Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is located on the coast and bounded by the Collserola ridge and rivers Besós and Llobregat. The city is less than 150 kilometres fromthe Pyrenees. Barcelona's location on the shores of the Mediterranean means that it enjoys a warm, welcoming climate and pleasant temperatures all year round. Rainfall is occasionally heavy, with levels of around 1,000mm per year. This helps to maintain the many green areas around the city.
In Barcelona, as in the rest of Catalonia, the are two official language: Catalan, the language of th region, and Spanish, the official language of Spain.
As in most countries, the clocks are an hour ahead of solar time (GMT) in winter, and two hours ahead in summer. The clocks change twice during the year.
In Barcelona mealtimes are usually a little late than in the rest of Europe. Breakfast is between 9am and 11am and is similar to other countries on the continent. Lunch is served in restaurants between 1pm and 3pm and dinner form 9pm until midnight.
The working day usually begins between 8am and 9am and people break for lunch at 2pm. In the afternoon businesses open from 4pm to 8pm.
Barcelona is known throughout the world as a cultural city, with an important heritage and a permanent and exciting range of activities on offer.
It is a city of renowned architectural interest, from its Roman walls to the new urban planning schemes of the eighties. Particular highlights are its modernista heritage and contemporary architecture. Over the next five years the city will step up its range of cultural facilities with pioneering initiatives which are open to all and invite participation. Each year will be dedicated to a particular theme -music, art, architecture, sport- in a programme which will culminate in 2004 with the Universal Forum of Cultures. The year 2002 is the year of music, and Barcelona has planned a very special series of events.
Barcelona affords countless possibilities for recreation. Over 40 museums: monographic art collections such as the Museu Picasso, the Fundació Joan Miró and the Fundacio Antoni Tàpies which hold permanent exhibitions of works by the artists As well as temporary shows; the world's finest collection of Romanesque art at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya; Temporary exhibitions of contemporary art at the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona - MACBA ; and numerous art galleries.
Theatre companies of international standing -Els Comediants, La Fura dels Baus, Els Joglars, El Tricicle- and spectacular Local festivals pulsating with life and colour such as the Mercè. Major events such as the Grec summer festival, one of the most important culturefests on the European calendar.
Barcelona is famed for the wide variety of its musical events. From classical music, opera and ballet, through jazz, flamenco, pop and rock, to the most innovative festivals. In 1999 the city regained its opera house, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, and opened the Auditori with a programme featuring the most diverse genres and musical styles. In addition to these musical events we find those of the Palau de la Música Catalana, a jewel of modernista architecture.
Design is a characteristic of Barcelona. You can find design in its streets, squares, bars and restaurants. In recent years, the city has become a permanent showroom for design.
Barcelona is a shopper's paradise, with all the major international designer names, plus many smaller designer boutiques selling a variety of goods including clothing, shoes and luxury jewellery items such as diamond eternity rings and even diamond engagement rings and diamond wedding rings!
There are large branches of the famous spanish department store, El Corte Ingles, in Barcelona, where you can find everything from gourmet food to fashion and household electrical items. You can also find trendy fashion labels such as Diesel and upmarket fashion labels such as Purificacion García.
The city also has a funfair on one of its emblematic mountains:Tibidabo. It has restaurants with their own distinctive style, which offer the full flavour of Catalan cuisine and a wide variety of international cooking.
Numerous recreational spaces, cinemas, theatres, flamenco performances, Europe's biggest aquarium, bullfights, art, music, dancind sardanas, popular festivals ... endless possibilities to help you experience the city to full.
