Barcelona is a historic city with a heritage that harkens back centuries. While various surviving historical records have not presented an exact date for the city’s founding, oral tradition has since provided a number of origins stories. The most widely held belief is the idea that Barcelona was first developed as a colony by Hamilcar Barca, the father of the great Carthaginian general Hannibal. The tales protest that the word “Barcelona” is an actual adaptation of the Barca family name. Nevertheless, archeological evidence has shown that the city grew from a couple of towns set atop two hills: Táber and Montjuïc. The community on the crest of the Táber—Barkeno—soon emerged as the dominant one, with its economy fueled by maritime commerce and agriculture. But the two settlements were eventually absorbed into the Roman Empire amid the Second Punic War. Barcelona turned into a Roman frontier outpost, serving primarily as a military camp known as a “castrum.” (The Romans specifically called Barcelona “Barcino,” which scholars accept as the actual source for its modern name.) Barcelona featured a sizeable population of legionaries, some of whom occupied a towering fortress on Táber. Despite its imposing defenses, the city was gradually beset by marauding bands of Germanic tribes over the next few centuries. Barcelona was even destroyed briefly during the 3rd century A.D., prompting its Roman garrison to create a massive, enclosed wall that extended for over a million square feet around the city.   

Barcelona fell to the marauding tribesmen around the beginning of the 5th century, specifically to an ethnic group known as the “Visigoths.” But the Visigoths only held onto the city for a short time, with North African Muslims conquering the region in the early 700s. Existing as part of the Islamic Al-Andalus state for the next few decades, the site became a battleground between the Arabs and the Franks on the other side of the Pyrenees. Louis the Pious—a son of the legendary Frankish emperor Charlamagne—eventually drove the Muslims out of Barcelona in 801, making the city the seat of power for the newly created Hispanic March. Subdivided into many feudal domains called counties, the Hispanic March functioned as a buffer zone that protected the rest of the Frankish kingdom from any retaliations. Over time, the rulers of the Hispanic March gradually grew their domain to the south and west, with the County of Barcelona emerging as the main administrative unit. Then, in 1137, the County of Barcelona merged with the Kingdom of Aragon, creating the much larger—and significantly more powerful— “Crown of Aragon.” Barcelona became the main seaport for the Crown of Aragon, especially after the new kingdom conquered more territories across the Mediterranean basin. Great wealth soon flowed into the city, transforming it into one of Europe’s most prestigious metropolises. 

Barcelona lost a significant amount of its influence following the Crown of Aragon’s absorption into the new Kingdom of Spain in 1492. Furthermore, the rise in Spain’s transatlantic trade with its overseas colonies throughout the 16th and 17th centuries further deteriorated the city’s might. In protest, Barcelona’s inhabitants sought to liberate themselves from Spain, even going as far as to back rival claimants to the throne during the tumultuous War of Spanish Succession. Barcelona’s fortunes improved dramatically once the Industrial Revolution began spreading across Western Europe. Many factories debuted in the city, making Barcelona one of Spain’s major manufacturing centers by the height of the Victorian Age. This localized industrialization came at a price though, as the city’s living conditions plummeted for the working-class population. Barcelona became the center for a beautification movement closely related to the philosophical idea of “Modernisme,” which sought to both modernize Catalan society while also protecting its unique cultural heritage. Gorgeous buildings bearing novel designs opened as a result, giving the city a marvelous appearance that still defines it today. In recent years, Barcelona has developed a robust tourism industry energized by its distinctive history and culture. It is fascinating historical landmarks—such as Casa Batllò, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, and the Santa Maria del Pi—have particularly attracted thousands of visitors every year.  

