Industrial city (textiles, engineering,
chemicals), and port of Catalonia, NE Spain;
population (1986) 1,694,000. As the chief
centre of anarchism and Catalonian 
nationalism, it was prominent in the 
overthrow of the monarchy 1931 and was
the last city of the republic to surrender to
Franco 1939. history Barcelona was founded in
the 3rd century BC and its importance grew
until, in the 14th century, it had become one
of the leading trading cities of the
Mediterranean. features The Ramblas,
tree-lined promenades leading from the Plaza
de Cataluna, the largest square in Spain;
Gaudi's unfinished church of the Holy Family
1883; the Pueblo Espanol 1929, with specimens
of Spanish architecture; a replica of
Columbus's flagship the Santa Maria, in the
Maritime Museum; a large collection of art by
Picasso