Discover Metropolis Barcelona Full of opportunities
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A diverse metropolis 4
Southern Europe’s innovation hub 8
Green and healthy Metropolis 24
Enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle 42
A diverse metropolis
Metropolis Barcelona Metropolis Barcelona means quality of life. This diverse metropolis boasts a privileged location in Europe and on the shores of the Mediterranean, where the mild climate affords ample opportunities for outdoor activities and the landscape offers a wealth of natural assets. This well-managed city provides high-quality municipal services and engages in urban planning to create public spaces designed to prioritize people’s wellbeing. Geographically, the borders of the metropolis are defined by the pre-coastal mountain range, two rivers and the coast, shaping a highly compact metropolis on the coastal plain and a more varied and discontinuous territorial layout beyond. This complex territory of 636 km2 is home to more than 3.2 million people, living in different kinds of urban settlements, all of them connected by a comprehensive network of infrastructures and services. Although this is one of Europe’s most densely populated regions, it nonetheless features a system of open spaces that covers over 52% of its land area. This places it in the top list of European metropolises with the most green spaces Among these open spaces are protected areas of extraordinary environmental value, such as the Collserola mountain range, the coastline with its 25 km of beaches and the two rivers that flow into the Mediterranean, the Llobregat and the Besòs. The metropolitan area includes 36 municipalities and a rich fabric of productive and residential zones that are all accessibly located and well connected to one another. With over 5,000 ha of industrial terrain and another 485ha devoted to the tertiary sector and 3500 ha to large-scale infrastructure, the area’s layout strikes an ideal balance for the convenience of everyday life. It fosters relationships of proximity and ease of mobility, as well as large and small activities, held both in city centres and in suburban areas.
6
€
any
PIB
10% of Spain’s GDP 2nd European
3.2 millions
34,679 €
Inhabitants
GDP per capita
46 million
20% of the patents
+37 million
tons of goods through the Port
registered in Spain
airport passengers
+10 million
75% of daily trips
tourists a year
using sustainable modes of transport
Economic Region
305 km2 of open spaces
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Southern Europe’s innovation hub
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Copenhaguen
Dublin
Liverpool Manchester Berlin London
Antwerp Bruxelles
Frankfurt
Paris 1.000 km
Prague Vienna
Munich
Budapest
Milan
350 km
Madrid
Genova Marseille Rome 862 km
Metropolis Barcelona
Napoli Athens
Lisbon 1.000 km
Palermo
Algiers 521 km
Tunis 1.047 km
Tanger 600 km
Europe’s Southern Gateway
Blue Banana Mediterranean Corridor New Polarities Atlantic Arch Railway connections Mediterranean Maritime Logistic Connections Flight Connections
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A metropolis open to the world Ever since Roman times, Barcelona has enjoyed the advantages that come with its privileged location, thanks both to its easy access to the rest of Europe and to its Mediterranean port. The city could even be called Europe’s Southern gate in light of the good connections to the rest of the world that are made possible by the area’s transport infrastructures: El Prat Airport, which is used by over 55 million passengers a year and located just 17 km southwest of the city centre, the high speed train lines that connect the city with the rest of Spain, and the Port of Barcelona, Spain’s most important commercial port and the point of entry for over 2 million cruise passengers a year. All of this makes Barcelona one of the few metropolitan areas with International land, sea and air connections at such short distances from the city centre. Metropolis Barcelona is also strategically located along the Mediterranean Corridor, a route currently receiving the support of the European Union-funded Connecting Europe programme. This EU initiative is aimed at improving rail and road connections with 94 European ports, enhancing the rail links between large cities and 38 different European airports, and converting 15,000 km of railroads into high speed lines. Among the projects being carried out under the programme, 35 affect multiple countries.
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Easily accessible Thanks to the proximity of the area’s transport hubs to the city centre, as well as to the compact nature of the city, its high population density and the concentration of signiďŹ cant infrastructures on and around the Llobregat River Delta, none of the modes of passenger or commercial transport are located farther than 7 km from the city centre. With regard to transport of goods, the city is connected to the global economy by sea via the logistics port; by rail via conventional railroad; and by road via a
Barcelona is the only metropolis in Europe that can boast a major Mediterranean port, an international airport and a high-speed train line, all within a radius of 7km.
