About Barcelona

Barcelona is Catalonia’s capital and main city. With a population of 1,621,537 inhabitants, it is the center of a wider metropolitan area that has 4,200,000 inhabitants, the sixth most populous urban area in Europe.

It is located on the western Mediterranean coast, lying on a plain between the mouths of the River Llobregat, to the south, and the River Besòs, to the north. The mountain range of Collserola closes the city on his west side and forms the city’s green belt.

The website of the City Hall offers complete information on the city’s main facts in English.

The Emperor Augustus founded Barcelona as a colony for army veterans and named it Barcino. However, the Barcelona plain was already inhabited by an Iberian ethnic group: the Laietani. The Visigoths conquered the city in the early fifth century, and the Arabs repeated the feat in the early eight century. In 801, Charlemagne’s son, Louis the Pious, conquered the city for the Franks and created a buffer zone to protect his kingdom from the Moorish menace. During the times of Carolingian decline, the King could not protect his vassals from the Moorish raids, and count Guifré (Wildref) felt free to break the oath given to the Frankish king.

Barcelona became the capital of a growing county, incorporating counties on its borders and becoming the true capital of a kingdom when Ramon Berenguer IV married princess Petronila of Aragon in 1150. The city grew as the court of a flourishing empire on the western Mediterranean, including the Catalan countries, Sardinia, Corsica, Provence, some regions in Italy and even in Greece and Turkey.

Even with the marriage in 1469 of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile, both kingdoms keep their own laws and institutions. For more than two centuries, these two countries remained virtually independent.

However, after the war of Spanish Succession, Catalonia lost its Parliament and was assimilated into Castile. In this war, the Catalans backed the Habsburg dynasty, while Castile backed the Bourbon dynasty. On September 11th, 1714, Barcelona was defeated after a long siege and a heroic resistance.

Despite of the loss of political power, at the end of the 18th century Barcelona became an important industrial center. Throughout the 19th century, the strength of the city grew, relying on its economic activity. The end of the XIXth century, and the beginning of the 20th, witnessed the retrieval of the Catalan personality of the city, the emergence of an artistic movement, the “Renaixença” (in Catalan, rebirth) and its world famous architectural expressions known as “modernisme”, with Gaudí and other great creators. Among other contemporary achievements we may mention hosting the 1888 Universal Exposition, merging six surrounding municipalities into Barcelona and creating a brand new district joining them to the old city center: l’Eixample, or Expansion District.

In 1931, the Generalitat, the old institution abolished in 1714, was reinstated as an autonomous government within the Spanish republic. However, the Spanish civil war (1936-1939) ended this short time of hope for the Catalan capital and the whole country, driving them into forty years of dictatorship, repression and prohibition of the Catalan culture. During these forty years, Barcelona‘s population expanded with the arrival of a massive wave of immigration, mainly from the South of Spain.

Franco’s death in 1975 brought a period of democracy, and Catalonia recovered the old Generalitat, which had survived in exile during the dictatorship. Nowadays, Barcelona is the administrative, economic and cultural capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia. At the Plaça Sant Jaume, the Palace of the Generalitat stands across from the City Hall. In the Ciutadella Park, the old Spanish arsenal has been refurbished into a democratic Parliament.

Click here if you want to check the history of Barcelona.

About the referendum on independence in Catalonia

On September 13th, 2009, the inhabitants of the Catalan town of Arenys de Munt voted in a referendum proposing Catalan independence from Spain. The terms of the question that was asked in the poll were: “Do you agree that Catalonia should become a social, democratic and independent state in its own right, as a member of the European Union?” About 40% of the town’s 6,500 eligible voters participated in the poll and more than 96% of votes were in favour of Catalan independence.

Although the referendum was not binding, it was very important. First, because Spain’s laws do not recognize Catalonia’s right to self-determination; and second, because it was the first time in history that thousands of people in Catalonia were able to vote in a ballot that allowed them to freely say whether they wanted their country to be independent.

