Badalona

Badalona
Municipality

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Coat of arms
Badalona

Location in Spain

Badalona

Location in Catalonia

Coordinates: 41°26′56″N 2°14′46″E / 41.44889°N 2.24611°E / 41.44889; 2.24611
Country Spain
Autonomous community Catalonia
Province Barcelona
Comarca Barcelonès
Government
 • Mayor Dolors Sabater Puig (2015)[1] (GBeC)
Area[2]
 • Total 21.2 km2 (8.2 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2014)[1]
 • Total 217,210
 • Density 10,000/km2 (27,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Badaloní; Badalonina (ca)
Badalonés; Badalonesa (es)
Postal code 08910-08918
Area code(s) (+34) 934
Website badalona.cat

Badalona (Catalan pronunciation: [bəðəˈɫonə]) is a city in eastern Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès, joined to Barcelona and part of its metropolitan area. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Serra de la Marina mountain range. Badalona is the third most-populated municipality in Catalonia after Barcelona and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. It became a city in 1897. The city is currently governed by "Guanyem Badalona en Comú", a coalition including the Popular Unity Candidacy.

History

Badalona was founded by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, with the name of Baetulo, although human settlements in the area existed from 3500-2500 BC. The Iberians had fortified villages on the Melasas and Boscà hills since the 7th century BC. The Roman town's plan was based on their common scheme of the cardo and decumanus, occupying some 11 ha, with a line of walls measuring 413x261 m and having large defensive towers. In the 1st century BC it had some 15,000 inhabitants.

The current Badalona was formed in the 10th century, as a new urban nucleus built over and around the old Roman city. It comprised a group of houses built around the square and the church. At the same time, a rural nucleus grew up outside the town walls. This rural and urban dichotomy would remain until the mid-18th century.

Sant Jeroni de la Murtra Monastery, built in the 14th century, housed the Catholic Monarchs of Spain would spend their summers. This is also where they received Christopher Columbus after his first voyage to the Americas.

monastir of Sant Jeroni de la Murtra

Badalona was one of the most important towns during the Spanish industrialization process, from the 19th century onwards.

Today, Badalona is in the middle of a process of major urban change which will provide one of the challenges for the 21st century.

Main sights

Passeig de la Rambla, Badalona

Climate

Climate data for Badalona (data from 1956-1969)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 13.7
(56.7)		 14.7
(58.5)		 16.6
(61.9)		 18.3
(64.9)		 21.7
(71.1)		 25.3
(77.5)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.1
(80.8)		 25.4
(77.7)		 24.3
(75.7)		 17.3
(63.1)		 13.7
(56.7)		 20.5
(68.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.0
(48.2)		 9.9
(49.8)		 11.9
(53.4)		 13.4
(56.1)		 17.1
(62.8)		 20.5
(68.9)		 23.1
(73.6)		 23.0
(73.4)		 21.1
(70)		 18.7
(65.7)		 12.8
(55)		 9.6
(49.3)		 15.8
(60.4)
Average low °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)		 5.0
(41)		 7.2
(45)		 8.6
(47.5)		 12.6
(54.7)		 15.7
(60.3)		 18.8
(65.8)		 18.9
(66)		 16.8
(62.2)		 13.1
(55.6)		 8.3
(46.9)		 5.6
(42.1)		 11.2
(52.2)
Source: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[3]

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Badalona

Badalona has a RENFE (train) station R1 from Barcelona to Mataró - Blanes, as well as a small harbour. There are also links to Barcelona via the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (TMB) metro (underground) and bus system, as well as the Trambesòs line.

Population

Badalona also has the second-largest Moroccan and Pakistani populations of Catalonia. Other significant communities include Maghrebis, Chinese, and Indians.

Largest groups of foreign residents
Nationality Population (2011)
 Morocco 5,527
 Pakistan 5,462
 China 3,835
 Ecuador 3,062
 Bolivia 1,800
 India 1,305
 Senegal 1,222
 Dominican Republic 1,000

[4]

Economy

The harbor is chiefly important for its fishing and boat-building trades, while in town there are gas, chemical and mineral-oil works, as well as the manufacture of woolen and cotton goods, glass, biscuits, sugar and brandy. The surrounding fertile plains produce an abundance of grain, wine and fruit.

The city is home to the historic distillery which produces Anís del Mono, a spirit made of herbs and anise, the most famous anisette in Europe.

Culture

Cremada del Dimoni
Plaça de la vila

In May, in occasion of the celebration of Saint Anastasi, the patron saint of Badalona, activities and festivals are organized all around the city. The most important celebration takes place the day before Saint Anastasi Day when, at night, people gather at the maritime promenade to participate in the popular Cremada del Dimoni (Devil-Burning)--similar to the famous Valencian Falles.

Sport

The city's most important sport complex is the Palau Municipal d'Esports de Badalona (Municipal Sports Palace), which won the Mies Van der Rohe award in 1992. The Palace was the setting for basketball competition during the Olympic Games in 1992. Nowadays, it is home of the basketball team from Badalona, Joventut de Badalona, also known as la Penya. This place will also be the center of the Badalona Capital Europea del Bàsquet, which is intended to be a theme park celebrating basketball - with a basketball museum, shopping center, cinemas, basketball courts, a harbour, indoor karting and more activities.

Twin towns

See also

References

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Badalona.
  1. 1 2 "Ajuntament de Badalona". Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. ↑ "El municipi en xifres: Badalona". Statistical Institute of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  3. ↑ "ESP BARCELONA - BADALONA".
  4. ↑ http://elcontrapuntbadaloni.com/2011/07/20/badalona-y-la-inmigracion-objetiva/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Badalona.
 Montcada i Reixac Sant Fost de Campsentelles Tiana
Santa Coloma de Gramenet Montgat
   Badalona  
Sant Adrià de Besòs Balearic Sea
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