Page 5 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW TRAVELLER TEMPLATE

0 4 T H E T R A V E L L E R

BEAUTIFUL BARCELONA

BY NIKKITA LAWRENCE; PHOTOS BY LEE COOPER

Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia and Spain's second largest city, with a

population of over one and half million people (over five million in the whole province).

Barcelona is the capital and largest city of One of the most famous and breathtaking
Catalonia and Spain's second largest city, locations to visit in Barcelona the most
with a population of over one and half famous building in the entire city and its
million people (over five million in the landmark, La Sagrada Familia. Although
whole province). This city, located directly incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World
on the northeastern Mediterranean coast Heritage Site, and in November 2010 was

of Spain, has a rich history, having been consecrated and proclaimed a minor
under Roman, then Frank law before basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.
declaring its independence.
August is probably the busiest time in
In 1992, Barcelona gained international Barcelona; at the same time about 10% of
recognition by hosting the Olympic games shops and restaurants can be found closed

which brought a massive upturn in its from mid-August to early September, when
tourism industry. This had the effect of the owners go on vacations.
changing the city in ways that are still felt
today with neighbourhoods renovated (and Spanish is spoken almost universally in
in some cases leveled) and the intense Barcelona, but the Catalan language has
focus of modern design permeating all also made a comeback due to intensive
aspects of life in Barcelona from public efforts in the school systems in recent

buildings to something as simple as a park years.Catalan is understood by 95% of
bench or an event poster. residents, spoken by 72%.