By road
78.7% (159.8 Mt/year)
By cruise By train
7.8%
(3.7M pas/year)
5.3%
By train
(2.5M pas/year)
2.1%
By ferry
(14.3 Mt/year)
2.4%
By ship
(1.1M pas/year)
19.2%
(38.77 Mt/year)
By plane (84.5%) By train (7.8%)
By plane
By cruise (5.3%)
84.5%
By ferry (2.4%)
(39.7M pas/year)
By train (2.1%)
Passenger Metropolitan Distribution
By Ship (19.2%)
Freigh Metropolitan Distribution
By road (78.7%)
Port /Airport km 0
Infrastructures
km 5
10
Metropolitan Passenger and Freight Distribution
comprehensive road and highway network, all of which help give shape to the metropolitan area. The city centre is at a short distance from these three modes of transport, and it also boasts the Zona Franca Logistics Park. Passengers arrive in and depart from the city by sea, via the passenger port, by air, at the airport, by both conventional and high speed rail, and by road. The high speed rail network extends along the Mediterranean Corridor to the French border, forming the main rail link between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. The coming completion of the new Sagrera station and renovation of Sants station will make this route’s overall functioning even smoother. It is clear, then, that these five different modes of transport are able to move both passengers and goods and are accessible at a short distance from the city centre, offering great flexibility to intermodality. 13
Creative and entrepreneurial One of the defining traits of Metropolis Barcelona is its dense, urban nature. Although the territory occupies just 636 km2, it is home to over 3.2 million people, giving it Europe’s second highest population density for a region, 5093 inhabitants per Km2. This compact area was laid out in part by the 1860 Pla Cerdà, which shaped the neighbourhood that over time has become the largest and most diverse part of Barcelona, creating an urban fabric of small businesses, services, residences and offices, all well distributed throughout the city centre. This density is one of the keys to why Barcelona is a hub for social and cultural exchange, a place that fosters knowledge, creativity and innovation. The metropolitan area of Barcelona is home to 10% of Spain’s total population and a large proportion of Catalonia’s 7.5 million people. It is a nexus for culture and innovation, a critical driving force that powers a highly diverse economy with a long industrial tradition. The area’s economic fabric is largely made up of small and medium-sized businesses, but it also incorporates large multinational companies. It is now one of southern Europe’s chief economic engines, a hub for logistics and a magnet for talent, a place that is open to business where over 48% of the active population is employed in the knowledge sector.
In the top 4 worldwide on the 2015 CITIE Index, which measures key aspects of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
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68%
50%
25%
Catalan workers in creative activities
Catalonia’s total employees
Spain’s exports in knowledge products
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Metropolitan areas are the settings where individuals reach their creative and economic potential while they pursue their interests and endeavour to meet their needs. Specifically, the Barcelona metropolitan area hosts a range of actors engaged in technological innovation, and it is home to 68% of Catalonia’s creative activities and a large number of business clusters. It is also fertile ground for entrepreneurs, as the city has spawned over 1100 start-ups, 28.4% of all start-ups in Spain, putting it in fifth place in the EU-Start-ups rankings, according to a report published by the Barcelona Mobile World Capital Foundation. Only London, Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam host more start-ups. In taking on its role as one of southern Europe’s innovation hubs, Barcelona’s economy has shown itself to be highly advanced by creating new companies and attracting foreign investment, with 56% of the total investment in start-ups in Spain going to the city. The sector is helped along by a range of business incubators and accelerators and by other initiatives like Citilab in Cornellà.
First among cities in continental Western Europe in terms of foreign direct investment. The Barcelona metropolitan area’s economic activity consists of a series of overlapping sectors and activities. The location of economic activity is not constrained to industrial zones, but rather it is spread throughout the territory in the form of services, warehouses, workshops, technology parks, shopping centres, labs, co-working spaces and leisure areas, all of which are contiguous with and easily accessible from residential zones, universities, hospitals, natural spaces and commercial areas.
TOTAL BUILT AREA (Units: Million m2)
Commercial 15.5
Industry 15.0
Offices 4.5
Hotels 1.7
Total built area by economic activity. Ref: Land Registry Office, 2015
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Commercial centralities Industrial activity Offices and productive urban fabric 1,7M
Hotels
15,5M
4,5M 15M
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Industrial activity
! !
