The greater specific gravity that Badalona has obtained in the metropolitan area and its increasing presence in the economic and cultural world in Catalonia is the result of the transformations introduced in the town urban plans and in the public services.

Badalona is a town with a lot of contrasts, where the interrelations between cultures and races generates a big multiplicity of cultural activities. The current reality in Badalona is the reflection of 2.000 years of history.

History
Historically, we can find the urban starting point of our town in the foundations of an urban settlement by the Romans, in the year 100 B.C. Since then, that first nucleus was changing to become Badalona as it is nowadays. It was called Baetulo. People born in Badalona have always been proud of its roman origin. The Roman Baths, in the Museum, the House preserved in Lladó street, a piece of water pipe in Pujol street, and the remains of the wall on the Hort de les Monges, as well as sculptures, wall paintings, mosaics and the Tabula Hospitalis, show us the results of the efforts to protect the past remains. The Venus of Badalona, an small sculpture, carved in white marble, is what really identifies Badalona with the Roman past. Since the tenth century, Badalona has a new urban nucleus where the old Roman city was, formed by a group of houses situated around the square and the church. At the same time, a rural nucleus grew up outside the town walls. This double situation, urban and rural, will stand till the middle of the eighteenth century.

Badalona was one of the most important towns during the industrialization. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, a lot of and very good buildings were erected, among which outstands the Pavillard house. It was built by Joan Amigó i Barriga in 1906, and is considered the best modernist work in town.

Population: 210,000

Area: Barcelonès Nord

Workforce: 100,000

Economy
Today Badalona has a highly diversified economy with a total of 5.000 companies employing 41.000 persons, 90% of which are SMES with fewer than 10 workers. There are also 9.000 self-employed workers. The active population of Badalona is 100.000 persons, and the unemployment rate around 8%.

Most of the employment is in the service sector, though the city has an important industrial history. The municipal government has made an effort in recent years to preserve Badalona’s industrial base, and it is still one of the most industrial cities within the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona.

Though the service sector is the most important, other major areas of activity are the metal and mechanical sector, the Pronto Moda clothing business, retailing and large supermarkets, construction, and a small core of medical and pharmaceutical businesses that are qualitatively important.

The metal and mechanical sector
This is the most important industrial sector in the city, comprising over 300 companies that represent approximately 8% of the GDP and 8,4% of the employment in the city.

The textile/clothing sector
This sector is the second most important industrial activity, representing 7% of the GDP and 5,6% of the employment in the city.

Export in Badalona
About 200 companies in Badalona are regular exporters and a similar number of companies export occasionally.

Major Cultural Events:
Shortfilms Festival (Filmets) – November
Blues & Ritmes Festival – All year
Festes de maig - May (Public festivities)
Trade fair of travel, leisure and adventure (June)
Gastronomic conference (June)

Ten Major Employers and Industry:

Employer	Industry
Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol	Hospital
Hospital Municipal de Badalona, SA	Hospital
Transportes Urbanos y Servicios Generales, SAL	Urban transport
Laboratorios Menarini, SA	Laboratory
Basi, SA	Textile mill products
Institut Municipal de Serveis Personals	Social services
Instituto Gutmann	Rehabilitation
Federal Mogul Friction Products	Manufacture of friction material / brakes
TMS Aritex Cading	Engineering
Giró Hermanos y Sucesores	Manufacturing of packaging for farming products. Packaging machines for fruit and vegetable product