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BARCELONA
Besides being the capital of Catalunya, Barcelona is one of the main cities of the Mediterranean and is rooted deeply in history and culture. Home to the 1992 Olympic Games, the city offers both inhabitant and tourist splendor and vibrancy, a city well preserved and cared for down to the smallest of details, a cultural, social and gastronomic paradise.
It has a population of approximately of 4.2 million people including the metropolitan area. In a privileged position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian peninsula and the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in both size and population. There are two official languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Castillian Spanish.
Barcelona is so full of places worth seeing it is often difficult to decide what to see this time and what to leave until the next visit. There are some sights you definitely should not miss, such as Barcelona's famously unfinished Sagrada Família, and one of the best ways to get an overview of the city is to take a bus tour. Starting at Plaça Catalunya in the centre of the city, you buy a day ticket and can then hop on and off where you want, while seeing the city highlights - you definitely should see Gaudí's Casa Batllo and La Pedrera, but you can chose whether you see them from the bus or go inside, and the same applies to all the other sites. Although the commentaries at times lack detail, they serve as a good overview of the city without the common mistake of getting over tired through walking.
Las Ramblas is a must for everyone who visits Barcelona, although it can get overcrowded at times. Take a stroll down the centre and stop for a drink in Plaça Reial or visit the food market of la Boqueria, before getting to the Port. Another recommendation is to disappear into the narrow maze of streets of the Barri Gòtic, the old town. There is a fantastic selection of accomodation available in Barcelona, for all of the best deals please visit our hotels in Barcelona section.
