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Pl. dels Països Catalans s/n. 08014
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www.barcelosants.com |
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| The country of Spain is located in southwestern Europe. |
| Mainland Spain has a surface area of 493,486 square kilometers, while the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands cover 4,992 and 7,447 square kilometers, respectively. The Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the African continent account for an additional 32 square kilometers. |
| The World Tourism Organization rates Spain as the second most popular tourist destination worldwide, with 49.5 million visitors annually. | |
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| The Autonomous Region of Catalonia is situated in the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula, and is made up of four provinces: Barcelona , Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. |
| The territory of this modern region can be divided into two mountainous sectors (the Pyrenees and the coastal mountain chains) and the Central Catalan Plain. This complex geographical configuration gives rise to a wide variety of landscapes, ranging from the high Pyrenean peaks and the extinct volcanoes of the Garrotxa to the beautiful beaches along the coast. |
| The province of Barcelona, situated on the Mediterranean coast in the northeastern part of Spain, has a surface area of 7,728 square kilometers, a population of 1.5 million, and is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia. |
| Barcelona is a warm, dynamic, innovative, and avant-garde city. It offers a wide variety of products and services, covering the all the visitor's needs. It has also become one of Europe's leading financial and commercial centers. | |
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 Gothic Quarter.At the center of the Gothic Quarter lies Plaça de Sant Jaume , which dates back to Roman times, Plaça Nova (where the Generalitat Palace is located), and the City Hall Palace. Another important location in this neighborhood is the Plaça del Rei , where visitors will find the Royal Palace, the Archive Palace of the Crown of Aragon, and the Church of Santa Agata. |
| Las Ramblas. A boulevard spanning 2 kilometers, between the port and the emblematic Plaça Catalunya. |
| Park of the Citadel. Gardens where the 1868 World Fair was held. Today, visitors can find one the best zoos in Europe, the Parliament building of Catalonia, and the sculpture of the Lady of the Umbrella, one of the symbols of the city. |
| L'Eixample. The spacious area in central Barcelona, whose grid-like streets meet at right angles, a unique phenomenon among European cities. In this neighborhood visitors can find buildings designed by Gaudí, such as the Sagrada Familia the Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, all magnificent examples of the modernist architectural movement. |
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| The most typical dishes in Barcelona are "escudella i carn d'olla", a rustic two-course dish of boiled meat and vegetables, white bean stew, served with the traditional butifarra sausage, and "arroz a la cazuela", a rice dish. |
| There are many fish specialties in the region, such as grouper and monkfish casserole, jumbo shrimp, calamari, mussels, lobster, "suquet de peix", and exquisitely seasoned codfish. |
| Among the more outstanding wines are reds from Perelada, Alella, Tarragona and Priorat, whites from the Penedès and sparkling wines from the Penedès and Perelada. |
| Finally, the most typical desserts are the delicious "crema catalana", and "mel i mató", made from honey and curd, and "el postre de músico", served with pine nuts and raisins. |
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| Today there are two types of craftsmanship in Catalonia: the traditional rural kind and the new urban type associated with interior design. As a result of these coexisting crafts, visitors can find beautiful works in metal and wood, lathe-produced products, pottery, and glass. The pottery from Breda and Quart is particularly well-known. |
| In the capital, Barcelona, arts and crafts can be found in the Ciutat Vella (Old Quarter), in the streets surrounding the cathedral, and in the old Jewish quarter. Las Ramblas and the adjacent streets are also a major shopping area. Visitors interested in well-known fashion designer shops should visit the Paseo de Gracia, Diagonal, Sant Gervasi and Pedralbes avenues. |
| Visitors may also want to check out the traditional outdoor markets, Encant de les Glories and Encants Vells, which open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, adding excitement and color to the city. |
| The main department stores in Barcelona are El Corte Inglés, Maremagnum, Illa Diagonal, Diagonal Mar Centre, Pedralbes Centre, El Triangle and La Maquinista, open Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
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| Local Time: UTC + 2 in Summer. UTC + 1 in Winter. |
| Official Currency: The currency used is the Euro |
| Official Language: Spanish and Catalan. |
| Population: Approximately 39 millions inhabitants. |
| Health Information: No vaccine or medical certificate is needed to travel to Spain. |
| Electricity: 220 V. Plugs are rounded and double-pronged. |
| Types of payment: Most shops accept cash and major international credit cards, such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express. |
| Banking hours: Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
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