Relief – Barcelona

The Relief Barcelona mug adds another Spanish city to Starbucks’ Relief collection. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and a city with roots stretching back to the Roman settlement of Barcino, founded more than 2,000 years ago. It later became an important Mediterranean trading center and experienced enormous growth during the 19th century, when the medieval city expanded into the new Eixample district. This period also helped transform Barcelona into a center of Catalan Modernisme, leaving the city with the distinctive architecture for which it is known today.

The landmark featured on the front of the mug is the Arc de Triomf, one of Barcelona’s most recognizable monuments. It was designed by Catalan architect Josep Vilaseca as the main entrance to the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition and was built in a distinctive red-brick Neo-Mudéjar style. Unlike many triumphal arches constructed to commemorate military victories, Barcelona’s arch was conceived as a welcoming gateway to an international exhibition. Today, it stands at the end of the broad Passeig de Lluís Companys promenade, leading toward Parc de la Ciutadella.