The Roman walls surrounding the center of Barcelona embrace Bàrcino, which has existed since the 1st century BC to thebeginning of the Middle Ages. The city that started as a small colony and gradually grew briefly to become an imperial city.
During the Middle Ages, Barcelona became the Ciutat Comtal (Count’s City) and the political importance of the city increased. It also became the seat of the main political institutions in Old Catalonia that favoured the development of trade which led to the city’s growth and expansion, and the major construction of some wonderful and magnificent Gothic-style buildings.
Towards the end of the 17th century and beginning of the 18th century, Barcelona continued being a dynamic city, that linked to other parts of the world, but suffered some long sieges that left deep scars. However, thanks to the fighting spirit of its inhabitants, it enjoyed a resurgence at the end of the 18thcentury as the driving force of an industrial development that took root in the course of the 19th century.
As the city’s industry and population grew, socially and politically, one event, notably the Spanish Civil War. The long period of dictatorship followed, setting the tone for a time of upheaval. Finally, at the end of the 20th century, and the arrival of democracy, Barcelona rose again , determined to become a great 21st century metropolis.