Barcelona

Barcelona Spain is often referred to as the City of Marvels due to the outstanding number of breathtaking and historical sites to see and activities to participate in. Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia and is the second largest city in Spain  - and definitely one of the major tourism areas for the country. Located on the warm Mediterranean coast, Barcelona has year-round attractions for visitors from all over the world. There is a wide range of both outdoor as well as sightseeing options for travelers and visitors, and the nightlife and social events in the city are second to none in Europe.

Originally built by the Romans, Barcelona is a mixture of ancient and modern architecture and development. Even through it is a business center for Spain and is one of the most important port cities in the area, cultural events are still considered to be equally important to the local economy. Emphasis is placed on the preservation of history without stopping modernization of the city.

There are over 65 parks within Barcelona that provide a nice place to relax and picnic without leaving the city. The Ciutadella Park is home to both the Parliament buildings as well as the Barcelona Zoo and is almost 80 acres or 31 ha in size. There are amazingly beautiful flower gardens and landscaping examples in most of the small and large parks scattered throughout the city. The city is also on the coast so beaches are easy to access from most of the areas of the city and provide a relaxing and entertaining place to enjoy an afternoon by the water or a romantic evening stroll.

Nightlife and entertainment are important aspects of the culture of Barcelona. The city is home to the Gran Teatre del Liceu, which is a world renowned opera theatre. In addition there are several theatres for the performing arts as well as concerts, symphonies and cultural events throughout the city. Restaurants of any type imaginable are found throughout the old historic parts of the city as well as the more modern business and tourism areas. The excellent bus and tram lines, as well as the convenience of central location of most shopping and cultural areas to hotels, makes getting around Barcelona easy for even those new to the city.