Barcelona - Vibrant, dual language, Spanish city.

Barcelona is a city on the Mediterranean coast of mainland Spain in the Cataluna region and is the capital of the province of Barcelona. With a population of over 3 million people, the city has two official languages – Castillian Spanish, spoken by most Barcelonans, and Catalan, a romance language comprising elements of both French and Spanish. There are a number of facets of this impressive (and Spain’s second largest) city which draw tourists from around the world. Its rich and vibrant culture and the 4.5km of coastline are just a few of these. Others include the magnificent history and architectural heritage and the fact that the ski areas of the Pyrenees are just 160km to the north. Barcelona has the typical Spanish weather which is generally dry and warm for most of the year. The month from May to July and also September are normally the nicest with August tending to be the hottest of the year where temperatures can regularly reach 30 degrees C. Winter months in Barcelona are generally cooler although there is still not much in the way of rainfall. A wide range of parks and public places are available to enjoy in and around the city and the many interesting museums such as the Picasso Museum and the Museum of Catalan Art are worthy of a visit. The Gothic Quarter hosts some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces of the city such as a 13th century cathedral, the old City Hall Building and the Palace of the Generalitat which is the seat of the government of the Catalan region. This is in contrast to the waterfront which has recently been renovated and has an aquarium, fabulous beaches and other new attractions. The Port of Barcelona is one of the major Mediterranean ports and this, along with being home to Spain’s second largest airport (after Madrid) makes the city one of the country’s main sources of income. Barcelona was, at one time, renowned for its manufacturing industries and much of that is still in evidence today with industrial areas manufacturing textiles, cars and electronic items all being located close to the city. A magnificent and diverse city with views over the Mediterranean and a rich cultural heritage, Barcelona can be forgiven for boasting to “have it all”, but nevertheless, it really is a city which is a rewarding experience to visit.