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About Barcelona

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a city with an essentially Mediterranean culture and history.

From its Roman origins to its present-day status as a mecca for tourists and a pioneer of modern style and design, it has always been a city that bubbles all year round. Alternative art galleries, festivals, fairs, exhibitions, sporting events and more fill the calendar with ideas to bring tourists and residents alike together to enjoy a culture that never fails to lead the latest trends, be they urban, artistic or even gastronomic.

Magnificent examples of architecture throughout the ages can be found all over the city, providing a great Romanesque, Gothic and above all Modernista legacy, the latter represented by the famous works of Antoni Gaudí. Barcelona’s people are proud of their history, and are fervent in their desire to preserve these buildings and streets while maintaining centuries-old traditions throughout the year. Celebrations like the Festa de la Mercè, the festival of the city’s patroness, is the largest of the many folk festivals that take over the city as a whole, while events particular to the city’s neighbourhoods, most notably the festivals of Sants and Gràcia, offer further chances to bring out the giants, human towers and folk music every year.

Barcelona is a city between the mountains and the sea. As a result, it became a major gateway through which, during the course of its history, knowledge, traditions, customs, and new consumer products have passed. In short, an inexhaustible source of wealth has passed through its harbour, not only from Europe but also from all the countries that fringe the Mediterranean, as well as those beyond. While the residents of Barcelona have fed themselves culturally through this ever-open window of opportunity, they are a people of habit; they respect the hours of work and play and place great importance on family and character. In this way, their cultural growth has always rested on a formula that is very much their own and difficult to copy: a fascinating mix of local traditions and new influences from outside.

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