In 1992 Barcelona basked in the international limelight as host of the summer Olympic Games. Since then, it has established itself as one of the world’s preeminent global cities, an economic and cultural powerhouse in the vanguard of the arts, sport, leisure commerce, fashion, science — and tourism.
Located on the Mediterranean coastline, it is also provides a convenient base and hub to visit other popular tourist resorts, both in the nearby areas of Barcelona province (including Sitges) and further afield in the Cataluña region, which includes three other provinces: Lérida (inland), Tarragona (south of Barcelona) and Girona, extending north to the border with southern France and encompassing the Costa Brava.