Barcelona has existed as a settlement for two millennia. Early civilizations shaped the city before it achieved, in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, global power as a trading metropolis and empire capital. After a long struggle with the unifying Spanish state, the city revived, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as an industrial and commercial powerhouse. It became a center of culture, ornamented by modern planning and wondrous works by Gaudi and others. Barcelona became known as "The Rose of Fire": home to revolutionaries and anarchists. Creativity and conflict continued to shape Barcelona in the twentieth century, as its citizens faced the Spanish Republic, Civil War and Franco's dictatorship. Linking social and cultural currents to the rich architectural and experiential heritage of this multi-layered city, McDonogh and Martinez-Rigol reveal Barcelona's hidden history to modern-day visitors and residents alike.

About the Author
Gary McDonogh is Helen Herrmann Chair and Professor of Growth and Structure of Cities at Bryn Mawr College.

Sergi Martinez-Rigol is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Barcelona.

Reviews

"McDonogh and Martinez-Rigol have mastered the material thoroughly. This comprehensive survey uses the city as a document of its own history and captures Barcelona's elusive character. It will enhance visitors' experiences and be a trusty guide for students and the general reader."
-Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, author of 1492: The Year Our World Began

"A dream journey through Barcelona's history, combining deep knowledge and stories, complementary points of view, architectural and social aspects, and multidisciplinary and multigenerational visions."
-Carles Carreras, University of Barcelona

Book Information
ISBN 9780745670690
Author Gary McDonogh
Format Hardback
Page Count 336
Imprint Polity Press
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 386g
Dimensions(mm) 172mm * 118mm * 30mm