Barcelona - an overview
The city is flanked by the rivers Besos (on the East) and the Llobregat (on the West). The Collserola Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea surround it on th eNorth and South, always limiting Barcelona’s growth. Because of its size, the city is ideal for walking. The old town, comprised of the Barri Gotic, is famous for its monuments. The town is also home to many examples of Modernist architecture, concentrated in the Eixample, an area designed by Ildefons Cerda in 18.60. The area was a model for urban organisation and growth after the city’s medieval walls were destroyed. Since 1992, Barcelona has opened itself up to the sea, with a modern Maritime Seafront.
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, the city enjoys a warm, humid climate. Temperatures are pleasant all year long. Barcelona is sunny during every season of the year, with most days of the year being days of sunlight.
In Barcelona, as in the rest of Catalonia, there are two official languages: Catalan, the local language, and Castilian Spanish. Catalan is a descendant of Latin and is therefore quite similar to Castilian Spanish. It has three more vowels than Spanish though.