With Franco’s death in 1975, Spain transitioned to democracy, and Barcelona emerged as a symbol of modern Catalonia. Catalan institutions were restored, and the language returned to schools and public spaces. Social movements flourished, art and architecture rebounded, and the city shed its gray authoritarian past. A wave of urban transformation began, laying the groundwork for Barcelona’s reinvention on the global stage. The city was reborn, ambitious, and ready for the spotlight.