Since Barcelona was founded over 2000 years ago, it has pursued its vocation as a great Mediterranean metropolis.

With its privileged location on the Iberian Peninsula, between the sea and the mountains, it is the cultural and administrative capital of Catalonia and the traditional gateway to Spain.

Its mild climate throughout the year is an invitation to experience the city to the full, both by day and by night. Strolling through the captivating, lively streets, you can sense the hospitality and friendliness of its inhabitants.

The old city, formed by the Gothic Quarter and the Ribera and Raval neighbourhoods, is famous for its historic buildings. A walk through its old streets is essential in order to understand the different periods in the history of Barcelona, to contemplate its monuments, the Roman wall among perfectly conserved Gothic buildings, the remains of the Jewish quarter, and above all, to enjoy its characteristic Mediterranean atmosphere.

There is no better place to get to know Barcelona than La Rambla, a colourful, bustling avenue that begins beside the sea at the Mirador de Colom and goes up to the Plaça de Catalunya, a meeting point and the centre of urban communications. Considered as the lively and dynamic heart of the city, it is essential to visit it from top to bottom. Street musicians, opera singers, mime artists, painters, human statues, flower stalls and bird sellers, the Boqueria market, the Gran Teatre del Liceu - restored at the end of 1999 - and the countless shops and friendly cafés make up a unique and unforgettable walk.

Continuing towards the mountains, we come to the Eixample district - a unique European model of urban planning. Designed in 1860 by Ildefons Cerdà, it contains one of the largest collections of modernista architecture on the continent. The famous Passeig de Gràcia contains the most representative buildings from this movement. Antoni Gaudí, Puig i Cadafalch and Domènech i Montaner expressed their creativity in the residences of the Catalan bourgeoisie of that time.

Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller and Casa Milà - better known as La Pedrera (the stone quarry) - are just some of the buildings which bring together a host of almost unprecedented, exuberant colours and forms. The Sagrada Família, the Casa Batlló, the Casa Vicens and the Colònia Güell have been designated World Heritage Sites, together with the Palau Güell, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, the Park Güell and the Palau de la Música Catalana.

But the city does not live only through the past. Barcelona - an active and dynamic city is in a constant process of renewal. In the last decade, it has experienced an impressive transformation. The holding of the 1992 Olympic Games - considered, at the time, the best in history - meant that the city was opened up to the sea, and provided with an infrastructure of roads incorporating the latest technology.

Urban-tourism destination

Barcelona has established itself as one of the main urban-tourism destinations in Europe. The Catalan capital has every attraction for weekend breaks and two- or three-day visits. For some years now, holidaymakers have accounted for about 50 per cent of visitors to the city, a similar figure to business trips, which have traditionally been Barcelona’s strongest visitor segment. This makes the city the ideal place for a short break.

In recent years, the Catalan capital has become one of the favourite Mediterranean ports of the great cruise lines. The new ferry terminals which feature excellent services and are within easy access of the city, allow cruise passengers to take a stroll around the city while they enjoy its atmosphere and the best in shopping. This makes Barcelona an extremely attractive port of call.

The city of culture

Barcelona has always been a city with strong cultural and festive traditions. It's more than 50 museums and many art galleries stage permanent and temporary exhibitions that are part of a stimulating, year-round, calendar of events. The recently extended Museu Picasso; the Fundació Joan Miró; the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya-MNAC, with its unique collection of Romanesque art; the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA); CaixaForum, housed in an old art-nouveau factory; or the Fundació Antoni Tàpies are must-see landmarks which trace culture throughout the ages.

Music in Barcelona is a fiesta. All the musical genres can be enjoyed in the city, from classical to contemporary music, from ethnic music to jazz. Modern concert venues- which are also landmark buildings - such as L' Auditori, the Palau de la Música and the Gran Teatre del Liceu offer prestigious performances throughout the year. Theatre-going is another activity that enlivens the cultural life of Barcelona, which features prestigious internationally-known theatres. The opening of the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya consolidates the range of entertainment on offer in Barcelona.

Mediterranean cuisine

The city lives up to its Mediterranean setting with its Catalan cuisine, one of the most auspicious expressions of the Mediterranean diet. The interest in gastronomy in Barcelona is reflected in a long and varied list of restaurants (some of them awarded Michelin stars) that suit the most varied tastes - local Catalan cuisine, international cuisine, exotic food, not to mention tapas and appetisers or the world-famous cava. All the local know-how and flavours, all the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, come together in this culinary specialty, which also includes prestigious wines.

Shop until you drop!

Shopping in Barcelona is a delight. The Catalan capital has its own unique shops where you will find quality goods at competitive prices, as well as top international designer names. In addition, the city showcases Europe's biggest shopping centre, the Barcelona Shopping Line. This 5-km thoroughfare stretches from the harbour to the uptown Diagonal district, via La Rambla, the old town, the Gothic Quarter and the Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla de Catalunya. The Shopping Line comprises a series of shops which turn the shopping experience into a pleasant stroll. It is a stimulating compendium of the retail outlets in the city, which has 35,000 shops in total.

For more information about Barcelona, visit www.barcelonaturisme.com.

The article Barcelona: the complete guide originally appeared on 999 Today