Commercial centralities Offices and productive urban fabric Port /Airport Infrastructures km 0
km 5
10
Metropolitan production fabrics
The metropolitan industrial areas enjoy easy access to the most important road and rail infrastructures, which are distributed throughout the region. There are areas with more office space of varying sizes located throughout the region, including both large concentrations of offices and specific areas specializing in distinct economic activities. The region’s commercial areas are also distributed around the urban centres of all 36 municipalities, offering a wide range of activities and kinds of businesses.
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Over the past few decades, the area’s economy has developed a specialization in R+D and in technology transfer, giving rise to a proliferation of knowledge economy businesses. Barcelona has excelled in creating technological solutions to manage the provision of urban services, but it is also home to a large number of start-ups devoted to the knowledge services sector. Over 48% of the active population now works for companies involved in the knowledge economy. The city is near the top of the European rankings when it comes to the transformation into a Smart City and in terms of business creation. The map shows the areas with the highest concentrations of innovation and research activities, pinpointing where patents are granted and the locations of universities and technology and research centres. The map makes clear that the city’s social atmosphere is highly cosmopolitan and innovative, and that it is an ideal environment for entrepreneurs. Additionally, Barcelona is among the worldwide leaders in the fields of science and research thanks to its numerous universities and the technology and biomedical research centres. In fact, it ranks fifth among European cities in scientific production. This commitment to innovation and research is evidenced by the large number of urban laboratories and start-ups in the city, and the global economy has clearly seen this and responded by significantly increasing the amount of foreign investment in these sectors in the city.
A metropolis where talent is harnessed into business Other Technology Education
Energy
Design
Industry
Media
E-commerce
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Health
=1 1>o <10 10> o <20
<20
Registered patents (2010) Instrumental Patents Chemical Patents Electricity Patents Engineering Patents Research centres
km 0
km 5
10
Patents
349
898
208
research entities
emerging innovative companies
thousands of university students
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A commitment to innovation Metropolis Barcelona is an innovative metropolis, and its Smart City policies are a model around Europe thanks to the degree of commitment on the part of both the private and public sectors and of civil society to moving forward into the new digital era. This is a sort of laboratory city, which is applying new technology to its urban facilities and using new systems and software to manage urban and metropolitan services, all while taking advantage of open data and data collected by sensors. This has helped streamline processes, optimize results and reduce the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environmental footprint. Reduce costs and minimize energy loses
Improve process effectiveness and optimize results
Enhance serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality
Intensify user experience and engage citizens
Minimize ecologycal footprint
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Cities have become the chief habitat of our species, and they act as the nexus for a range of services and of ďŹ&#x201A;ows and movement of food, energy, raw materials, vehicles and people. All of this generates waste and emissions, and in the cycle of production the city functions almost like a machine. As a result of the urban growth and of climate change, cities are now faced with a new set of challenges as they manage the services they provide. City infrastructures and urban managers are no longer simply expected to ensure supply, provide services and do maintenance, but rather must also meet a series of new kinds of environmental, economic, social, security-related and even cultural demands. This is why the Barcelona Metropolitan Area places special emphasis of managing metropolitan services, acting as a hub for the sharing of services for the 36 municipalities in the area. When it comes to improving public transport, the city has shown a clear commitment to e-mobility through its up-to-date ďŹ&#x201A;eet of electric and hybrid vehicles, the network of bicycle lanes, a municipal e-bike rental service equipped with GPS (bicing and bicibox) and other private motorcycle and car rental companies, to cite just a few examples. In addition to projects such as the area-wide installation of solar powered car recharging stations and of automatic sensors to manage public parking, other initiatives are also underway to promote the improved integration of infrastructures into the urban fabric and the recovery of public space for pedestrians rather than vehicles. Other public space management projects
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include the installation on public beaches of partially buried rubbish containers equipped with sensors that indicate when the containers are full, thus improving the efďŹ ciency of waste collection. There is also a proposal to install energy saving LED lighting in the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transport networks, along with real-time information systems. Public parks have been equipped with smart maintenance systems to monitor any need for repairs, collect environmental data to optimize water use and monitor air pollution. Other systems are in place to improve the quality of public space and the air, and to make for cleaner, more pleasant streets for citizens and visitors. The areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public entities have expressed their commitment to innovation by holding contests open to companies and start-ups, encouraging them to use their creativity to make proposals to address real challenges like reducing the number of bicycle thefts, automatically detecting damages to public property and managing the maintenance of public spaces.
