Foreigners love Barcelona! It’s understandable!
Many people wish to live under the Spanish sun and many (like myself!) choose
Barcelona!
Better than Madrid?
Without a doubt! A LOT better even!
Madrid is beautiful, but with the inconveniences of a capital city: pollution, traffic, it's
expensive, too cold in winter and too hot in summer! And plus the Sea is too far away!
Large, modern and with great transportation connectivity (plane, train and automobile),
Barcelona has comfortably taken its place in the top 5 European cities for ease and quality
of life… Life is more affordable than Paris or London, the weather is inclement, the never-
ending, beautiful Mediterranean beaches are waiting for you to come out to play and the
locals like expats! Last but not least of its characteristics: optimal security…
On the East coast of Spain, bordered by the Mediterranean, Barcelona is Spain's second
city. With over 1.5 million inhabitants, it's the administrative and economic capital of both
Catalonia and the Barcelona province. The metropolis, combining the city and its
surroundings counts close to 1,630,000 people.
With a remarkable architectural and historical heritage, the city is notorious for its mix of
ancient and modern monuments, truly making it an open, walkable history book. The
Llobregat river crosses the city, its source being found near Berga, its estuary flowing into
the Mediterranean Sea.
Barcelona is also known for its famous Feasts of San Joao or la Mercè, both as incredible
as they are unique! They respectively take place on June 24 th and September 24 th ,
gathering hundreds of thousands of visitors and mobilizing a good number of Barcelonans
for the preparations of these feasts, which are at once artistic, religious, gastronomical,
musical, pyrotechnic and intergenerational.
Public transport is particularly well developed, the metro currently consisting of 12 lines
and continuously growing. The number 9 line connects to the airport, only some 13.5 km
from the centre of town and the Rodiales (regional trains) spread out like tentacles, to
neighbouring towns along the coast as well as inland.
As for its sports notoriety, Barcelona would not be what it is today if it hadn't hosted the
1992 Summer Olympics. That event marked a boom for the city, which greatly capitalised
on the international event. Barcelona also is graced with a number of soccer clubs, like
the well- known FC Barça, which plays in Europe's largest stadium; the famous Camp
Nou. Since 1978 Barcelona organises its own yearly marathon, and since 1920, a popular
and international race, the Jean Bouin.
Barcelona holds its place as second economic pole of Spain thanks to its strong and
diversified industry (automotive, chemical, metalwork, furniture, agriculture and tourism)
and infrastructures. The port's participation to the city's tourism activity relies mainly on its
7 international passenger terminals and its place as the leading European cruise ship port.
The renowned gastronomy is what would be referred to as 'Mediterranean' cooking. Some
of the typical dishes of the city are Escalivada, Suquet de peix, Esqueixada de bacallà,
butifarra con mongetes,Crema Catalana.
The climate: another strong suit for Barcelona!
Barcelona has a semi- arid mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. In
wintertime, the temperature doesn't generally go below 5°C (it's not uncommon for
temperatures to reach 15°C in the daytime). Rain is rare in summer months, as on all the
Mediterranean, and a bit heavier in Autumn, as at the end of Winter/ beginning of Spring.
The yearly mean temperature is 15,9°C. Humidity is high at an average of 85% in the
morning and 55% in evening and last but certainly not least there are 2.524 hours of sun
per year!
Barcelona really does offer a truly seductive Mediterranean lifestyle with everything to
please!