Barcelona

The Spanish city of Barcelona (1.615.908 inhabitants) is capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia in the simarlarly named province of Barcelonès. The city hosted the Olympic Games in 1992, and its prosperous economy is supported mainly through tourism, commercial port and closeness to France. After Madrid, Barcelona is the second biggest industrial and financial centre in Spain.

Walking the streets of Barcelona you’ll discover intriguing glimpses of its a thousand-year history that spans from the time of the Romans through the middle-ages to the more recent Catalan quarters with their plazas and broad avenues.

In Ciutat Vella you can discover the wonderful Cathedral of Santa Eulalia - dedicated to the patron saint of the city. The access to the cathedral is free at certain times of the day. At other times there is an entrance fee but this also entitles visitors access to some of the museums around the cathedral including Palau del Lloctinent opposite Plaça del Rei. The Barri Gòtic quarter boasts two other remarkable churches: Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Maria del Pi.

Las Ramblas (in Spanish) or Les Rambles (in Catalan) is one of the top attractions. This avenue lies between the centre of the modern zone - Plaça Catalunya - and the Old Port. The street is a bustling area with pavements lined with newsagents, florists, bird sellers, street artists, cafés, restaurants and shops. Closer to the port you can often see artists painting at their easels.

At the Old Port end of Ramblas, you’ll discover the famous statue of Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón) pointing his finger towards the New Continent. Close by is the Maritime Museum dedicated to the nautical history of the Mediterranean sea and the exhibit includes a full scale replica of a war gallion. The busy Old Port also features a busy commercial centre with shops, restaurants, theatres and the largest Aquarium dedicated to the fauna and flora of the Mediterranean Sea.

Eurolines serves Barcelona up to six times a week from several Italian cities.