It is the 4th ranked Smart City in Europe and the top ranking one in Spain, according to a European Commission study.
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Beach sensor Park sensor Sound sensor Meteorologic sensor Other sensor
km 0
km 5
10
Sensors
All of this is possible thanks to the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and of IT platforms that use open data collected around the city to manage public and private services through the creation of digital tools and applications. One example is SentiloBCN, an operating system in the city that works using a predictive model and more than 500km of ďŹ ber optic cables. The installation of sensors around the city and the availability of advanced networking technology help create a smart, interconnected city. Smart sensors collect a huge amount of data that can then be converted into knowledge that helps the city better act to monitor the physical conditions of its public spaces and infrastructures.
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Green and healthy Metropolis
Interconnected environmental infrastructure Despite being a densely populated territory, the Barcelona metropolitan area is 52% undeveloped, made up of open spaces rather than occupied by buildings or transport infrastructures. This system of linked cities surrounded by open spaces brings with it benefits for the environment, the economy and leisure, and it makes for a more liveable, more efficient, healthier city. These green areas represent a highly significant series of environmental, economic and social assets, resulting in great benefits for the area’s citizens. The spaces include the Collserola and Garraf mountain ranges, the Serralada de Marina, els Turons, the Llobregat and Besòs rivers, the network of streams and creeks, metropolitan beaches, the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park, the agricultural fields of the Vallès, various urban parks, small urban parks and squares, streets, balconies and rooftops. The metropolitan area can boast a total of 330 km2 of green spaces, placing it among the European cities with more undeveloped space. This is a metropolis made up of cities, but one where urban and natural space each have significant roles to play, both in terms of the current land use structure and for future territorial planning. This environmentally friendly metropolis has big plans to meet the challenges involved in enhancing its environmental assets and in caring for its landscape, in constant dialogue between developed and open space.
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52%
5,300
295
land occupied by green infrastructure
species
km of natural paths
Parc Fluvial del riu Besòs (115 ha) Parc Riu Llobregat (350 ha)
Parc Agrari del Llobregat (2.087 ha)
Serralada de Marina (4.000 ha)
Parc de Collserola (8.000 ha)
MassĂs del Garraf (9.967ha)
Platges metropolitanes (250 ha)
Parc Natural de la Serralada Marina
Parc ďŹ&#x201A;uvial del Llobregat
Parc Natural de Collserola Platges Metropolitanes
Parcs urbans i metropolitans
Agricultural Settlement Natural Parks System River courses Urban and Metropolirtan parks Parc Natural del Garraf
Metropolitan beaches Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat
Ecological connections
km 0
km 5
10
Ecological connectivity of green infrastructure
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Metropolitan beaches: A total of 41 beaches, with a combined length of 32 km (about 2.5 million m2 of surface area), these are among the most utilized urban public spaces, with about 8.5 million visitors each year. Collserola Nature Park: Made up of over 8,000ha of protected natural space, Collserola Park rises like a tower in the midst of the Barcelona metropolitan area. A magniďŹ cent massif, but one that is close at hand and easily accessible, whose value represents a great privilege for the huge population that surrounds it. Llobregat River Park: This is both a piece of environmental infrastructure and a new public space that is easily accessible from the 16 municipalities through which it passes. Its paths guide visitors through areas of great environmental value and historical and cultural interest.
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Besòs River Park: This public space is located along the last nine km of the path of the Besòs River, from its confluence with the Ripoll River to where it flows into the Mediterranean. Occupying a total land area of 115 ha, it is one of the Barcelona metropolitan region’s most important open spaces, especially given its location within an urban area. The Serralada de Marina and Garraf massif nature parks: These two large natural preserves, along with Collserola Park, make up the largest areas of parkland within the metropolis, and they have much to offer in terms of both historical sites and leisure activities. Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park: 2,087 of agricultural land, very near the centre of the metropolitan area, where over 22,663 tons of produce is grown annually, 89% of it consisting of vegetables.
A biodiverse territory of rivers, beaches and mountains
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A sustainable metropolis The need to conserve the environment and protect environmental diversity goes hand in hand with other important challenges the area is tackling, such as enhancing accessibility and soft mobility for pedestrians and cyclists. This includes the creation of metropolitan bicycle network suitable both for bike commuters and for the purposes of leisure and sport.
