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Badalona (, , , ) is a municipality to the immediate north east of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. It is located on the left bank of the
Besòs River Besòs may refer to: * Besòs (river) The Besòs (; es, Besós, link=no) is a river flowing through Catalonia, Spain, formed by the confluence of the Mogent and Congost rivers. It ends in the Mediterranean. Its full watershed includes the follo ...
and on the Mediterranean Sea, in the Barcelona metropolitan area. By population, it is the third largest city in Catalonia and the twenty-third in Spain. It became a city in 1897.


Names

The name Badalona comes from ancient Iberian word ''Baitolo'' according to the legend of several bronze coins of the end of the 2nd century BC found in the city. This word was the origin of the Latin name ''Baetulo'' that was as the Romans named the new city they founded off the coast of present Badalona. The oldest mention of the name Baetulo is from ''De Chorographia'' of Pomponius Mela (43–44 AD), who use the same name for the
Besòs river Besòs may refer to: * Besòs (river) The Besòs (; es, Besós, link=no) is a river flowing through Catalonia, Spain, formed by the confluence of the Mogent and Congost rivers. It ends in the Mediterranean. Its full watershed includes the follo ...
(named ''Bissaucio'' during the Middle Ages). Following the Roman era, during the High Middle Ages the name ''Baetulo'' evolved to ''Bitulona'', which was the most common name but not the only one, because it is found in the Latin written documents other versions as ''Bedelona'', ''Bitilona'', ''Betulona'', ''Bedalona'' and even ''Vitulona''. The current name is documented already in 997 and by the 14th century was the most used and generalized.


History

The old remains of settlement are dated of the middle-new Neolithic (about 3500–2500 BC). The archeological finds consist of carved stone and silex tools which were found in Seriol hill and Manresà area and tombs with grave goods in Sistrells and Llefià quarters. Deposits of the bronze and Iron Age have been found in old brickyards (dated about 1800–1500 BC) many years ago and in the ''masies'' of Can Butinyà and Can Mora in the Canyet quarter (1500–1100 BC). Before the settlement of the Romans in Hispania the territory of Badalona was populated by Iberians who were settled over the Boscà hill (198 metres above the sea level), from where it is possible to watch the coastline. The settlement is first dated at least on the 4th century BC and was totally abandoned by the 1st century AD due to the romanization. Despite the presence of the Iberians, the origins of the city usually are date around the year 100 BC, when the Romans founded a city ''ex novo'' on Rosés hill (26,8 metres) next to the coast. The Roman town's plan was based on their common scheme of the '' cardo'' and ''
decumanus In Roman urban planning, a decumanus was an east–west-oriented road in a Roman city or castrum (military camp). The main decumanus of a particular city was the Decumanus Maximus, or most often simply "the Decumanus". In the rectangular street gr ...
'', occupying some 10 ha, with a line of walls. The Roman city was very dynamic, especially during the reign of Augustus, with an especialised vineyard agriculture destined to produce wine to export all over the empire. From the 3rd century, the city started declining and was almost depopulated and people fled to rustic ''villae''. However, the few remains of the Late antiquity prove that Baetulo was never abandoned. The current Badalona was formed in the 10th century, as a new urban nucleus built over the old Roman city and around the old forum and temple which was turned into a 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 Sant may refer to: People * Alfred Sant (born 1948), Maltese politician * Andrew Sant (born 1950), English-born Australian poet * David Sant (born 1968), Catalan director, actor and writer * Indira Sant (1914–2000), Indian poet * James Sant ...
, built in the 14th century, is where the Catholic Monarchs would spend their summers. According to some authors, this is also where they received Christopher Columbus after his first voyage to the Americas. During the 19th century Badalona remained as an agricultural and fishing centre, however this changed since 1848 with the arrival of the railway connecting the cities of Mataró and Barcelona, whose line installed a station in the village. This furthered the industrialization and economic development of Badalona and progressively made the traditional economic sectors decline. Because of the installation of industries, Badalona also became an important labour movement centre. Thanks to this, the village became a people attraction pole that doubled its population from 5.733 (1851) to 10.485 (1857) inhabitants, and by the end of the century Badalona had around 19.000 inhabitants. The demographic growth implied a new urbanistic development with an '' ensanche'' plan covering all along the coast from Sant Adrià to Montgat. In 1897, the city received the title of city from the queen regent
Maria Christina of Austria Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria of Austria ( es, María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorena; 21 July 1858 – 6 February 1929) was the second queen consort of Alfonso XII of Spain. She was queen regent during the vacancy of the ...
. The first third of the 20th century the city continued growing demographically, usually without control that implied the creation of new neighbourhoods that hadn't had urban infrastructures and were bad communicated with the centre of the city. During the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera the city council tried to reduce the problems of the city doing public works and constructed a new school, market and slaughterhouse and expanded sewage network, however this was not enough. During the years of the Second Republic the city was mainly in turmoil as well as during the civil war, when the city was bombed because it was an important industrial centre. After the end of the war, in 1940 the mayor Frederic Xifré was executed by the francoists. The dictatorship of Franco meant a decline of the many cultural life that Badalona had before the war. The period was also marked with the new immigrants arrivals mainly from the south of Spain, which made the city grow demographically even more quickly than before, that supposed the emergence of shanties neighbourhood with unhealthy conditions. The city went having 92.200 inhabitants in 1960 to 201.200 only fifteen years later. During the mandate of the mayor Felipe Antoja the city accepted the arrival of poor people from Barcelona who lived in shanties and the creation of poor-quality neighbourhoods that made Badalona one of the worst living places quality. The urbanistic policy also was not lenient with historical buildings or archaeological sites. Since the death of Franco, and especially from 1979, the city had a new social vitality with the organised neighbours’ movement that fought to get the lacking infrastructures of their neighbourhoods and the real estate speculation and obtained urban improvements. In fact, Badalona held the first tolerated demonstration and without violence the 29 January 1976. From this moment the city also suffered an economic transformation from an industrial to a services centre. In 1992 Badalona was sub-seat of the Olympic Games and was where the basket and boxing competitions were held. Despite that Badalona is included in the Barcelona conurbation still have its own identity, especially in the centric neighbourhoods.


