Although Madrid is Spain's official capital, most consider Barcelona - a vibrant city of about 2 million inhabitants - to be the hub of Spanish fashion, food, style, music and architecture. Its natives speak both catalán and Spanish, just one aspect of Barcelona's unique regional culture. With architecture from medieval times up through the most admired Art Nouveau buildings in Europe, Barcelona shined at the 1992 Olympics and has continued to increase its renown since.
The capital and heart of the region of Cataluña, Barcelona lies on the Mediterranean coast and is undoubtedly Spain's most diverse and multicultural metropolis.
It would take a lifetime to see and do all that Barcelona has to offer. Highlights include the Ramblas, the Picasso Museum, El Barrio Gótico, the Olympic port, and the architectural masterpieces of Gaudí dispersed throughout the city. To top it all off, after a day of sightseeing and cultural activities you can head to the beach to relax. Barcelona is a captivating, cutting-edge city perfect for any world jet-setter interested in studying Spanish.