The referendum in Arenys de Munt also showed the world the dark side of the Spanish state and revealed its incomplete transition to democracy. The Spanish State Attorney General preferred charges against the municipality for having approved a motion of support to the referendum. The judge banned the use of a municipal public room to hold the referendum, which therefore had to be held in a private room. In contrast, a demonstration organized by the Fascist party Falange, which had been headed by the dictator Francisco Franco until his death, was authorized and took place on the same day of the poll. During the campaign, it was revealed that the same Attorney General had stood as a candidate for this Fascist party in a 1998 election.

The day after the referendum, hundreds of towns across Catalonia set out to organize similar polls. Each town holding a referendum formed a local citizens’ group where local inhabitants, NGOs and members of political parties worked closely together to achieve the best possible results for the poll.

On December 13th, 2009, 167 towns held a referendum on the same terms as the Arenys de Munt consultation. About 28% of the 700,000 eligible voters participated in this first massive wave of referendums, and 95% voted Yes to independence. Organized privately, with almost no media coverage, and based on volunteer work, these results were a great success. Even large towns close to Barcelona, such as Sant Cugat, had a high turnout (25%) and a clear result in favor of independence (92.3%).

The second wave of referendums took place on February 28th, 2010, when another group of 80 towns organized their referendums. 21.5% of the 300,000 eligible voters participated, and 92% voted Yes. The third wave took place on April 25th, 2010, when 213 towns organized the referendum and 1.3 million citizens were eligible voters. Two of the cities where the referendum was held had a population of over 100,000 inhabitants (Lleida and Reus); four between 50,000 and 100,000 (Girona, Manresa, Granollers and Mollet); and two between 30,000 and 50,000 (Igualada and Figueres). The turnout was around 18%. On June 20th a fourth wave was held, this time mainly in large cities located in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The majority of the population in these centres  issues from the first massive migration wave of the 1960s, and many people have Spanish origins. The turnout was 14%.

So far, 532 towns and more than 3 million citizens have exercised the right to vote and 20% (618 415 voters) have participated in the referendum. 92.6% voted Yes, 4.9% voted No, and 2.1% balloted null votes. In total, 572,954 votes so far have been in favour of Catalan independence.

These referendums are considered the first step towards a large-scale referendum backed by the Catalan Parliament. They have been organized entirely by volunteers, [without financial or organisational backing from political parties or institutions]

News in the press

10A-Barcelona Decideix-The end of the process.

Albania

http://www.albpress.org/2011/04/12/pavaresia-katalanase-referendum-privat-ne-barcelone/
 
Australia
 
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/barcelona-catalans-ponder-independence-from-spain/story-e6freuyi-1226037151474
 
Canada
 
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5isk2L-WD2ybCHrJF2rLswYg4y9nw?docId=6522402
 
Euskal Herria
 
http://www.eitb.com/news/politics/detail/635985/1-5-barcelona-citizens-vote-favour-secession-catalonia/
 
France
 
http://fr.euronews.net/2011/04/10/espagne-derniers-referendums-symboliques-en-catalogne/
 
http://www.ara.cat/mon/europa/Le-Monde-dEuropa-consultes-independencia_0_460754812.html
 
http://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/2/monde/l-independance-de-la-catalogne-plebiscitee-par-les-barcelonais_981552.html
 
http://www.lindependant.com/articles/2011-04-11/derniere-serie-de-votes-symboliques-sur-l-independance-365247.php
 
http://www.affaires-strategiques.info/spip.php?article4943
 
http://www.defibreton.com/spip.php?article6887&calendrier_mois=9&calendrier_annee=2011
 
Germany
 
http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/europaheute/1431718/
 
http://www.arena-info.com/arena/newsdetails/datum/2011/04/11/symolische-abstimmung-zur-unabhaengigleit-kataloniens-in-barcelona-nur-1814-stimmten-ab/
 
http://www.comprendes.de/nachrichten/nachrichten-einzelansicht/datum/2011/03/24/barcelona-entscheidet/
 
