Barcelona calls itself the most southern city of Northern Europe. Here, modern European 20th century architecture, the splendour of Spanish Art Nouveau and the medieval character of the Gothic quarter meet and co-exist in an extraordinary diversity.

The best-known Spanish artists from the realms of architecture, painting and design lived and worked in Barcelona. All over the city Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Tàpies and others left their mark. The face of the city is dominated by the architect Antoni Gaudí who provided Barcelona with many magnificent architectural monuments including the unfinished church Sagrada Familia and marvellous houses.

Do you love music? Then you will find two world-famous music venues in Barcelona: the Gran Teatre del Liceu, which is the second largest and most modern opera house in Europe, and the Palau de la Música, an Art Nouveau building which fascinates with its fantastic acoustics as well as its lavishly designed interior.

Barcelona is a city of change, a synthesis of old and new, in which traditions are as vivid as the idea of being the forerunner of modern Spain.