Climate


Administrative divisions

Badalona has 34 neighbourhoods and 6 districts. Before the 20th century, the municipality was divided in 5 traditional quarters known as la Sagrera, Llefià, Sistrells, Canyet and Pomar. However, due to the growth of the population during the 20th century, the city was administratively divided into more neighbourhoods and new districts grouping each one several of them. The current division is dated of 1980, except for a modification in 2011 which reduced the districts from 8 to 6. The districts and their neighbourhoods are as follows: * District 1: Canyadó, Casagemes, Centre, Coll i Pujol, Dalt de la Vila,
El Manresà El Manresà is a neighbourhood of Badalona, located next the sea in the north limit of city with Montgat. It belongs to district 1. During the 19th century appeared a small slum in the outskirts of Badalona by the sea and near to the municipalit ...
and El Progrés. * District 2: Montigalà (western section), Nova Lloreda, Sant Crist de Can Cabanyes, Sistrells,
La Pau LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...
and Puigfred. * District 3: Montigalà (eastern section), Canyet,
Mas Ram Mas, Más or MAS may refer to: Film and TV * Más y Menos, fictional superhero characters, from the Teen Titans animated television series * Más (Breaking Bad), "Más" (''Breaking Bad''), a season three episode of ''Breaking Bad'' Songs * Más ( ...
, Bufalà, Pomar, Pomar de Dalt, Bonavista, Les Guixeres and Morera. * District 4:
La Salut La Salut is a neighborhood in the ''Gràcia'' district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin ...
,
Sant Antoni de Llefià Sant may refer to: People * Alfred Sant (born 1948), Maltese politician * Andrew Sant (born 1950), English-born Australian poet * David Sant (born 1968), Catalan director, actor and writer * Indira Sant (1914–2000), Indian poet * James Sant ...
, Sant Joan de Llefià, Sant Mori de Llefià. * District 5: Gorg,
La Mora LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...
, Congrés,
Can Claris Can may refer to: Containers * Aluminum can * Drink can * Oil can * Steel and tin cans * Trash can * Petrol can * Metal can (disambiguation) Music * Can (band), West Germany, 1968 ** ''Can'' (album), 1979 * Can (South Korean band) Other * Can ...
and
El Raval El Raval () is a neighborhood in the '' Ciutat Vella'' district of Barcelona, the capital city of Catalonia. The neighborhood, especially the part closest to the old port, was formerly (informally) known as ''Barri Xinès'' or ''Barrio Chino'', me ...
. * District 6: Artigues,
El Remei EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American ...
and
Sant Roc Sant Roc (Catalan name; Spanish: ''San Roque'') is a neighbourhood of Badalona, in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). In 1958 the Badalona city council planned construction on the site, under the name of Barrio del Regadío. I ...
.


Transportation

Badalona has a Renfe train station R1 from Barcelona to MataróBlanes, as well as a harbour. There are also links to Barcelona via the
Barcelona Metropolitan Transport Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) is the main public transit operator in Barcelona. A combination of two formerly-separate companies, ''Ferrocarril Metropolità de Barcelona, SA.'' and ''Transports de Barcelona, SA.'', it runs most of th ...
(TMB) metro (underground) and bus system, as well as the
Trambesòs Trambesòs () is a tram– light rail system in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia that links the Barcelona district of Sant Martí with Badalona and Sant Adrià de Besòs. Its name comes from the union of the words "tram", an abbre ...
line.


