Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, sits on the Mediterranean coast and is home to around 1.6 million people, with over 5 million in the wider metropolitan area. It is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, welcoming over 15 million visitors each year.
Traditional food
One famous tapas dish is La Bomba — a deep-fried potato croquette filled with meat and served with allioli and spicy red sauce. The dish originated in the Barceloneta neighbourhood and its name is thought to refer to the shape of a bomb.
Another classic Catalan dish is Esqueixada, a salad made with salt cod (bacalao), tomatoes, onions and olives, typically served with romesco sauce, made from roasted peppers, almonds and hazelnuts.
Fiestas
One of the most important celebrations in Catalonia is Sant Jordi (23rd April). Often described as a mix of Valentine’s Day and World Book Day, people exchange roses and books. The tradition comes from the legend of Saint George slaying a dragon and giving a rose to a princess.
Another major celebration is La Noche de Sant Joan (23rd June), when bonfires, fireworks and beach parties take place across Barcelona, especially along the coastline.
Must-see sights
Barcelona is famous for the architecture of Antoni Gaudí.
The city’s most iconic landmark is La Sagrada Familia, a huge basilica whose construction began in 1882 and is still ongoing today.
Other famous Gaudí landmarks include:
-
Casa Milà (La Pedrera) – known for its wavy stone façade
-
Casa Batlló – a colourful modernist building with flowing shapes
-
Parc Güell – a hillside park with mosaics, terraces and panoramic views of the city
Another famous location is La Rambla, a busy pedestrian boulevard running from Plaça de Catalunya down to the port near Barceloneta beach, lined with cafés, restaurants and street performers.
Language
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, where Catalan and Spanish (Castellano) are both official languages. Around 7 million people speak Catalan as their first language, with several million more using it as a second language.
Catalan is a Romance language, closely related to Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. Many people in the region grow up bilingual, speaking both Catalan and Spanish.
Between the beaches, the tapas and the colourful architecture, Barcelona is a city that’s impossible not to fall in love with!