, and good to know information.
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