Population

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


Economy

The economy of Badalona is mainly based on the service sector, although traditionally was an important industrial centre. The primary sector as agriculture and fishing were also remarkable. However, those activities declined throughout the 20th century. In 2017 Badalona's GDP worth 4.122,9 million Euros, of which 3.020 (79,9%) corresponds to services, 501,8 to industry (13,3%), to construction (6,9%) and a tiny part (less than 1%) to agriculture. About the primary sector, in the one hand since 2004, agriculture in Badalona basically consists only of the vineyards of the masia of Can Coll, and more recently, since 2019, vineyards haven been planted next to the monastery Sant Jeroni de la Murtra by a cooperative. Both farms are in the neighbourhood of Canyet. Since 2012 Badalona is part of Alella DO. On the other hand, fishing is a residual sector, the lack of a port in the city until 2005 made the fishers going to work to other ports like Barcelona, Vilanova i la Geltrú or Blanes. The port, managed by Marina Badalona, is dedicated mainly to
marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...
, however it also has a fishing part and a fish market, but there are few fishers nowadays. Industry was a key sector in Badalona for many years, since the arrival of the train in 1848. The old village grown and appeared a lot of factories from different sectors (chemical, metallurgical, food and liquors, etc.). All changed the last decades of the 20th century, many industries left the city because the contamination. Since then Badalona developed specific industrial zones as Les Guixeres, where the city council constructed the Badalona International Business Center, with the aim of improving the services, external projection, exchanges and competitiveness in the European and American market of the companies based in Badalona. The main sectors are microelectronics and robotics, followed by packaging and aerosols, textile machinery and industrials molds.


Culture

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 The Falles ( ca-valencia, Falles; es, Fallas) is a traditional celebration held annually in commemoration of Saint Joseph in the city of Valencia, Spain. The five main days celebrated are from 15 to 19 March, while the Mascletà, a pyrotechnic ...
.


Tourism

Badalona is popular stop for tourists. The city has its own touristic route featuring the old town of Dalt de la Vila with stops in the Church of Santa Maria, the Old Tower and some medieval streets, besides some modernist houses. From there and following Costa street, it shows the Baix a Mar or Centre area, which concentrates a wide range of shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Key tourist stops include: * Monastery of Sant Jeroni de la Murtra. * Old Roman ''Baetulo'', in the Museum of Badalona. * Iberian settlement of turó d'en Boscà. * City beach. * Annual Burning of the Devil during Festes de Maig.


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 Badalona, also known as la Penya. This place will also be the centre 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

* Alcanar, Spain *
San Fernando San Fernando may refer to: People *Ferdinand III of Castile (c. 1200–1252), called ''San Fernando'' (Spanish) or ''Saint Ferdinand'', King of Castile, León, and Galicia Places Argentina *San Fernando de la Buena Vista, city of Greater Buenos ...
, Spain *
Parla Parla () is a municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain. It is located in the southern part of the region, approximately 20 km from the capital, Madrid. History Origins Earliest evidence of human occupation includes stone tools m ...
, Spain * Valparaíso, Chile *
Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...
, Sweden * Sitges, Spain


