7. It Has its Own Language
Most people know that Spanish and Catalan are the two official languages in Barcelona. The two are widely spoken and most street signs are written in both. Contrary to popular belief, however, Catalan is not a just a regional dialect of Spanish. It is a linguistically distinct Latin derivative and a great source of cultural identity and local pride. The Romance language dates back to the 8th or 9th century, and despite being banned between 1939-1975 during the Franco dictatorship, it couldn’t be snuffed out. Today over 9 million people speak fluent Catalan. Don’t worry, you can get by with Spanish and even English in Barcelona, although the locals will love it if you try a few worlds in their Catalan tongue.
8. Barcelona Loves Books
You can thank the city of Barcelona for World Book Day. It stems from St. Georges Day (La Diada de San Jordi), a big festival the city throws on April 23 to celebrate love, literacy and the love of books. The tradition is to present your loved ones with roses and books. Based on this custom, that date is now recognized as the International Day of Books by UNESCO.