While El Palace Barcelona displays many distinctive architectural styles, the most prominent is Classical Revival. Also known as “Neoclassical,” Classical Revival architecture is among the most common architectural forms seen throughout the world today. This wonderful architectural style first became popular in Paris, namely among French architectural students who had studied in Rome during the late 18th century. Upon their return home, the architects began emulating aspects of earlier Baroque aesthetics into their own designs before finally settling on Greco-Roman examples. Over time, the embrace of Greco-Roman architectural themes spread across the globe, reaching destinations like Germany, Spain, and Great Britain. As with the equally popular Revivalist styles of the same period, Classical Revival architecture found an audience for its more formal nature. It specifically relied on stylistic design elements that incorporated components like the symmetrical placement of doors and windows, as well as a front porch crowned with a classical pediment. Architects would install a rounded front portico that possessed a balustraded flat roof. Pilasters and other sculptured ornamentations proliferated across the façade of the building. The most striking feature of buildings designed with Classical Revival-style architecture were massive columns that displayed some combination of Corinthian, Doric, or Ionic capitals. With its Greco-Roman temple-like form, Classical Revival-style architecture was considered most appropriate for municipal buildings like courthouses, libraries, and schools. But the form found its way into more commercial uses, including banks, department stores, and hotels. Examples of the form can still be found throughout many major cities as well, including London, Paris, and New York City.
   

Alfredo Kraus, the opera singer best remembered for his tenor voice and performances in Massenet’s show Werther.  

Anita Ekberg, model, and actress known for her roles in films like La Dolce Vita, War and Peace, and Back from Eternity.  

Anthony Quinn, actor known for his roles in films like Zorba the Greek, The Guns of Navarone, and La Strada.   

Arthur Rubinstein, classical pianist regarded as the greatest Chopin interpreter of his time. 

Cary Grant, an actor known for such roles in To Catch a Thief, Charade, and North by Northwest.  

Catherine Deneuve, model, and actress best known for her roles in Indochine and Belle de Jour. 

David Carradine, actor best remembered for his starring role on the television series Kung Fu.  

Diego Maradona, one of the greatest soccer players of all time and joint winner of the “FIFA Player of the 20th Century” award.  

Duke Ellington, Jazz musician whose orchestra famously played at the Cotton Club.  

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, one of the greatest soccer players of all time remembered by his nickname “Pelé.” 

Ella Fitzgerald, singer known for her songs “Dream a Little Dream,” “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” 

Ernest Hemingway, author known for writing such books like A Farwell to Arms and The Old Man and the Sea.   

Frank Sinatra, singer, and actor part of the famous Rat Pat known for selling 150 million records worldwide.  

Freddie Mercury, lead singer for the rock band Queen. 

Federico García Lorca, poet and playwright known for works like Blood Wedding, Yerma, and The House of Bernarda Alba.  

Gina Lollobrigida, model, and actress known for her roles in films like Beat the Devil, Never So Few, and Trapeze.  

John Knittel, writer known for his novels like Via Mala, Nile Gold, and Midnight People.  

John Wayne, actor known for his roles in films like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, True Grit, and The Longest Day.   

Joan Miró, a painter who famously combined abstract art techniques with Surrealist artistic concepts.  

José Ortega y Gasset, influential philosopher and essayist who directly contributed to Spain’s literary renaissance during the 20th century.  

Joseph Cotton, actor known for such roles in Shadow of a Doubt, The Third Man, and The Magnificent Ambersons.   

Joseph Pla, journalist among the most prominent writers of Catalan culture of the 20th century.  

Josephine Baker celebrated American French icon from the Jazz Age and renowned Civil Rights leader. 

Luis García-Berlanga, film director known for directing movies like Plácido, The Executioner, and Welcome Mr. Marshall!. 

Margot Fonteyn, noted classical ballerina who rose to become the prima ballerina assoluta of the British Royal Ballet.  

Maria Callas, an opera singer noted for her famous use of the bel canto singing technique. 

Montserrat Caballé, opera singer, is regarded as one of the best sopranos of the 20th century.  

Rock Hudson, an actor known for his roles in movies like Magnificent Obsession, All That Heavan Allows, and Giant.  

Roger Moore, actor best known for his portrayal of secret British agent James Bond.  

Salvador Dalí, surrealist artist known for paintings like The Persistence of Memory and Metamorphosis of Narcissus.   

Sean Connery, actor known for his roles in Goldfinger, The Untouchables, and The Hunt for Red October. 

Severo Ochoa, Nobel Prize winning scientist known for discovering the ability to synthesize RNA. 

