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Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in terms of population. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia.

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All Content on this topic

A man takes shelter from the rain with an umbrella, on November 4, 2024, in Badalona, Barcelona, Cataluna Espana.

Spain floods: Barcelona on high alert amid Valencia searches

Red alerts have been issued for the cities of Barcelona and Tarragona, with local transport suspended in many areas.
CatastropheNovember 4, 2024
Lamine Yamal (r) and Raphael Dias Belloli (Raphinha, l) smile and gesture as they celebrate during FC Barcelona's resounding 4-0 defeat of Real Madrid in the traditional El Clasico match on Saturday, October 26, 2024

Real Madrid and La Liga condemn abuse of Barcelona players

Real Madrid and football and government authorities have voiced disgust over racist abuse aimed at FC Barcelona players.
SportsOctober 27, 2024
Therapie von Inline-Skaterin Javiera Garrido

Healing through skating

Javiera Garrido is one of the best freestyle Skaters in the world. The Chilean wants to heal people through skating.
SportsAugust 30, 202412:36 min
Many people lying in the sun on Cala Santanyi beach on the island of Mallorca, Spain.

Mass tourism sparks rise in locals' resentment

Protests against mass tourism are growing in many popular European destinations.
TravelJuly 25, 2024
Crowds on a beach in Palma de Mallorca

Barcelona to up tourist tax as Mallorca seeks visitor cap

Locals in Spain's tourism hotspot are increasingly frustrated about mass tourism. Authorities are clamping down.
TravelJuly 21, 2024
How to survive heatwaves in the city

How to survive heatwaves in the city

A network of climate shelters in Barcelona isn’t only making people more comfortable, it’s also saving lives.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 19, 202411:57 min
A couple sits at at a table in Barcelona while protesters stand outside

Protests in Spain: 'Tourists, go home'

Spain is a popular vacation destination, but tourism is becoming problematic. Residents are now voicing their anger.
TravelJuly 10, 20249 images
People walk down a narrow street in Barcelona

Barcelona's plans to manage tourism angers residents

As tourist numbers surge, Barcelona residents ask why the Spanish city is hosting the America's Cup in August, too.
TravelJuly 5, 202406:05 min
DW Sendung Made in Germany

Tourism – its effect on people and the environment

Tourism can put a strain on cities and the environment. Is there a way to make travel more green?
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 3, 202426:04 min
Barcelona Spain seen from a high angle with a view of the sunrise city skyline from Bunkers del Carmel

How Spain's tourism industry is dealing with drought

Amid its worst drought in centuries, Barcelona's vital tourism industry is being reshaped by water-saving technology.
BusinessJune 26, 2024
Four girls look at the Barcelona city center from the Turo de la Rovira. In the background, the Mediterranean Sea is seen.

No Airbnb in Barcelona? City to ban short-term rentals

To tackle an affordable housing shortage, the mayor of the popular Spanish city wants to ban tourist apartment rentals.
TravelJune 22, 202401:40 min
A man and woman stand in front of a Barcelona tourist spot holding their phone on a selfie stick

Is Barcelona as beautiful as it looks on Instagram?

Barcelona's landmarks look stunning on social media. But are they that breathtaking in reality?
TravelJune 17, 202404:46 min
Hansi Flick stares into space while Germany coach in 2023

Barcelona hire former Germany and Bayern coach Hansi Flick

Hansi Flick had been out of work since being fired by Germany in September 2023. He succeeds the sacked Xavi.
SportsMay 29, 2024
Barcelona players lift the Champions League trophy

Barcelona enter era of dominance in women's football

Barcelona women won a historic first club quadruple after winning their third Champions League title in four years.
SoccerMay 25, 2024
File photo of Dani Alves on the pitch

Spanish court imprisons soccer star Alves for rape

The case is one of the most high-profile trials in Spain since it changed the way sexual assault cases are prosecuted.
SportsFebruary 22, 202401:57 min
Brazilian footballer Dani Alves looks on at the start of his trial at the High Court of Justice of Catalonia

Dani Alves jailed for 4.5 years for sexual assault

Brazilian former soccer star Dani Alves was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in a nightclub.
CrimeFebruary 22, 2024
Pedalos sit next to a dry dock in an empty lake

