Gelida

Gelida is a municipality in the province of Barcelona, part of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. It belongs to the comarca of Baix Llobregat. Located to the west of the Barcelona metropolitan area, Gelida sits on the northern slopes of the Llobregat valley and features a landscape of gentle hills and Mediterranean vegetation. The municipality covers a small area and has a population in the low thousands, with a mix of rural houses and suburban residential zones.

Historically, Gelida developed as an agricultural community tied to the surrounding valleys. In recent decades it has experienced gradual population growth and suburbanization, with residents commuting to Barcelona and other nearby towns for work. The local economy remains primarily secondary and tertiary, with small-scale commerce and services supporting the community.

Gelida is connected to the regional road network and is accessible from Barcelona via local routes; nearby railway stations in neighboring towns provide access to broader rail services, making it a part of the greater Barcelona area.

The name Gelida is of Catalan origin. It is commonly noted in Catalan dictionaries as gelida, meaning cold or gelid, a reference some scholars say to the area's climate or topography at certain times of the year. The municipality maintains a peaceful, rural character, with cultural and natural attractions typical of small Catalan towns.