Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million people, it is the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan. It is also the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.
Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, Barcelona continued to be an important city in the Crown of Aragon as a economic and administrative centre of this Crown and the capital of the Principality of Catalonia.
Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many cultural events.
Barcelona is one of the world’s leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world’s major global cities.
Musuems include:
-The Museum of Catalan Art
-The Museum of the History of Barcelona
-The National Art Museum of Catalonia
-The Barcelona Zoo
-The Picasso Museum
-The Joan Miró Foundation
-The Salvador Dali Museum
