Living in
Barcelona
The County City
Barcelona is the second most populated city in Spain. It is one of the great metropolises of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a coastal city that lies between the mouths of two rivers and is bounded to the west by the Collserola mountain range. It is therefore a city rich in scenery, where you can enjoy both the mountains and the beach just a few minutes away. Barcelona welcomes a large number of people, being one of the most visited European cities by tourists wanting to know the city and by people attending all kinds of exhibitions and celebrations that take place in the city.
A city with a rich heritage
Barcelona has a rich cultural and monumental heritage, the legacy of its long history. Of particular note are the countless works left by Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner in the city, which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Lluís Doménech i Montaner’s monuments include the Casa Lleó, the Casa Fuster and the Palau Montaner. Barcelona is full of Gaudí’s works, including Casa Batlló, Park Güell, Casa Calvet and one of the best known and most visited monuments in the world, the Sagrada Familia. Gaudí’s unexpected death and his architectural complications mean that the Sagrada Familia has been under construction for 140 years and is the largest unfinished church in the world.
You will want to get lost in its streets
It’s a city made for getting lost in its streets and getting to know first-hand the diverse cultures and lifestyles of Barcelona’s locals and tourists alike. To get to know the city it is essential to explore its neighbourhoods and its most emblematic streets, such as La Rambla, where you will find shops and markets known as La Boqueria.
El Born is a traditional neighbourhood close to the centre and the beach where you can enjoy the nightlife, bars and restaurants. Barrio Gràcia is a neighbourhood with a cultural and generational mix that is very entertaining to see. The Gothic Quarter is the heart of the city with great charm, where Barcelona originated. Barrio Montjuïc offers fabulous views of the city and is home to the Olympic Stadium, where the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games took place.
Barcelona celebrates many traditional festivals known throughout the country such as the Fiestas de la Mercé, the patron saint of the city, the Diada, a festival commemorating the day of the region of Catalonia and Sant Jordi, the day on which books and roses are given as gifts.
Cosmopolitan city
Barcelona is recognised as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world for its mix of cultures and the coexistence between local people and the millions of tourists who visit the city. Barcelona has numerous cultural events and exhibitions throughout the year that attract the attention of both amateurs and professionals. Among Barcelona’s must-see museums are the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Picasso Museum of Barcelona, the European Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of the History of Catalonia. There are other fun and unusual museums such as the Erotica Museum or the Chocolate Museum.
A city that does everything
Every year Barcelona welcomes thousands of students and researchers interested in Spain’s most prestigious universities, who are also captivated by the beauty of the city. The city’s public universities are: Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The city’s numerous universities make the city a great atmosphere for young people, where festivals such as Primavera Sound and the Barcelona Beach Festival are also held.