Hungary
 
http://www.origo.hu/nagyvilag/20110409-fuggetlensegi-szavazas-kataloniaban-utolso-fordulo-barcelona.html
 
Italy
 
http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/mondo/2011/04/11/visualizza_new.html_903358888.html
 
http://it.euronews.net/2011/04/10/referendum-per-l-indipendenza-catalana/
 
http://rassegna.governo.it/rs_pdf/pdf/YXJ/YXJS3.pdf
 
http://notizie.virgilio.it/notizie/esteri/2011/4_aprile/11/catalogna__consultazione_su_indipendenza_da_spagna_90percento_di_si,29138359.html
 
http://www.ilquotidianoitaliano.it/esteri/2011/04/news/spagna-scissione-della-catalogna-90-di-si-al-referendum-74482.html
 
http://www.nuovasocieta.it/esteri/25833-barcellona-vota-lindipendenza.html
 
Portugal
 
http://www.dn.pt/inicio/globo/interior.aspx?content_id=1825988&seccao=Europa
 
http://www.publico.pt/Mundo/referendo-pela-independencia-com-18-por-cento-de-participacao-em-barcelona_1489337
 
Qatar
 
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=427516&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21
 
Quebec
 
http://www.ledevoir.com/international/europe/320831/les-barcelonais-votent-sur-l-independance
 
Russia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14EHAfac3dY

Switzerland
 
http://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/rubriche/notizie_d_agenzia/mondo_brevi/indipendenza_catalana:_oggi_referendum_Barcellona.html?cid=29967644
 
http://www.romandie.com/infos/ats/display2.asp?page=20110411025433870172019048094_brf004.xml

http://www.bluewin.ch/fr/index.php/139,396459/Catalogne__derni%C3%A8re_s%C3%A9rie_de_votes_symboliques_sur_lind%C3%A9pendance/fr/news/international/sda
 
Taiwan
 
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1567657
 
Turkey
 
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-240784-catalans-ponder-independence.html
 
http://www.haberturk.com/dunya/haber/619909-bagimsizlik-icin-mayolu-oylama
 
http://www.cnnturk.com/2011/dunya/04/11/barcelona.bagimsizligini.ilan.etti/612878.0/
 
United Kingdom
 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/11/catalan-independence-boost-barcelona-vote?CMP=twt_gu
 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/10/barcelona-votes-catalan-independence
 
http://www.euronews.net/2011/04/11/barcelona-votes-for-catalan-independence-in-unofficial-referendum/
 
http://iberosphere.com/2011/04/spain-news-how-did-an-independence-referendum-become-such-a-headache-for-catalan-nationalists/2623
 
Uruguay
 
http://www.larepublica.com.uy/mundo/447569-breves-internacionales
 
Blogs in English
 
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1632012.php/Modest-turnout-in-Barcelona-referendum-on-Catalan-independence
 
http://www.demotix.com/news/655592/barcelona-says-yes-independece
 
http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/catalans-wrap-up-symbolic-independence-votes_141666.html

 
The Referendum in Catalonia during 2009 and 2010

UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8409767.stm
http://www.euronews.net/2009/12/14/low-key-referendum-backs-catalan-independence/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8411199.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8409454.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/6789168/Catalonia-holds-referendums-to-push-for-independence-from-Spain.html
http://news.scotsman.com/world/Referendum-fever-spreads-as-Barcelona.5903470.jp
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=catalans-to-vote-in-non-binding-independence-referendum-2009-12-11
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/...dependence-vote
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/new...e-14596804.html
 http://news.stv.tv/world/122712-catalan-town-votes-for-independence-from-spain/

FRANCE

http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2009/12/12/le-mal-catalan_1279769_3214.html#ens_id=1279852
http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2009/12/12/les-nationalistes-catalans-organisent-un-referendum_1279765_3214.html
http://www.liberation.fr/monde/0101608112-la-nation-catalogne-s-en-va-aux-urnes
http://www.sudouest.com/accueil/actualite/international/article/802314/mil/5467567.html
http://eco.rue89.com/ibere-espace/2009/12/12/le-president-du-barca-donne-le-coup-denvoi-des-votes-sur-lindependance-12959
http://www.lesechos.fr/info/analyses/020256974563-le-malaise-catalan.htm
http://www.sofoot.com/catalunya-is-not-spain-119900-article.html

