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Badalona

Badalona
Municipality
Playa BDN.jpg
Flag of Badalona
Flag
Coat of arms of Badalona
Coat of arms
Badalona is located in Catalonia
Badalona
Badalona
Badalona is located in Spain
Badalona
Badalona
Coordinates: 41°26′56″N 2°14′46″E / 41.44889°N 2.24611°E / 41.44889; 2.24611Coordinates: 41°26′56″N 2°14′46″E / 41.44889°N 2.24611°E / 41.44889; 2.24611
Autonomous community  Catalonia
Province Barcelona
Comarca Barcelonès
Government
 • Mayor Dolors Sabater Puig (2015) (GBeC)
Area
 • Total 21.2 km2 (8.2 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 217,210
 • Density 10,000/km2 (27,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Badaloní; Badalonina (ca)
Badalonés; Badalonesa (es)
Postal code 08910-08918
Area code(s) (+34) 934
Website badalona.cat
Largest groups of foreign residents
Nationality Population (2011)
 Morocco 5,527
 Pakistan 5,462
 China 3,835
 Ecuador 3,062
 Bolivia 1,800
 India 1,305
 Senegal 1,222
 Dominican Republic 1,000

Badalona (Catalan pronunciation: [bəðəˈɫonə]) is a city in eastern Catalonia. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès, joined to Barcelona and part of its metropolitan area. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Serra de la Marina mountain range. Badalona is the third most-populated municipality in Catalonia after Barcelona and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. It became a city in 1897. The city is currently governed by "Guanyem Badalona en Comú", a coalition including the Popular Unity Candidacy.

Badalona was founded by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, with the name of Baetulo, although human settlements in the area existed from 3500-2500 BC. The Iberians had fortified villages on the Melasas and Boscà hills since the 7th century BC. The Roman town's plan was based on their common scheme of the cardo and decumanus, occupying some 11 ha, with a line of walls measuring 413x261 m and having large defensive towers. In the 1st century BC it had some 15,000 inhabitants.

The current Badalona was formed in the 10th century, as a new urban nucleus built over and around the old Roman city. It comprised a group of houses built around the square and the 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.


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Wikipedia

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