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Benvinguts a Catalunya
  Its history and tradition make Catalonia one of the richest tourist destinations in terms of cultural resources, with a rich, attractive monumental heritage offering visitors endless opportunities to enjoy art from many different periods.
Nature-lovers will discover not only a pleasant, temperate Mediterranean climate, but also a wealth of landscapes and rich diversity in Catalonia. From steep, rocky coasts to gently sloping sandy beaches, from inland plains and wooded mountains to deep Pyrenean valleys and snow-capped peaks, the opportunities to enjoy nature are endless here.
The capital of catalunya, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in both size and population. It is also the capital of Catalonia, 1 of the 17 Autonomous Communities that make up Spain.
There are two official languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Castillian Spanish. The city of Barcelona has a population of 1.510.000, but this number spirals to more than 4.000.000 if the outlying areas are also included. The capital of Catalonia is unequivocally a Mediterranean city, not only because of its geographic location but also and above all because of its history, tradition and cultural influences.
Catalunya is also home of great artistic achievements, ranging from grand Greek and Roman monuments (Empuriιs was an important Greek colony and Tarragona a Roman nucleus), exquisitely simple Romanesque works, especially in the foothills of the Pyrenees and characterized by wall frescoes and polychrome wood sculpture, to some of the most exciting avant-garde art of the twentieth century. Most of Antonio Gaudν's flowing, lavalike buildings, set off by tortuous wrought-iron grilles, gates, and unique ceramic tiles, are in Barcelona, and Picasso, Dalν, and Mirσ all spent their formative years in Catalunya.
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