Agricultural Settlement Natural Parks System Municipal Bicycle Network Metropolitan Bicycle Network km 0
km 5
10
AMB ciclable network
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Why ours is a healthy, sustainable metropolis An area rich in geographical resources, strategically chosen thousands of years ago for its location at the heart of the Mediterranean.
Interconnected green infrastructure, hosting a wealth of ecosystems that represent very considerable environmental, social and cultural assets, including over 60 distinct habitats that are home to over 5,300 species. These spaces have a key role to play in the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environmental, leisure and economic life.
A metropolitan coastline with over 32 km of high-quality beaches, offering ample opportunities for leisure.
A ciclable network joining together the 36 municipalities in the area as an alternative to the transport congestion caused by private vehicles.
Public space design that follows the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recognizable pattern of creating spaces that can host activities and foster diversity while encouraging greater socialization by citizens.
A city that is committed to reducing air pollution by fostering sustainable transport.
An extensive, intermodal, well-established and efďŹ cient public transport network.
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All these factors, in addition to mild climate, the campaign to improve the area’s air quality, disease prevention measures and the promotion of healthy habits, contribute to creating a healthier and more sustainable metropolis and result in improvements in citizens’ quality of life.
The city is on the cutting edge when it comes to accommodating electric vehicles The city lends itself to walking or cycling, thanks in part to the creation of an urban and metropolitan cycling network. In the near future, there are plans to further integrate new modes of transport into the area’s large-scale infrastructure, helping to promote more sustainable transport and healthier habits.
Smart Solutions; a series of digital tools that provide a framework for an advanced IT public service management platform Barcelona Metropolis acts as a hub for the management of services offered in 36 different municipalities. This has several advantages, including saving resources through the creation of economies of scale, streamlining processes through shared responsibilities and promoting the use of new technologies that can reduce emissions or enhance service quality. The SmartAMB project has launched an integrated IT platform that manages maintenance and cleaning tasks, public works and other activities related to the management of parks, beaches, rivers, waste management and public transport. This system allows for the sharing of information and the broadening of the spaces for collaboration among a range of companies, city councils and citizens. This is accomplished using online management platforms and mobile apps designed for technicians and apps for consultation and participation that are aimed at the general public. Thanks to its work managing the metropolitan area’s parks and beaches, SmartAMB was chosen as a finalist from among projects competing in the ‘innovative ideas’ category at the 2015 World Smart City Awards. The project also received an award from ESRI, the leading actor in the geographic information systems (GIS) sector, in recognition of the AMB’s successes in the digital transformation of public administration.
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Territory
Citizens
Senseable City Platform implemented in: · Mobility and public transport · Waste · Public space management · Citizens · Environment and air quality
Smart citizens empowerment · Communication · Citizen participation · Transparency
Internet of Things
E-government
Smart AMB Technological platform of services - Operative System - From Data to knowledge - From citizens to Smart Metropolis
Quality Control
Data Analysis
Metropolitan Services
Strategy planning
Management and supply · Mobility management · Public space (parks, beaches, squares and streets) · Green spaces (forest, rivers, beaches) · Waste management (treatment, recycling, reuse and energy exploitation) · TMB, Public transport and infrastructure management · Water supply, treatment and water recycling
Use Open Data Source and IoT for: · Decision making · Urban planning · Economic and social development · Study and propose new efficient systems · Open Data for citizen and business opportunities
Municipal support 36 municipalities together · Technical support · Share municipal services · Economic support
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Enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle
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An appealing metropolis Historically, Barcelona has long had a strong tradition of commerce and has always been a city of exchange where people come together. Over time, it has evolved into a highly dynamic metropolis and a focal point for tourism, business, culture, entrepreneurship and creativity. This dynamic setting is a historic site brimming with art, culture and creativity, making it not only one of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most attractive tourist destinations, but also a locus of cultural exchange that makes for fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship, drawing in talent and businesses from around the world. This is a city that pulses with life 24 hours a day, an urban ecosystem with a wide range of activities and services, a variety of business and educational opportunities, and a rare combination of competitiveness and appeal.
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keys to the metropolitan area’s appeal El Port of Barcelona has more cruise ship traffic than any destination in the world outside the Caribbean. It boasts six international passenger terminals.
Distinctive offerings for tourists, with activities that can be enjoyed all year long (architecture, art, gastronomy, sports, sun and beaches, mountains, the countryside...)
