World Congress on
Parkinson's and Movement Disorders

Barcelona is the capital city of the autonomous community of Catalonia in the Kingdom of Spain, as well as the country’s second most populous municipality, with a population of 1.6 million within city limits. Its urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 4.7 million people, being the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan. It is the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

 

Barcelona is one of the world's foremost tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its position as one of the world's major international cities. Barcelona has a humid subtropical climate neighbouring a maritime Mediterranean climate, with mildly cool winters and hot, muggy summers, while the drizzliest seasons are autumn and spring.

 

Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments. Barcelona is one of the world’s leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world’s major global cities. The Gothic Quarter is the heart of the old city of Barcelona. Barcelona is the home of many interest points declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. 

 

Barcelona beach was recorded as number 1 in the list of top 10 city beaches in the world according to National Geographic and Discovery Channel. It contains 7 beaches, totalling 4.5 kilometres of coastline: Sant Sebastià, Barceloneta and Somorrostro beaches, both 1,100 m in length, are the largest, oldest and the most-frequented beaches in Barcelona, the Olympic Harbour splits them from the other city beaches: Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant.