Badalona, Spain

Badalona, Spain

Badalona (Baetulo in Roman times) is a city in 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 river Besòs and on the Mediterranean Sea. Badalona has a station on the RENFE R1 suburban railway line from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat to Maçanet-Massanes and a small harbour, chiefly important for its fishing and boat-building trades. There are gas, chemical and mineral-oil works in the town, which also manufactures woollen and cotton goods, glass, biscuits, sugar and brandy; while the surrounding fertile plains produce an abundance of grain, wine and fruit. Badalona thus largely contributes to the export trade of Barcelona, and may, in fact, be regarded as its industrial suburb. Badalona is one of the oldest towns in Catalonia. It is situated near Barcelona and has 210.000 inhabitants.With a typical mediterranian climate and five kilometres of beach, Badalona is excepcionally well positioned, between the sea and the mountain. The greater specific gravity that Badalona has obtained in the metropolitan area and its increasing presence in the economic and cultural world in Catalonia is the result of the transformations introduced in the town urban plans and in the public services. Badalona is a town with a lot of contrasts, where the interrelations between cultures and races generates a big multiplicity of cultural activities. The current reality in Badalona is the reflection of 2.000 years of history. Historically, we can find the urban starting point of our town in the foundations of an urban settlement by the Romans, in the year 100 B.C. Since then, that first nucleus has changed to become Badalona as it is nowadays. It was called Baetulo. People born in Badalona have always been proud of its Roman origin. The Roman Baths, in the Museum, the House preserved in Lladó street, a length of water pipe in Pujol street, and the remains of the wall oh 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 what really identifies Badalona with the Roman past. Since the tenth century, a new urban nucleus formed in Badalona, where the old Roman city was, formed by a group of houses around the square and the church. At the same time, a rural nucleus grew up outside the town walls. This double situation, urban and rural, would remain until the middle of the eighteenth century. Badalona was one of the most important towns during industrialization. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, many high quality buildings were erected, among which the Pavillard house is outstanding. It was built by Joan Amigó i Barriga in 1906, and is considered the best modernist work in town. The protection of artistic and historical heritage is constant. To this effect, one of the last and more important examples has been the remodelling of Zorrilla Theatre, a nineteenth-century theatre which has been reopened in 1999 under municipal management after having being closed 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 (Burning Devil), similar to the famous Valencia Fallas. Despite the famous saying "Badalona, Bressol del Basquetbol" (Badalona 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, than won Mies Van der Rohe award in 1992. This palace was the setting for basketball competition during the Olympic Games in 1992.

Source: Wiki & Video Europe
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