The case of Barcelona

Abstract

Barcelona – the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain – was the most industrialised urban metropolis in the country until Madrid took the lead relatively recently. The city of Barcelona has a population of about 1.5 million. The population of metropolitan Barcelona – which is constituted by the city along with another 26 municipalities – is about 2.8 million. Finally, the metropolitan region of Barcelona – which comprises 162 municipalities – has a population of about 4.2 million. Given the fact that Catalonia has 6 million inhabitants, the social and economic relevance of the three ‘Barcelonas’ is considerable. However, the internationally well-known Barcelona is the city itself, especially since the 1992 Olympic Games. The international profile acquired by the city as a result of this event increased international tourism during the 1990s. Urban tourism is one important sector of the development of the service sector in the city, while industry has moved out to the rest of the Barcelona region. As it has expanded, Barcelona has met up with other long established cities generating an urban continuum which plays a strong social and economic role in Catalonia, but has no government or central management institution.