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Development

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Greece / Thessaloniki / Development / Mobility

Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November

The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays

Sep 30, 2024 13:49
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Development

These elements will crown the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona for the highest viewpoint in the city

The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death

Sep 20, 2024 17:36

Economy and Finance

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France / Digital transformation / Economy and Finance

Shops in this Bordeaux suburb accept cryptocurrency as payment

Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin

Sep 24, 2024 16:47
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Germany / Economy and Finance / Mobility

Next year, Germany's Deutschlandticket will cost 58 euros

That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass

Sep 24, 2024 13:27

Politics and Reforms

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Germany / Politics and Reforms

Voters in a Bavarian town elected a mayor whose name wasn’t on the ballot

Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality, even if he didn’t run

Sep 18, 2024 13:50
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Greece / Athens / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

Athens to ban new short-term lets

The measure, which will come into force from 1 January 2025, will be partial and temporary…for now

Sep 17, 2024 16:22

Innovation and Research

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Belgium / Brussels / Energy efficiency / Innovation and Research

Brussels tries out a novel rooftop wind turbine suitable for cities

Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape

Sep 27, 2024 12:52
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Finland / Innovation and Research

AI-powered drones in Finland could patrol the skies in search of wildfires

But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation

Sep 20, 2024 16:33

Digital transformation

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Digital transformation / Energy efficiency

New digital map showcases creative energy solutions across Europe

The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition

Sep 26, 2024 14:09
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France / Digital transformation / Economy and Finance

Shops in this Bordeaux suburb accept cryptocurrency as payment

Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin

Sep 24, 2024 16:47

Energy efficiency

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Belgium / Brussels / Energy efficiency / Innovation and Research

Brussels tries out a novel rooftop wind turbine suitable for cities

Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape

Sep 27, 2024 12:52
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Digital transformation / Energy efficiency

New digital map showcases creative energy solutions across Europe

The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition

Sep 26, 2024 14:09

Mobility

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Greece / Thessaloniki / Development / Mobility

Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November

The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays

Sep 30, 2024 13:49
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Germany / Mobility

Mannheim debuts longest tram in the world

Plus, it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train

Sep 27, 2024 17:03

Public Spaces

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France / Paris / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

The Olympic Rings have left the Eiffel Tower, but they’ll be back

At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo

Sep 30, 2024 17:57
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France / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

Marseille is home to this year's coolest neighbourhood in the world

Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds

Sep 26, 2024 17:37

Culture and Tourism

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France / Paris / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

The Olympic Rings have left the Eiffel Tower, but they’ll be back

At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo

Sep 30, 2024 17:57
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Spain / Culture and Tourism

Oldest inn in Catalonia marked 500 years of non-stop business

Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region

Sep 30, 2024 16:57

Education and Sport

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Budapest / Prague / Education and Sport / Social City

Here are Europe’s 5 best student cities

On the eve of the new academic year, the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors

Sep 19, 2024 17:47
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Education and Sport

Kicking for the Future: How Football Clubs are Creating Sustainable Urban Spaces

Sep 19, 2024 10:06

Welfare and Health

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Belgium / Mobility / Welfare and Health

Shhh!: Belgian railways introduce silent compartments on board

Following a successful trial phase, these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country

Sep 24, 2024 18:04
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France / Education and Sport / Welfare and Health

Check out these sleeping pods at the University of Lille library

The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students

Sep 12, 2024 16:24
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Poland / Interviews

Hanna Zdanowska: We are one of the leaders in eco-transition and Łódź is much greener than before

Jul 24, 2024 14:48
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews

Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh: True urban development must be inclusive and affordable, otherwise it’s not sustainable

Jun 27, 2024 12:45
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Portugal / Lisbon / Interviews

Carlos Moedas: Our ambition is to become a city where entrepreneurs can come to scale their businesses

Jun 20, 2024 13:25
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Spain / Interviews / Mayor of Europe

María José Catalá: the Green Capital mindset is transversal to all action levels and will continue in the years to come

Jun 5, 2024 15:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Estonia / Tartu / Interviews

Urmas Klaas: Arts can and must give people the ability and courage to dream of a future

Mar 6, 2024 12:18
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews

Wolfgang Teubner: Тhe path towards the end of fossil fuels is irreversible

Dec 21, 2023 11:03
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews / Read Twice

Ibrahim Kraria: While AI can play a role in combating hate speech, it can also amplify its spread

Aug 16, 2023 17:08
Mihaela Roxana GODINAC
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Interviews

Bertrand Piccard: If something looks impossible, that’s why we try do to it!

