The Historical Stages of Urbanization in Spain

Stages of the Spanish Urbanization Process

The current Spanish urban landscape is a complex and heterogeneous space, the product of a long urbanization process that fuses historical legacy with current dynamics.

A) The Pre-Industrial City

Ranging from the origin of cities to the beginning of industrialization in the 19th century, urbanization was low and stable. The Phoenician colonization of the Mediterranean coastline from the 9th and 8th centuries BC and later Romanization led to the founding of many cities, often featuring an orthogonal plane with two main streets.

Medieval Period

A new phase of urbanization emerged in two distinct areas:

• The Muslim City: Characterized by an irregular layout with narrow streets. The old city constituted the Medina, which housed the Mosque and the Souk. The suburbs were located outside the main walls.
• The Christian City: Grew from the 10th century onwards as the reactivation of trade generated a new urbanization process.

The Modern Age

Urbanization experienced fluctuations but saw continued urban growth due to population increases.

B) The Industrial City

This period ranges from the beginning of 19th-century industrialization until the economic crisis of 1975. Spain's industrial weakness meant that urban growth primarily affected the provincial capitals.

The poor hygiene in historic centers called for new urban planning solutions, such as the Ensanche (urban expansion) and garden cities. This involved opening new streets and creating new suburban neighborhoods. The emerging bourgeoisie was reluctant to leave the city, which led to the concept of the garden suburb (ciudad jardín).

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the subsequent post-war period slowed this growth. Later, the expansion of industrial and tertiary cities, especially along the coast, required urban planning and the construction of officially protected housing (viviendas de protección oficial).

C) The Post-Industrial City

From the mid-1970s, the economic crisis produced a paralysis in the urbanization process, which resumed after 1985 with renewed economic growth.

Key differences in the urban fabric compared to the past include:

• Industry moves out of the city, replaced by the service sector.
• Cities and new neighborhoods grow with formal planning.
• Decongestion of the city center is a common goal.
• Urban growth occurs around cities, creating large shopping centers, leisure areas, and parks.