Barcelona Spain

Spain is an incredible country, a beautiful country, which is why so many people come each year from around the world to experience the culture, architecture, cuisine, festivals, cities, and people. While in Spain, you will have the opportunity to visit all kinds of cities, some modern day with westernized dress and others, more primitive, still holding tight to early traditions. One of Spain’s cities that we highly recommend you take time to explore is the wonderful city of Barcelona.

Nestled on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula with the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is spectacular. As the second largest city in all of Spain, as far as size and population, you can be certain you will have so many things to do and see. Throughout the city, you will find the people speaking two official languages – Catalan, which is spoken primarily in Catalonia, and Castilian Spanish.

Today, more than 1.5 million people live in Barcelona but then if you were to add in all the outlying areas, the number would quickly rise to some 4 million. As you can see, the geographic location of Barcelona gives it a huge advantage over most other cities but Barcelona is also a rich city because of cultural influences, tradition, and its rich history. In fact, the birth of the city dates back to when a Roman colony was founded during the 2nd century BC.

From that time forward, Barcelona has seen tremendous growth and a strong economy, especially with the beginning of industrialization during the last half of the 19th century. However, when the World’s Fair came to Barcelona in 1888, it would be given full exposure, becoming the symbol of hard work and international flair. With this, art and culture began to thrive, making this a huge tourist destination. The thing about Barcelona that many people are unaware of is that rather than being one city, it is actually an area comprised of many cities, each multifaceted and diverse.

Although Barcelona has many areas of modern architecture, you will never be too far from the historic Gothic center where most structures remain intact. Within the city confines, there are some exceptional places to visit. For example, La Rambla is comprised of five distinct streets, all tree-lined with living statues, mimes, buskers, and people selling everything imaginable. La Rambla also features a noisy bird market, an 18th century rococo mansion, fabulous cafes and restaurants, and a beautiful harbor.

Another area of Barcelona is called Barri Gotic, which boasts many incredible, medieval Gothic buildings. Here, you will be confronted with a maze of interconnected, dark streets with lots of charming cafes and bars. The majority of buildings in Barri Gotic are from the 14th and 15th centuries to include a castle. However, Placa de Sant Jaume is worth visiting. This spacious square offers a busy marketplace and an excellent place to dance.


Then, there is the Museu Picasso, the most visited of all museums in Barcelona. This includes three spectacular mansions and the museum itself will provide you with a guided tour into the earlier years of the city. Of course, you do not want to miss La Sagrada Familia where an unfinished cathedral, one of many buildings in Barcelona designed by Gaudi, is set against the sky, as seen in the photograph. There, you will find a tangle of sculptures, four main towers, and some of the most amazing architect in all of Spain.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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