Summer in Barcelona: Music, Music and more Music!

- Barcelona and festivals form the ideal couple. A loving relationship that gets stronger as the years go by, and strengthened by the return of one of the city’s longest running events the Grec Festival 2009, which runs during the whole of July and until 2nd August in a number of locations (among them the emblematic Teatre Grec on Montjuïc). Theatre, music and dance at Grec 2009.

- Continuing the theme of long-lasting love affairs is Madonna cin her case with major stadium concerts. The world-renowned veteran pop star is set to shine like never before on 21st July at Barcelona’s Lluis Companys Stadium. Madonna and her Sticky & Sweet Tour are synonymous with spectacle and provocation. Get your ticket now!

- The “fiesta” doesn’t stop in Barcelona in August. The Gràcia Festa Major(a big street party in Barcelona’s Gràcia district) returns for the annual bash from 15-21 August with its street decoration competition and range of daily concerts. But of you prefer a more laid back night out, the Macba (Barcelona’s contemporary arts museum) opens its doors until midnight every Thursday during August.

What is it about Barcelona? What makes this European city one of the most inspiring destinations in the world? There's not one simple answer...

- Second largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia ("Catalunya" in Catalan)
- Major economic centre, one of Europe's main Mediterranean ports
- Second largest airport in Spain
- A rich and intense history
- A city where deeply rooted traditions and cutting-edge fashions coexist

Urban Beach Culture - Barcelona is situated on the Mediterranean coast in the north east of Spain. The city's beaches; Barceloneta or Bogatell, to name but two, are the ideal place to spend a day swimming, sunbathing, jogging or enjoying a cold drink at the famous 'chiringuitos' (beach bars).

The Magic Mountain - In the Sants-Montjuic district you can visit the famous Montjuic Mountain and its many attractions: the modern art museum Fundació Joan Miró, Mies van der Rohe's German pavilion, the Olympic stadium ("Estadi Olímpic" in Catalan), built for the 1992 Olympic Games, the creative water show of the Magic Fountains (Font Màgica)or the magnificent Palau Nacional that houses the National Art Museum (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya – MNAC), even the roads on the slopes were once a Formula One race circuit where the Spanish F1 Grand Prix was held on four occasions. The current Spanish Grand Prix is held at the impressive 'Circuit de Catalunya' at Montmeló, just 15 km from Barcelona.

Innovative Art & Architecture - Joan Miró was a Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramist born in Barcelona, many of his pieces are exhibited today in the Fundació Joan Miró in Montjuïc.
- Antoni Tapies, Catalan Informalist artist keeps the avant garde spirit alive at the Fundació Tapies, an impressive arts centre on Carrer Aragó, near the elegant Passeig de Gràcia.
- Gaudi's masterpieces are spread all over the city: La Pedrera and The Casa Batlló and the amazing garden complex Park Guëll.
- Lluís Domènech i Montaner, another Catalan architect also left his unique legacy to Barcelona: the Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau. Picasso, the famous Spanish painter, started out at in Barcelona before going to Paris. A collection of early works is shown at the Museu Picasso.

…and yet Barcelona is more than all this! Even if you've been here before there's always more to visit, enjoy and discover. Welcome to Barcelona!