Study Abroad in Spain: Barcelona.

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.

Barcelona, more than just a single city, is really a collection of multi-faceted and diverse cities. The visitor unfamiliar with its history might be surprised that such a modern and enterprising city preserves its historic Gothic center almost intact, or by the curious contrast between the maze of narrow streets and the grid-like layout of the Eixample, the urban planning "Enlargement" project of the end of the 19th century.

Barcelona has always been a city that lives and breathes sport. Today, and thanks in large part to the holding of the Olympic Games, a quarter of the city's population now regularly do some type of sport and have included physical exercise in their habitual activities.

The people of Barcelona have seized the city's public spaces, squares, parks and new beaches and turned them into focal points of sports activities. And we must continue to advance in this direction. The City Council promotes and stimulates sport at all levels - from amateur to professional, from school to retirement, from 'fun runs' to summer activities - building and remodelling facilities, equipping districts and educational centres. Facilitating access for everyone to a healthier lifestyle through physical exercise. Consolidating Barcelona's international role as a city of Sport.

They are many and diverse the sports that you can practice in Barcelona:

• Tennis: The world famous Conde de Godó International Trophi tournament takes place every April.
• Formula 1 Racing: The Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place in may at Montmeló.
• Sailing and Water sports: Sailing and water sports can be enjoyed to the full in Barcelona due to its close proximity to the sea. Several regattas are held every year during the spring and summer.
• Skiing: There are several ski resorts in the Pyrenees (Girona, Lleida), within easy access from Barcelona through the Cadí Tunnel.

These are just a few of the hundreds of different sport events that Barcelona has to offer.

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Bars, cafes, clubs and discotheques abound in the vicinity south of Avd. Diagonal between Calle Pau Claris and Calle Aribau. The music beats are as diverse as the ambiences and cater to all different tastes. Above the Avd. Diagonal on Calle Santaló and nearby, in the vicinity of the Plaça Francesc Macià, a more high class selection of night spots can be found. Calle Aribau and Calle Muntaner are also very lively strips at night.

In the area of Avd. del Tibidabo, at the end of the Tramvia Blau (Blue tram), there are music and dance spots which offer a more layed-back atmosphere and are popular in the summer.

The Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) on Montjuïc provides a striking background for one of the most unique night spots.

The Olympic Village in Poble Nou has a good selection of bars and discotheques.

The Gràcia district has a myriad of small night spots with lots of personality and a good number of outdoor cafés in the squares.

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Between the Plaça de Catalunya and C. Portaferrissa and along Av. Portal de l'Ángel, an important shopping area can be found, including two department stores and many shops selling fashions, accessories and other articles.

In a good part of the Eixample, we find numerous select fashion shops and jewelry stores. On the Passeig de Gràcia and in other parts of the Eixample, commercial galleries abound.

The area of Diagonal, in the high part of the city, is another interesting shopping area. Here we find two department stores, along with the most famous designers boutiques in Barcelona.

In Plaça de las Glòries Catalanes we find the Mercat de les Encants, a flea market selling all kinds of old (sometimes antique) and new articles. Its opens on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8AM to 7PM.

Another flea-market can be found outside the Mercat de SAn Antoni on the same days as the Les Encants flea-market and with the same hours. On Sunday mornings there is an unusual flea-market of old books, collector cards, movie posters and records.

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