Geography of Barcelona

Barcelona the second largest city of Spain is the capital of Catalonia. Being the capital of Catalonia the city is the seat of the Generalitat de Catalunya and its three branches: the Executive Government, the Parliament of Catalonia and the Supreme Court of Catalonia. The origin of Barcelona has two theories. According to the first the origin is attributed to Hercules 400 years before Rome was built. It also states that the city was rebuilt by Hamilcar Barca a Carthaginian, father of Hannibal, who named the city Barcino after his family in the 3rd century BC. According to the second legend the foundation of Barcelona is directly attributed to Hamilcar Barca.

Barcelona is located on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and faces the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona is situated on a plateau that has a width of 5 km on the Collserola mountain range. The Llobregat River is at the south while the Besos River runs north of Barcelona. It is 160 km or100 miles south of the Pyrenees mountain range. The city of Barcelona spreads over an area of 10.096 ha. Its lowest point is Pla de Palau Place. This is just 5m above the the sea level.

The Collserola mountain range surrounds the city and forms a nice backdrop. The zenith of this mountain range is mount Tibidabo that is 512 m high. The city is full of small hills that beautify the landscape. Some of the names of the different mounts are Carmel (267 m.), Monterols (121 m.), Putxet (181 m.), Rovira (261 m.) and Peira (133 m). To the north, the city borders the municipalities of Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adria de Beso. In the south it borders L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat while in the east is the Mediterranean and to the west are Montcada i Reixach and Sant Cugat del Valles.