Notable people

* Vicenç Bosch (1845–1907), businessman * Francesc Planas (1845–1911), journalist *
Antoni Bori Antoni is a Catalan, Polish, and Slovene given name and a surname used in the eastern part of Spain, Poland and Slovenia. As a Catalan given name it is a variant of the male names Anton and Antonio. As a Polish given name it is a variant of the fe ...
(1861–1912), writer and teacher *
Enric Borràs Enric () is a Catalan common given name, the Catalan variant of ''Heinrich'' of Germanic origin. Equivalents in other languages include Henry (English), Enrico (Italian), Henrik (Scandinavian), Henri (French, German), Enrique (Spanish) or Henriqu ...
(1863–1957), theatre actor *
Llorenç Brunet Llorenç Brunet Forroll (1872-1939), also known in Spanish as Lorenzo Brunet, was a Spanish illustrator, caricaturist and watercolorist. He signed his works as L. Bru-Net or Bru-Net. Life Brunet was born in Badalona on 14 September 1872, son o ...
(1873–1939), illustrator *
Joan Amigó Joan Amigó i Barriga (1875–1958) was a Spanish architect, a late representative of the modernism and the most important of this style in Badalona. Life He was born in Badalona on 27 January 1875, son of Francesca Barriga i Torner and Ramon A ...
(1875–1959), architect * Joaquim Trias (1888–1964), doctor * Antoni Trias (1892–1970), doctor *
Antoni Botey Antoni is a Catalan, Polish, and Slovene given name and a surname used in the eastern part of Spain, Poland and Slovenia. As a Catalan given name it is a variant of the male names Anton and Antonio. As a Polish given name it is a variant of the fem ...
(1896–1939), composer and musician * Josep Maria Cuyàs (1904–1992), historian and archeologist * Anna Tugas (1911–2015), athlete * Francesc Xavier Estruch (1912–1999), basketball player and trainer *
Joan Forns Joan may refer to: People and fictional characters *Joan (given name), including a list of women, men and fictional characters *:Joan of Arc, a French military heroine *Joan (surname) Weather events *Tropical Storm Joan (disambiguation), multiple ...
(1916–1998), illusionist * Josep Gual (1920–2005), poet *
Pere Rovira Pere may refer to: *Pere, Hungary, a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county * Rangimārie Te Turuki Arikirangi Rose Pere (1937–2020), Māori New Zealand educationalist and spiritual leader *Wi Pere (1837–1915), a Māori Member of Parliament i ...
(1921–1978), dressmaker *
Joan Argenté Joan may refer to: People and fictional characters *Joan (given name), including a list of women, men and fictional characters *: Joan of Arc, a French military heroine *Joan (surname) Weather events *Tropical Storm Joan (disambiguation), multipl ...
(1931–2015), poet * Josep Lluís (1937–2018), basketball player and trainer * Jordi Dauder (1938–2011), actor * Julià de Jòdar (born 1942), writer *
Joaquim Torrents Joaquim is the Portuguese and Catalan version of Joachim and may refer to: * Alberto Joaquim Chipande, politician * Eduardo Joaquim Mulémbwè, politician * Joaquim Agostinho (1943–1984), Portuguese professional bicycle racer * Joaquim Amat ...
(1946–1993), painter *
Enric Juliana Enric Juliana Ricart (born 1957) is a Spanish journalist and political commentator. Biography Born in Badalona in 1957, he became a journalist at a young age, joining the Barcelona-based daily newspaper ' in 1975, later working for ', Televisi ...
(born 1956), journalist * Lluïsa Cunillé (born 1961), playwright * Tomàs Molina (born 1963), meteorologist *
Jorge Javier Vázquez Jorge Javier Vázquez Morales (born 25 July 1970) is a Spanish television presenter, writer and actor. Early life and beginnings Vázquez was born in the Sant Roc district of Badalona, Catalonia, Spain. His mother María Morales Martínez h ...
(born 1970), TV personality * Melani Olivares (born 1973), actress *
Juan Magán Juan Manuel Magán González (born 30 September 1978) is a Spanish producer, singer, remixer and DJ of electronic dance music, recognized internationally for his contributions to the "Electro Latino" category of music. As a remixer, he has worke ...
(born 1978), DJ and singer * Isaac Sánchez "Loulogio" (born 1983), comedian *
Pau Ribas Pau Ribas Tossas (born 2 March 1987) is a Spanish professional basketball player for Joventut Badalona of the Spanish Liga ACB. Standing at , he primarily plays the shooting guard position. His father, Jordi Ribas, was also a professional bask ...
(born 1987), basketball player *
Mireia Belmonte ] Mireia Belmonte García (born 10 November 1990) is a Spanish Olympic, world, and European champion Swimming (sport), swimmer. She is the world record holder in the short course 200-metre butterfly and 400-metre individual medley. Formerl ...
(born 1990), swimmer *
Héctor Bellerín Héctor Bellerín Moruno (born 19 March 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-back or wing-back for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Spain national team. Bellerín started his career at Barcelona, and moved ...
(born 1995), football player


See also

*
CF Badalona Club de Fútbol Badalona () is a Spanish football team based in Badalona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1903 it plays in Tercera Federación – Group 5, temporarily holding home games at Estadi Municipal de Badalona, with ...
(Spanish League – 2nd division) * Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer * Joventut Badalona (basketball team) in
Liga ACB The Liga ACB, known as Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league system. Administrated by the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB), Liga ACB is contested by 18 teams, wi ...
* Palau Municipal d'Esports de Badalona (Olympic basketball seat '92)


Notes


References

* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). ''Guia de Catalunya'', Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. (Spanish). (Catalan). *


External links

* *
Official site

Government data pages

Information
from the
Diputació de Barcelona Barcelona (, ) is a province of eastern Spain, in the center of the autonomous community of Catalonia. The province is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Lleida, and Girona, and by the Mediterranean Sea. Its area is . Populated places in Barcelonès