Barcelona
Located on the north-eastern Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid. Its open and dynamic personality, so typical of Mediterranean cities, attracts several million tourists every year, which makes it one of the most visited cities in the world.
Besides being unique because of its own way of life, Barcelona is also remarkable for its rich historical and cultural heritage. The Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) is the centre of the old city of Barcelona where you can admire roman and medieval buildings and wander in its narrow and winding streets.
As a prominent artistic centre, Barcelona is also loved due to the Catalan modernista architecture which developed between 1885 and 1950, and that is associated to the movement known in Europe as Art Nouveau. One of the most important representatives of this movement is the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, whose spectacular works can be seen throughout the city. His best-known work is the unfinished but breathtaking church of the Sagrada Família, also generally recognized as the symbol of Barcelona. Particularly renowned is also the ambitious work of art La Pedrera, a fascinating and unusual building that hosts today a cultural centre dedicated to a wide range of cultural activities and expositions.
Barcelona is also highly appreciated for its botanical and thematic parks. The Park Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudi, is a magical garden located on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district where you will gaze in wonder at the gatehouses, based on designs recalling the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, and at the famous and colorful mosaic lizard. Also to discover, there is the largest park of Barcelona, so called Montjuïc, and located on the mountain of the same name. It is home to the buildings from the 1992 Olympic Games, the famous Castell de Montjuïic, the great museum Fundació Joan Miró with a collection of paintings, sculptures and graphic pieces by the Spanish surrealist artist. A must-see are also the spectacular show of the Magic Fountain and the Poble Espanyol, with its “artisans’ village”. So do not miss the opportunity to climb to the heights of these parks and enjoy the beautiful panorama and its treasures.
Considered as one of the liveliest European destinations, the city of Barcelona will also surprise you by its numerous venues for live music and theatre, including outstanding concert halls. You will marvel at the Palau de la Música Catalana for its Modernista architecture and at the performances of the Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house. We then warmly invite you to sample the heart of the Barcelona “movida” at some point during the 19th congress of the EAHP by making a detour via La Rambla, a gorgeous tree-lined pedestrian walkway full of artists, human statues, fortune-tellers, musicians and dancers.
To get further information on the large variety of cultural events, shopping, top gastronomic venues and sightseeing opportunities offered by the City of Barcelona, please visit the Barcelona Tourist Office’s official website www.barcelonaturisme.com .
