barcelona

Founded over 2000 years ago, Barcelona has become one of the Mediterranean's grandest cities and its coastal location and proximity to the Pyrenees make it one of the most important tourist and business destinations in Europe. The city is known throughout the world as a cultural city with a rich heritage as well as a dynamic and vibrant 21st century metropolis.

Barcelona is an outward looking and modern 21st century city which today has come to play an important role on the international scene. Within the European Union, it is fast becoming the driving force behind the Mediterranean economy and this is underlined by the fact that business interests represented 45.7% of the overall volume of visits in 2002. Since the overwhelming success of the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona has also become one of the most important congress cities in Europe with a significant congress infrastructure that includes numerous top class hotels, auditoriums and the perfectly equipped Congress Palace with a capacity for 2300 delegates. The recent construction of the World Trade Centre in the old port is further evidence of Barcelona's international magnetism. The complex incorporates a large business and convention centre, a hotel and a professional school for international trade.

As well as its burgeoning business reputation Barcelona is of course also the city of Gaudi and modernism, whose principal works La Pedrera, La Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell and Casa Batlló are recognised UNESCO world heritage sites. The city's cultural agenda offers a large variety of shows, popular festivals, theatre, dance, opera, music and exhibitions, and in the coming years the city is planning innovate new projects. It is hoped to designate a theme to each year, 2002 was the year of Gaudi, for example, and 2004 was dedicated to the Universal Forum of Cultures.

The city is also rich in sporting history with F.C. Barcelona holding pride of place among the Catalan community. Other major annual sporting events in the city include the Formula One Grand Prix held every April or May in Montmeló, the Conde de Godó Trophi tennis tournament in April and the Barcelona marathon, which takes place in March. Bullfights are held on Sunday between April and September at the Monumental bullring at Gran Via Corts Catalanes 749.

In recent years Barcelona has also re-discovered its coast - visitors can now enjoy a renovated seafront full of activity. The Old Port and Olympic Harbour offer a wide selection of gastronomy and leisure activities and the 4 km's of beach offer various marine sports or, for the less adventurous, the possibility of just relaxing in the sun. For these reasons, it is no surprise that Barcelona has developed into one of the favourite tourist and business destinations for millions of people from around the world.

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