Barcelona
Located on the
Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is the historical capital of Cataluña
and Spain's second leading city in both size and importance. In terms of
charm, however, Barcelona yields first place to no one, with its rich history,
Mediterranean vistas and unique culture making it an especially rich and
rewarding city to experience.
In addition to
being a major port and industrial center, it has a distinctive language and
culture. Barcelona has an impressive architectural heritage that includes
the Gothic Quarter, with its cathedral, the old City Hall Building, the Episcopal
Palace and the splendid Palace of the Generalitat, the site of the Catalan
government.
The city also
boasts the work of the modernist architect Antonio
Gaudi who gave Barcelona
the better share of his works of genius. These include the unfinished church
La Sagrada Familia, Park
Guell, and the Mil Home. See our Antonio
Gaudi biography.
The Gothic Quarter
is the oldest part of Barcelona which features a 13th-century cathedral,
medieval buildings, and the City History Museum. Barcelona
also has many museums, two of which are the Picasso Museum and the Museum of Catalan Art.
In contrast to
the Gothic Quarter, the renovated waterfront has an aquarium, beaches, and
other attractions. However Barcelona's modern image is summed up by the turn-of-the-century
works of Antoni Gaudí: Parc Güell and
the Sagrada
Familia Church are his most well-known.
Barcelona´s official
government language is Catalan, a romance language with elements of French
and Spanish as well as its own unique charm. Banned during the years of the
Franco dictatorship, it has re-emerged with a vengeance, although most Barcelonans
also speak Castillian Spanish.
If you are interested
in seeing Barcelona with a guide, check out these Barcelona
tours.
See also our collection
of web sites with information about Barcelona.
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