Mediterranean climate means that you can comfortably enjoy the outdoors all year long, with an average temperature ranging from 15 to 21 ºC.
Over 100 facilities where congresses and fairs can be held, drawing a total of over 600,000 attendees a year to about 2,000 different events.
A city devoted to services, a commercial environment with a wide range of small and medium-sized shops all around the city, with mixed uses and activities.
A city that is able to attract international talent. The city boasts highly prestigious business schools, and it is a powerful research hub thanks to its network of universities and hi-tech centres (ranking 4th among European cities in terms of number of scientific papers published).
Value placed on the importance of the public and private education and healthcare systems, and the institutions needed to guarantee their persistence, thus helping to create a more just and more egalitarian city.
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A lifetime growth opportunity Metropolis Barcelona also means quality of life, social cohesion and equality. This quality of life comes in part from the city’s Mediterranean lifestyle, made possible by the area’s mild climate and by its numerous parks and open spaces that make for cleaner air and offer innumerable chances for outdoor leisure. Part of what places the city near the top of the quality of life rankings is the fact that it is a very healthy place to live. This is not only thanks to its privileged geography, but also because of the commitment to promoting local agriculture and outdoor sports and the measures that have been taken to improve the area´s air quality and promote sustainable mobility. Additionally, the area boasts five highly specialized public hospitals, the country’s most important private medical clinics and the presence of internationally recognized doctors, all of which makes the health care on offer here of very high quality and points to a bright future for this sector. The metropolis also prides itself on its high degree of cultural diversity and decidedly international atmosphere, evident from the fact that 14.4% of the area’s residents were born abroad. The area’s education system and research institutions feature the country’s most prestigious universities, business schools that consistently rank among the best in the world, hi-tech hubs that attract talent from around the country and the globe and a series of research centres that are on the cutting edge of the worldwide scientific scene, including the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the Institute of Photonic Sciences.
Barcelona leads all European cities in quality of life for workers, according to the 2011 European Cities Monitor. The city has placed first in this ranking in each of the past 14 years. 38
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A privileged destination for tourism and business The metropolitan area provides both tourists and residents with a wide range of leisure options. More than 10.7 million tourists visit the city each year, drawn especially by the architectural attractions, cultural life and leisure activities on offer. More than half of these visitors are from elsewhere in Europe and are of between 35 and 54 years of age, according to a report entitled Barcelona; ciutat i entorn (Barcelona and its surroundings). Beyond the appeal of its diverse cultural offerings, Barcelona is also a leading destination for business travellers.
In 2016, Barcelona became the third most popular destination worldwide for business travellers, according to rankings compiled by the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association). This successful growth in specialized business tourism has come about thanks in part to more than 100 different facilities for the hosting of fairs and congresses that can be found all over the metropolitan area. The most prominent of these spaces is Fira de Barcelona, with its two venues –Montjuïc, with 134,000 m2 of exhibition floor space, 42,000 of which are ourdoors, and Gran Via, with 240.000 m2 of exhibition floor space– in addition to two large facilities for congress activities.
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Additionally, Barcelona has taken on a central role as the locus of exchange of knowledge of new technologies, playing host to international congresses and fairs such as the Mobile World Congress, the Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona Building Construmat, the Barcelona International Boat Show and Automobile Barcelona, which together bring about a million professionals to the area.
By train
3,7 M By cruise
2,5 M By ferry
1,1 M
By plane
39,7 M
Passengers trafďŹ c by transport mode and reason for mobility
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The cultural landscape, a space for investment in the future A cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural landscape and historical legacy are fundamental building blocks for economic development in and around it. Nurturing development in this area leads to the emergence of new local economic forces that together can work toward both conservation and innovation of a placeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and culture. Continued prosperity awaits territories that are able to evolve with history and adapt to changes, and over time Metropolis Barcelona has shown itself to be capable of this. The urban landscape features important environmental assets and a high degree of biodiversity. Worthy of special mention is the Llobregat Agricultural Park, part of the natural infrastructure and open spaces that cover 52% of the territory and one of many green spaces of considerable cultural interest. These spaces offer a wide range of opportunities for environmental protection, leisure and business. All around the region, there are opportunities to take in history, from Roman heritage to the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s industrial legacy, with each historic city centre of the 36 municipalities exhibiting its own unique cultural identity.
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