Spain: Catalonia declares drought emergency for Barcelona

Residents in Spain's second-biggest city and the region surrounding it will face tighter restrictions on water usage.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 1, 2024
Dürre in Südeuropa

Spain set to declare drought emergency in Catalonia

Barcelona and its surroundings are preparing for tighter water restrictions amid a historic drought.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 1, 202402:08 min
Horacio Gaggioli holds a framed copy of the napkin linking a 13-year-old Lionel Messi to FC Barcelona

Napkin with Messi's first Barcelona contract up for auction

The napkin on which 13-year-old Lionel Messi signed his first contract will have a starting price of £300,000.
SportsFebruary 1, 2024
Barcelona celebrate their Champions League win

Women's Champions League: What you need to know

Barcelona and Lyon have shared the last eight Women’s Champions League titles, but will that change this season?
SportsNovember 13, 2023
Unionist supporters protest against an amnesty of separatist leaders and activists involved in the 2017 failed independence drive in Barcelona, Spain, October 8, 2023

Spain: Protest against Catalan amnesty deal draws huge crowd

Acting PM Pedro Sanchez is planning to drop charges against Catalan separatists to help him secure a new term.
PoliticsOctober 8, 2023
Young tourists sit at a viewpoint overlooking Barcelona.

The 10 most visited cities in Europe

For World Tourism Day, we compared international tourist arrivals in 2022. Here's the ranking.
TravelSeptember 27, 202310 images
Migrants sit onboard a boat navigating in agitated waters

Senegalese fishermen: 'Barcelona, or die trying'

Fishermen embark on the perilous journey from Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands, as native fish stocks deplete.
MigrationAugust 7, 202301:37 min
A plane with a 'Say No To Super League' banner flying over Elland Road against Liverpool's decision to be included amongst the clubs attempting to form a new European Super League. Issue date: Wednesday May 12, 2021.

Football: Juventus seeks exit from failed Super League

Juventus has become the last Italian club to formally seek an exit from the still-born European Super League project.
SoccerJuly 13, 2023
Pedal boats on dry soil clods are seen at the Sau water reservoir

Is drinking seawater Barcelona's solution to drought?

Drought-stricken Barcelona is home to Europe's biggest desalination plant. Could it solve the city's water shortages?
TechnologyJuly 6, 202304:06 min
Ilkay Gundogan is seen holding the Champions League trophy after Manchester City won the final match

Germany's Ilkay Gündogan joins Barcelona

Just weeks after captaining Manchester City to Champions League glory, Ilkay Gündogan has signed for Barcelona.
SportsJune 26, 2023
Wolfsburg's women

Champions League: Final loss highlights Wolfsburg's flaws

Wolfsburg's Champions League final defeat raises questions about where they are on the landscape of women's football.
SoccerJune 3, 2023
A person cycling on a bike path

In a boost for bikes, cities back sustainable mobility

European cities are increasingly following the Dutch model, creating more space for cycling. But not everyone is happy.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 2, 2023
A prototype image of a refurbished street with gras, trees, pedestrian lanes and bike lanes

15-minute cities: What are they and how do they work?

City planners are urging a rethink of how we build urban areas. Could the 15-minute city help?
Nature and EnvironmentMarch 15, 2023
People walk past a sign of the 2023 edition of the Mobile World Congress

MWC Barcelona: How China is dominating global connectivity

This year's MWC has moved even further away from being Europe's smart device launchpad to global connectivity talk shop.
BusinessFebruary 28, 2023
Lea Schüller celebrates scoring a goal

Bayern's record-breaking night highlights progress made

Bayern Munich women’s defeat of Barcelona shows progress continues to be made on and off the pitch.
SoccerDecember 8, 2022
A wounded person is helped by medical emergency after two trains collided in Montcada i Reixac, near Barcelona

Spain: 155 injured in train collision near Barcelona

Two trains collided near Barcelona in the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia, injuring 155 people.
CatastropheDecember 7, 2022
Robert Lewandowski clinches his fist as he celebrates scoring

