Badalona


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 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 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, who use the same name for the Besòs river. 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. By the 15th century the current Catalan name was already in use.

History

The old remains of settlement are dated of the middle-new Neolithic. The archeological findis 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. Have been found deposits of the bronze and iron age in old brickyards many years ago and in the masies of Can Butinyà and Can Mora in the Canyet quarter.
Before the settlement of the romans in Hispania the territory of Badalona was populated by Iberians whose settling over the Boscà hill, from where it is possible to watch the coastal line. The settlement is first dated at least on the 4th century BC and was totally abandoned by the 1st century AD due 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 next to the coast. The Roman town's plan was based on their common scheme of the cardo and decumanus, occupying some 10 ha, with a line of walls. The roman city was very dynamic, especially during the reign of Augustus, with a 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, built in the 14th century, is where the Catholic Monarchs 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 the Spanish industrialization process, from the 19th century onwards.

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

Population

Badalona has the second-largest Moroccan and Pakistani populations of Catalonia. Other significant communities include Maghrebis, 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 corresponds to services, 501,8 to industry, to construction and a tiny part to agriculture.
The harbour is 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 woollen 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, an anisette made of herbs and anise.

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 --similar to the famous Valencian Falles.

Sport

The city's most important sport complex is the Palau Municipal d'Esports de Badalona, 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