Jun 9, 2023 15:40
Denis Balgaranov
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Interviews / Read Twice

Maja Sever: Journalism is a pillar of democracy

Apr 10, 2023 13:46
Magdalena Magdić
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Interviews

Kaisa Karjalainen: “It’s better to be an imperfect zero waster for the rest of our lives than a perfect one for two weeks”

Mar 14, 2023 12:56
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

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Spain
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Barcelona

Barcelona
Jaume Collboni
Mayor

Jaume Collboni

Biography
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The first traces of human settlement in Barcelona date back to the Neolithic period. At the end of the 1st century BC Romans set up a colony called Barcino, which is viewed as a predecessor of the city. Remains of the colony’s defensive wall can still be seen in the old town of Barcelona.

Muslim rule left its mark on the city for over 200 years. Following the Christian reconquest, Barcelona became a county of the Carolingian Empire and the Crown of Aragon set up one of its main residences there. The medieval period saw Barcelona cement its position as the economic and political hub of the Western Mediterranean.

From the 15th to 18th centuries Barcelona struggled to maintain its economic and political independence but fell into decline. In 1714 the city surrendered to the French Bourbon troops and lost its rights and privileges with the rest of Catalonia.

The textile industry upsurge in the mid-19th century ushered in a period of cultural recovery. During that time known as the Renaixença, Catalan regained prominence as a literary language.

The 20th century brought widespread urban renewal throughout Barcelona city. Many buildings, especially in the Eixample district, were executed in Catalan art-nouveau, or modernista style. Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who took inspiration from God and nature for his visionary creations, designed landmark buildings such as the Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera), the Casa Battlo and the otherworldly Sagrada Familia cathedral, which should be completed in 2026.  

The freedoms achieved during this period were severely curbed during the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco following the Republican defeat in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). With the restoration of democracy in 1978, Barcelona society regained its economic strength and the Catalan language was reintroduced alongside Spanish. 

Barcelona reaffirmed its status as a major metropolis with the 1992 Olympic Games hosted by the city.

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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Development

These elements will crown the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona for the highest viewpoint in the city

The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death

Sep 20, 2024 17:36
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Development / Green City

Catalonia plans "independence from rainwater" by 2040

It will be achieved through seawater desalination plants

Aug 30, 2024 16:35
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Barcelona councillor wants souvenir shops to go from old town

According to Albert Batlle, these establishments “don’t contribute anything” to the city

Aug 20, 2024 17:02
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Green City / Innovation and Research

Barcelona Zoo to install water regeneration plant inspired by nature

The facility will be ready to operate in 2025 and visitors will be able to see how it works

Aug 07, 2024 17:58
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism

Don’t think of Gaudi only in terms of Barcelona

Spanish towns hosting architectural jewels by the Modernist Catalan architect are seeking collective UNESCO recognition

Jul 16, 2024 18:06
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Barcelona hoteliers oppose the anti-tourist sentiment in the city

The hospitality guild is concerned that weekend protests might have tarnished the welcoming image of the city

Jul 10, 2024 17:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Digital transformation / Welfare and Health

European heatwave forecast map shows mortality risk

It was created by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) with the aim to reduce this type of fatalities

Jul 01, 2024 17:02
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Digital transformation

Park Güell tickets will only be sold online as a way to disperse crowds

The tickets will be available for certain time slots in order to distribute the tourists more evenly throughout the day

Jun 26, 2024 18:04
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Social City

Will Barcelona ban ‘tacky and tasteless’ souvenirs?

