About Barcelona

Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is defined by quirky art and architecture, imaginative food and vibrant street life. It has medieval roots, seen in the mazelike Gothic Quarter, but a modernist personality represented by architect Antoni Gaudí’s fantastical Sagrada Família church. Its restaurant scene, anchored by the central Boqueria market, ranges from fine dining to tiny tapas bars. It has a population of 1.6 million, its urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 4.7 million people. Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centers. Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula, facing the Mediterranean Sea, on a plain approximately 5 km (3 mi) wide limited by the mountain range of Collserola, the Llobregat river to the southwest and the Besòs river to the north. Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, humid winters and warm, dry summers. The Barri Gòtic (Catalan for "Gothic Quarter") is the center of the old city of Barcelona. Barcelona has a great number of museums, which cover different areas and eras. Barcelona beach was listed as number one in a list of the top ten city beaches in the world.