Sophia Loren, actress known for her roles in such films like Marriage Italian Style, Two Women, and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.  

Umberto Eco, historian, philosopher, and author best remembered for his novel, The Name of the Rose.  

Xavier Cugat, musician, and band leader, credited with popularizing Latin music during the early 20th century.    

Henry Kissinger, 56th U.S. Secretary of State (1973 – 1977)   

Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Queen of Denmark (1912 – 1947) 

Queen Marie of Romania (1914 – 1927) 

King Alfonso XIII of Spain (1886 – 1931) 

King Christian X of Denmark (1912 – 1947) 

King Michael I of Romania (1927 – 1930) 

Josephine Baker: Among the most notable guests at the El Palace Barcelona was renowned stage performer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906, Josephine Baker would rise to become on the most renowned entertainers in the 20th century. Her parents, Carrie McDonald, and Eddie Carson were amateur performers, who traveled across the Midwest to appear in vaudeville productions. While neither of their careers ever became well-known, they left a profound impact upon Baker. Often, her parents would take the young girl on stage, where she would dance before a large audience. Her father eventually left the family, though, forcing Baker to find numerous odd jobs to help support the family. But the allure of the stage never weakened, and she ran away from home to join an African American theater troupe when she was just 15. Over the next several years, Baker would journey around the United States, appearing first in comedic skits and then concerts once the troupe split apart. She soon found her calling as a dancer, using her wit and humor to enchant countless spectators throughout America. But despite being such a huge draw, Baker often had to perform in front of segregated crowds—a terrible experience that stayed with her for the rest of her life.  

Shewed several men, including Willie Baker, whose name she kept all her life. (Another husband, Jean Lion, granted Baker her eventual French citizenship.) Unlike many other women of the era, Baker had no trouble establishing her own financial independence and could freely leave a relationship if it began to turn toxic. Nevertheless, Baker pushed ahead with her acting career, moving to New York City amid the Harlem Renaissance before heading across the Atlantic to Paris. Initially finding a home at the La Revue Nègre closed, she soon made a name for herself after starring in La Folie du Jour at the Follies-Bergère Theater. The socially progressive Parisian society received Baker’s performances with great enthusiasm, elevating her to one of France’s most popular rising stars. She became especially renowned for her more astonishing dance routines, particularly a one set that involved her wearing a costume of 16 bananas. Her talents also earned her roles in two European films, Zou-Zou, and Prince Tam-Tam. Baker was even one of the most photographed female entertainers in the world, alongside the likes of Gloria Swanson and Mary Pickford.  

She was also an incredibly brave woman, who used her aptitude for acting to fight injustice worldwide. Baker joined the French Resistance in World War II, working as a spy to help undermine the Nazi occupation forces that inhabited Paris after the Battle of France. She constantly heard German officers talk about military secrets during her performances and she subsequently passed along the information to Allied operatives within the city. At great peril to her own safety, Baker scribbled everything she heard on the back of music sheets with invisible ink. Baker emerged as a vocal opponent to racial segregation in the United States, as well, returning to fight the system once the Second World War had ended. With her newfound star power, Baker often forced club owners to desegregate their audiences by refusing to perform in their venues if such a policy remained in place. Her vocal opposition soon earned her the praise of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), making her one of the central figures to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, she was even one of the few people allowed to speak at the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.  

Baker continued to perform on stage for the rest of her life, hosting shows at such renowned facilities as the illustrious Carnegie Hall in New York City. But unlike earlier in her career, Baker received great praise from the crowds of an increasingly desegregated American society. When the audience at Carnegie Hall gave her a huge welcome, she wept on stage. Her final show occurred in April of 1975 at the Bobino Theater in Paris. A tribute to her career, the show featured a variety of acts that had originally made her a household name at the start of the century. The sold-out crows featured many well-known luminaries, including the likes of Sophia Loren and Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. Those in attendance were so stunned by her performance that they gave Baker a standing ovation once the show concluded. Unfortunately, Baker passed away four days later due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Today, Josephine Baker is remembered as being among the most prolific entertainers in French history, as well as a central figure in the international fight for modern equality.