More specifically, the aim is to regulate products that might be considered homophobic or sexist

Jun 20, 2024 16:02
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Development / Public Spaces

Barcelona’s most famous street undergoes transformation

La Rambla will get disrupted for the next 32 months, but let’s see what the end result will be like

Jun 18, 2024 17:38
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism

Catalonia takes culinary summit again with best restaurant in the world award

And this time the winning establishment is located in the capital city of Barcelona

Jun 06, 2024 17:27
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Madrid / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Growing trend in Spain lets owners rent out their swimming pools

Unlike private accommodation rentals, this doesn’t require a tourist license

May 28, 2024 13:28
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Energy efficiency / Mobility

Barcelona is testing a mobile EV charging station

The tests are also experimenting with a charging point that is easier to maintain

May 02, 2024 17:07
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / L’Hospitalet / Culture and Tourism

Catalonia celebrates Sant Jordi

The festivity is also known as the Day of Books and Roses

Apr 22, 2024 17:24
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Green City / Innovation and Research

Barcelona to employ floating desalination unit in port

The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia

Apr 18, 2024 17:33
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Public Spaces

Barcelona raises wooden fences around trash bins against wild boars

The intervention has affected the mountainous districts of the Catalan capital

Apr 17, 2024 18:06
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / L’Hospitalet / Welfare and Health

Barcelona’s public pool may get filled only if certified as climate shelters

Catalonia is preparing as best as it can for a scorching summer ahead

Feb 19, 2024 17:21
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Green City / Mobility

“Bike Friendly Building": Barcelona's badge to encourage civil servants to pedal to work

More than a fifth of city council workers cycle to their office

Feb 16, 2024 17:30
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Welfare and Health

Valencia might have to ship water to Catalonia if drought continues

This is the plan devised by national and regional governments in a bid to alleviate the dire situation

Feb 06, 2024 09:11
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Green City

Catalonia declares drought emergency: See the restrictions

Drought has really assumed the mantle of a chronic condition for this Mediterranean region

Feb 02, 2024 12:51
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / L’Hospitalet / Education and Sport

Catalonia is the latest to (mostly) ban smartphones in schools

More specifically, the full prohibition will apply to primary and middle school children

Feb 01, 2024 10:43
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

Barcelona seeks to shut down social cannabis clubs

The new local government has ended the era of tolerance to these soft drug consumption establishments

Jan 09, 2024 17:44
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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France / Netherlands / Spain / Amsterdam / Barcelona / Paris / Development

These 3 EU metropolises are among the World’s Best Cities

And one of them is not even a country’s capital

Jan 08, 2024 17:24
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Mobility / Politics and Reforms

Indefinite strike threatens Barcelona’s bike-sharing service

It’s planned to begin on 14 November

Nov 02, 2023 17:48
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / L’Hospitalet / Energy efficiency / Mobility

Barcelona to increase public EV-charging network tenfold

The aim is to make the network in the Catalan metropolitan area the largest in Southern Europe

Oct 26, 2023 12:53
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Social City

Sagrada Familia will light up to celebrate completion of new towers

If you happen to be in the Catalan capital and want to witness the show mark 12 November on your calendars

Oct 25, 2023 17:54
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Economy and Finance / Social City

This is the most expensive Spanish neighbourhood for rental living

It’s charming, full of history and character and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea

Oct 17, 2023 17:59
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism

Catalonia celebrates its national day today

Locally known as La Diada, it is a day when Catalans celebrate and affirm their identity

Sep 11, 2023 13:40
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Spain / Barcelona / Education and Sport / Public Spaces

This Barcelona library is now the best in the world

It was named after Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the legendary Nobel laureate

Aug 22, 2023 13:30
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Portugal / Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Social City

August strikes that will affect Portuguese and Spanish airports

Check which dates and destinations you should look out for so you can plan in advance

Aug 03, 2023 13:09
TheMayor.EU

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