Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia, one of the 17 regions that form Spain. There are two official languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Castillian Spanish. The city of Barcelona has a population of about 1.6 million, but if the whole of the metropolitan area is included, the population spirals to more than 4 million.
Barcelona offers many attractions, including La Rambla, the most famous boulevard in Barcelona which stretches from the harbor to La Place Catalunya and is full of people and life day and night; Placa d'Espanya once used for public hangings, the fountain in the center of the square is a great attraction; the winding streets and hidden squares, fountains and palaces in the Barri Gotic; visit the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, the Gothic Church of Santa Maria del Pi and the Gothic Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. Located next to La Rambla is La Placa Reial, considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The Place Reial is one of the places full of life day and night, thanks to the many terraces of restaurants where you can get something to eat and drink almost at any hour.
La Sagrada Familia is a giant temple designed by the master architect Antonio Gaudi. The building has been under construction since 1882 and it probably takes another 30 to 80 years to finish it.
Barcelona Aquarium is a popular attraction for families with children. Poble Espanyol de Montjuic, or the Spanish Village, is a small village with different quarters that replicate the style of houses from different parts of Spain. Poble Espanyol is also home to the famous flamenco show at tablao de Carmen.
La Pedrera or Casa Mila is another of Antonio Gaudi's creations and also among the top 10 most visited attractions in Barcelona. Barcelona FC Museum where you can buy tickets to see the stadium and the museum and even tickets to see the changing rooms etc. Barcelona Zoo with a wide variety of animals on show. The Picasso Museum where you can see Picasso's paintings arranged in chronological order from his early days to his final works. Imax Cinema right next door to Barcelona Aquarium. Miró Museum is an art gallery with a wide range of Miró's work dating back as far as 1914. It has a wonderful collection of Miró's work. National Museum of Art of Catalunya.
Barcelona has a lot of hotels. Many of these hotels are of high quality and it is possible to find hotels and accommodation for any ones taste and budget.
Barcelona is great off-season and it is a lovely city even in the winter months of January and February as long as the possibility of rain is low. Give the high humidity, 19-23 C is considered comfortable weather, which is normally the temperature between April and June, and between late September through November. This is the best time to visit. In August it gets very hot and most of the local people go on holidays, so it is less busy and good deals may be made with the hotels.
