Badalona

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Badalona
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Badalona Location in Catalonia
Coordinates: 41°26′56″N 2°14′46″E / 41.44889°N 2.24611°E / 41.44889; 2.24611Coordinates: 41°26′56″N 2°14′46″E / 41.44889°N 2.24611°E / 41.44889; 2.24611
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Barcelona
Comarca	Barcelonès
Government
- Mayor	Antoni Serra (PSC)
Area
- Total	22.17 km2 (8.6 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2009)
- Total	222,000
- Density	10,013.5/km2 (25,934.9/sq mi)
- Demonym	Badaloní, badalonina
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Badalona (Baetulo in Roman times) is a city in Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès near the city of Barcelona. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea. The "7 wonders" of Badalona are: Sant Jeroni de la Murtra, Roman City, Patín a vela, Anís del Mono, La Rambla, Dalt la Vila and Giants Anastasi i Maria. It has won the nomination for the 2010 Capital of Catalan Culture.

Passeig de la Rambla, Badalona

Badalona is located in eastern Catalonia, 10 minutes from Barcelona. It is situated between the mountains and the sea. It has a RENFE (train) station R1 from Aeroport - Barcelona to Blanes - Lloret de Mar - Mataró, as well as a small harbour. It links to Barcelona via the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport TMB metro (underground) and bus system. 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.

Badalona is one of the oldest towns in Catalonia. It is situated near Barcelona and has 220,000 inhabitants. The city hosts a typical Mediterranean climate and six kilometres of beach.

The greater specific gravity (cultural popularity? demographics?) that Badalona has obtained in the metropolitan area and its increasing presence in the economic and cultural world of Catalonia are the result of the transformations introduced in its urban planning and public services. Badalona is a town with a lot of contrasts, where the interrelations between cultures and races generate a multiplicity of cultural activities. Many Badalona residents originally immigrated (when?) from the south and north of Spain. International immigration, on the other hand, accounts for just 9% of the population. The current reality in Badalona is the reflection of 2.000 years of history.

The origins of an urban Badalona can be found in the creation of an urban settlement by the Romans, in the year 200 B.C. Back then, this settlement was called Baetulo. People born in Badalona have always been proud of its Roman origin, as is demonstrated in the Museum and the preservation of historical artifacts--the Roman Baths, the House on Lladó street, a length of water pipe in Pujol street, and the remains of the wall of the Hort de les Monges, as well as sculptures, wall paintings, mosaics and the Tabula Hospitalis, show us the results of the efforts to protect the past remains. The Venus of Badalona, a small sculpture carved in white marble, is key in identifying Badalona with its Roman past, demonstrating that Badalona was a wealthy Roman urban hub.

Badalona was formed in the 10th century--a new urban nucleus built over and around the old Roman city. It was formed by a group of houses built around the square (plaza) 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 middle of the 18th century.

Badalona has one of the most important monasteries in Spanish history. Sant Jeroni de la Murtra Monastery, built in the 14th century, was where the Catholic Monarchs of Spain would spend their summers. This is also where they received Christopher Columbus after his first voyage to the Americas.

Badalona was one of the most important towns during industrialization. At the beginning of the 19th century, many high quality buildings were erected, among which the Pavillard house is outstanding. This house was built by Joan Amigó i Barriga in 1906, and is considered the best modernist work in the city. Badalona houses many modernist buildings, as well as architectural works that span the 10th, 11th, 12th and 16th centuries.

The protection of artistic and historical heritage has been a constant job in Badalona. One of the latest and most important examples has been the remodeling of Zorrilla Theatre, a 19th century theatre that was reopened in 1999 with the visit of the Spanish Kings, after having been closed under municipal management for 29 years.

May is the month for festivities in Badalona. On the 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 Fallas.

Despite the famous saying "Badalona, Bressol del Basquetbol" (Badalona: The Cradle of Basketball), the citizens play a lot of different and varied sports, in numerous sports complexes. The most important of these sports complexes is the Palau Municipal d'Esports (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 famous basketball team from Badalona, Joventut, 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.

Anís del Mono

This Mediterranean port region is the home to the historic distillery which produces Anís del Mono, a spirit made of herbs and anise, the most famous anisette in Spain.

Demography

See also

• Joventut Badalona (basketball team) ACB
• Palau Municipal d'Esports de Badalona (Olympic basketball seat '92)
• CF Badalona (Spanish League - 2nd division)
• Roman Antiquities, Museum (Baetulo, Roman city)
• Turó d'en Boscà, Iberian settlement (IV century b.C.)
• The Beaches
• Weekend Nightlife
• Indoor Karting
• La Rambla
• Carrer de Mar
• Harbour
• Pont del Petroli (platform 250m inside the sea)
• May's parties (Festes de Maig)

Architecture

• Sant Jeroni de la Murtra Monastery (XIII Century - Gothic)
• Anís del Mono (most famous Spanish anisette)(Modernism)
• Casa de la Vila (Eclecticism)
• Casa Gallent (Noucentisme)
• Casa Gafarel·lo (Modernism)
• Casa Miquel Badia (Modernism)
• Can Pepus (Modernism)
• Casa Agustí (Modernism)
• Casa Pere Tejedor (Modernism)
• Casa Matamala (Modernism)
• Bosch Family Pantheon (Modernism)
• Can Canyadó farmhouse (XV Century)
• Torre Codina (XIV Century)
• Casa Pavillard (Modernism)
• Ca l'Amigó (Modernism)
• Godmar Castle (XI Century)
• Can Boscà (Gothic)
• Can Miravitges (XI Century)
• Casa Pere Busquets (Modernism)
• Maignon Market (Modernism)
• Torre Vella (XIII Century)
• Santa Maria's Church (Neoclassicism)

References

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Badalona.

• Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Badalona

• Official site (Catalan)
• Information from the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan)
• Information from the Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (Catalan)
• Information from the Diputació de Barcelona (Catalan)
• Badalona fire station (Catalan)
• Badaweb.com (English)
• Badalona Artistic Images (English)
• DKV Joventut (Penya) (Catalan)
• C.F. Badalona (Catalan)
• http://www.rembadalona.cat (Catalan)
• http://www.xtec.cat/ceipfolchitorres-badalona (Catalan)

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