Barcelona is the capital and most populous city of Catalonia and
the second largest city in Spain, with a population of 1,605,602 in 2006,
while the population of the Metropolitan Area was 3,161,081.
It is the central nucleus of the Urban Region of Barcelona,
which relies on a population of 4,856,579.
It is located on the Mediterranean coast between the mouths
of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs and is limited to the west by
the Serra de Collserola ridge (512 m/1,680 ft).
Barcelona is a major economic centre with one of Europe's principal
Mediterranean ports, and Barcelona International Airport is the
second largest in Spain.
Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the
Counts of Barcelona and the Crown of Aragon.
Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona is today an important
cultural centre and a major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage.
Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and
Lluís Domènech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The city is well known in recent times for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics.
As the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona houses the seat of the Catalan government,
known as the Generalitat de Catalunya; of particular note are the executive branch,
the parliament, and the Supreme Court of Catalonia.
The city is also the capital of the county (comarca) of the Barcelonès.
read full wikipedia reference about Barcelona, Spain
Read the full travel guide about travelling to Barcelona Spain here
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