Barcelona is the capital of Anzoátegui State in northeastern Venezuela. Originally founded in 1671 as Nueva Barcelona, the city serves as the administrative center of the state. Together with the nearby cities of Puerto La Cruz, Lechería, and Guanta, Barcelona forms part of a larger metropolitan area known as Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz, which has a combined population of approximately 950,000 inhabitants.
The Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz conurbation represents one of the major urban centers in Venezuela's northeastern region. The city's location in Anzoátegui has historically positioned it as an important commercial and administrative hub for the state.