GERMANY

deutschewelle.de/dw/article/0...5010055,00.html
http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/katalonien100.html

ITALY

http://www.ansa.it/ansalatina/notizie/rubriche/mundo/20091212183634996636.html
http://www.unita.it/notizie_flash/71068/spagna_catalogna_al_voto_per_indipendenza
http://www.corriere.it/notizie-ultima-ora/Esteri/Spagna-dicembre-Catalogna-referendum-indipendenza/05-11-2009/1-A_000058729.shtml
http://www.regione.vda.it/notizieansa/details_i.asp?id=79703
http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/mondo/2009/12/11/visualizza_new.html_1645321524.html
http://www.ilgiornale.it/esteri/catalogna_rivoluzione_colpi_pallone/12-12-2009/articolo-id=406256-page=0-comments=1

OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

http://www.dn.se/nyheter/varlden/katalaner-gar-till-valurnorna-for-sjalvstyre-1.1012581
http://sydsvenskan.se/varlden/article593852/140-samhallen-rostar-i-protest-mot-regeringen-.html
http://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/rubriche/notizie_d_agenzia/mondo_brevi/Spagna: Catalogna_domenica_ al _voto_su_indipendenza.html?cid=7885252
http://www.tdg.ch/actu/monde/catalans-appeles-vote-symbolique-independance-2009-12-11
http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/5560734/__Catalaans__referendum__onafhankelijkheid__.html
http://www.delo.si/clanek/94773
http://www.dnevnik.si/novice/aktualne_zgodbe/1042322813
http://orf.at/ticker/351242.html
http://derstandard.at/1259281764604/700000-Katalanen-stimmen-symbolisch-ueber-Unabhaengigkeit-ab
http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/artikkeli/Katalonian+kyliss%C3%A4+%C3%A4%C3%A4nestettiin+irtautumisesta+Espanjasta/1135251448387
http://www.ts.fi/online/ulkomaat/95969.html
http://www.eitb.com/bideoak/albisteak/politika/osoa/312475/166-herritan-independentzia-nahi-duten-edo-ez-bozkatzen-ari-dira-katalunian/
http://www.rozhlas.sk/inetportal/2007/index.php?lang=1&stationID=0&page=showNews&id=77903

USA

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/13/world/AP-EU-Spain-Catalonia-Referendum.html?scp=3&sq=Catalonia%20catalan&st=cse
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/12/world/international-uk-spain-catalonia.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Catalonia%20catalan&st=cse
www.breakingnews.com/story/spa...te-independence
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34402022/.../ns/world_news/
www.time.com/time/world/articl...1947422,00.html

QUEBEC AND CANADA

http://www.ameriquebec.net/actualites/2009/12/11-le-rrq-ira-en-catalogne-pour-appuyer-les-independantistes-catalans.qc
http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/world...on-independence

LATINAMERICA

http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/europeu/2009/noticias/0,,OI4153223-EI14095,00-Laporta+pede+votos+a+favor+da+independencia+da+Catalunha.html
http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/internacional/2009/11/50/Catalaes-votam-domingo-referendo-nao-oficial-sobre-independencia,29e2b190-7f9a-4535-9181-426f9c546650.html
http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/internacional/2009/11/50/Catalaes-votam-domingo-referendo-nao-oficial-sobre-independencia,29e2b190-7f9a-4535-9181-426f9c546650.html
http://www.lanacion.com.py/noticias_um-282086.htm
http://www.exonline.com.mx/diario/noticia/global/europa/cataluna_busca_mas_independencia/806551

ASIA AND PACIFIC

www.indiatvnews.com/news/inter..._Spain-527.html
www.skynews.com.au/world/artic....aspx?id=405641
www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/20...ent_9173747.htm