World Cup: Lewandowski's 'childhood dream' comes true

Robert Lewandowski scored his first World Cup goal to lead Poland to an impressive 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
SportsNovember 26, 2022
woman holding a placard during a protest

Spain: Protesters demand end of violence against women

Thousands of protesters marched in Madrid and Barcelona carrying placards that read ''no is no, anything else is rape."
PoliticsNovember 26, 2022
Sadio Mane scores a goal past Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Bayern Munich hand Barcelona Champions League lesson

Bayern Munich have again reminded Barcelona of the difference between assembling a top squad and playing like one.
SoccerOctober 26, 2022
Brazil's Neymar arrives at court to stand trial on fraud and corruption charges over the transfer to FC Barcelona from Santos in 2013

Neymar goes on trial for fraud in Spain

The Paris St. Germain star faces both jail time and a steep fine for allegedly underreporting his transfer fee in 2013.
SportsOctober 17, 2022
Tourists walk on the streets of the old town of Dubrovnik.

European cities see tourism rebound

After two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions, tourists are returning to Europe's major cities.
TravelOctober 12, 20229 images
Spanish players celebrate opening the scoring in the Euro 2022 quarterfinal match against England

Spanish football players resign en masse

Fifteen Spain players have resigned from the national team after the federation refused to sack head coach Jorge Vilda.
SoccerSeptember 23, 2022
Barcelona players celebrate during last season's Champions League

Liga F to begin after referees agree new deal

Liga F is now set to begin after improved match fees for officials were approved after an opening weekend strike.
SportsSeptember 15, 2022
Robert Lewandowski looks on as Bayern Munich celebrate

Returning Lewandowski upstaged as Bayern beat Barcelona

It was not a happy homecoming for Robert Lewandowski as Bayern outmuscled Barcelona in the Champions League.
SportsSeptember 14, 2022
Julian Nagelsmann looking pensive on the touchline against Stuttgart

Tactician or man-manager? Julian Nagelsmann's balancing act

Bayern have suffered their worse start to the Bundesliga in 12 years. Coach Julian Nagelsmann faces a balancing act.
SportsSeptember 12, 2022
August 15, 2022, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: 'Atzeries' the fire beast sets of its flying sparks inaugurating the 'Festa Major de Gracia', the famous festival in Barcelona's Gracia quarter.

The Barcelona street festival where mythical creatures roam

Human castles, fireworks, dragons and rollercoasters inbetween the houses: Barcelona's famous street festival is back.
CultureAugust 17, 20229 images
Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring for Bayern Munich

Lewandowski to leave Munich for Barcelona

The 33-year-old Polish striker has swapped Bayern for Barcelona and departs a year before the end of his contract.
SportsJuly 16, 2022
Robert Lewandowski waves to the Bayern Munich fans

Robert Lewandowski's stunning Bundesliga career

We look back at Robert Lewandowski's illustrious career, which started in his native Poland.
SportsJuly 16, 20228 images
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The opportunities of the pandemic

The pandemic has been especially tough for artists. But some saw an opportunity in the crisis.
HealthJuly 7, 202204:06 min
Lyon lift Champions League title

Lyon retake European throne on night of historic support

Barcelona lost to a superior Lyon side in the Champions League final - but their fans wrote history in the stands.
SoccerMay 22, 2022
Frauenfußball | Asisat Oshoala vom FC Barcelona

Oshoala seeks to end 'rollercoaster' year with trophy

The Nigerian striker believes a Barcelona women's victory would help them cement their claim to be one of the best.
SportsMay 20, 2022
Barca women celebrate a goal

How Barcelona rose to challenge Lyon dominance

Olympique Lyon dominated women's football in Europe for a decade, but Barcelona may be about to seize the torch.
SoccerMay 19, 2022
A commuter train and a goods train are pictured after they collided, in Sant Boi de Llobregat, on the outskirts of Barcelona

Train driver dies, dozens injured in crash near Barcelona

The crash occurred as a freight train derailed and smashed into the front of a passenger train.
CatastropheMay 17, 2022
Wolfsburg players celebrate after a goal

Women's Bundesliga: Why copy the men's model?

A high-scoring 22nd and final matchday of the Bundesliga season revealed glaring gaps in quality in the women's game.
SoccerMay 16, 2022