Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and is located on the east coast, on the Mediterranean Sea. Its location makes the city an important player in Europe, and it is regarded as an important player in the areas of business, commerce, entertainment and the arts, among others. http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/163414/money_management/barcelona_economy.html Barcelona is a bi-lingual city, using both Spanish and the native Catalan. http://www.whatbarcelona.com/barcelona-history.html

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and cool winters. Temperatures reach highs of 29C/84F in August, and lows of 10C/50F in January.http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/weather/barcelona-weather.html

The city is reknowned for its love of arts, and has a number of world famous venues, including the Gran Teatre de Liceu. The city's main street, Las Ramblas, is a feast of entertainment, with street performers lining the walkway and entertaining passers-by. http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/ramblas/barcelona-las-ramblas.html

The city is famed for its archetecture, in particular the works of Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia, Guell Park and Casa Batlo are all fine examples of his unusual style of design, which can be found all over the city. http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/barcelona/gaudi.htm

• Sagrada Familia is Barcelona's most visited tourist attraction. Work began on the Cathedral in 1882 and it is still being carried out. The Cathedral is built in the distinct style of Gaudi, and is just one example of his work that can be seen in the city. Tourists can climb to the top of the cathedral's winding staircase - it's a gruelling trip but worth it for the expansive views of the city.
• Park Guell is another example of Gaudi's work in Barcelona. The park is a mixture of trees, shrubs and flowers and unusal works of art - including sculptures, mosaics and tiling - all in the inimitable Gaudi style. The winding pathways lead you around the park and the park's location on top of a hill gives great views of the city.
• Montjuic is an attraction on top of a hill overlooking Barcelona's harbor. The Castell de Montjuic sits at the top of the hill, where you can see the old battlements and take in an impressive view of the city. The Olympic Stadium is situated on the hill and was the site of the 1992 Olympics. At night the mountain is lit up by the magic fountains, or Font Magica, - a roaring display of water acrobatics, music and light.
• Las Ramblas is the main thoroughfare in Barcelona. The street stretches from the city centre right down to the beach and is a real tourist attraction in its own right. Barcelona is famed for its culture and nowhere is it more evident than here - street performers line both sides of Las Ramblas and entertain tourists and locals alike. The street is also home to street vendors - selling anything from live chicken and rabbits to candles, postcards and tourist trinkets.
• El Bosc de les Fades is by far the most interesting and unusual bar in Barcelona, if not in the whole of Spain. Located just off Las Ramblas, beside the wax museum, walking into this bar is like entering a literal fairy forest. The dimly lit bar has tables shaped from trees and seats like toadstools, while a fountain roars in one corner and a walk through the fairyland brings you into a hidden grotto. It really has to be seen to be believed.