Barcelona is the second largest city of Spain and the capital of Catalonia region. Barcelona is situated on the Mediterranean coast, beside Llobregat River. The city is quite old and has important historical significance in Spain. During middle ages it was referred with multiple names like Barchenona Barchinona, Barchelona, and Barcalona etc.
Barcelona Health & Safety :
Be alert, as in any large city. The central part of Barcelona, especially always crowded La Rambla, is renowned for petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, so be watchful when sightseeing, taking pictures or watching street artists. Pickpockets are known to be crafty when devising ruses to dupe tourists out of their money. One popular method is fixing supposed games of chance. An example is the "shell game," where a con artist will have a ball and three boxes. He will show you the ball under one box, and then move them around quickly and have you try to guess which box the ball is under. Two of his accomplices will be betting on the game, apparently winning large amounts of money. When someone else tries to play, though, they never win, since the con artist will pocket the ball so that it isn't under any of the boxes.
The safest thing to do is to not respond to anybody unknown to you who comes up to you on the street, no matter how safe they appear to be. Seemingly benign people can turn dangerous in a heartbeat. Criminals are known to pretend to be hurt, and even dress up in women's clothing, asking for assistance in the street. When the unwary tourist approaches them, however, they will rob him and run off.
Don’t take any valuables with you, keep your bags closed and don’t carry money in your pockets. Also be cautious when using public transportation. In restaurants always keep your bag or backpack beside you or between your legs on the floor so you can constantly see it. Overall, Barcelona is a safe city where violent crimes are rare.
Barcelona Weather :
Mild Climate
Barcelona, benefiting from its location on the Mediterranean, enjoys warm summers and cool winters. Summer is ideal for sunbathing on the city's ample public beaches, with temperature climbing into the 80s (27 C) most days during the hottest months of July and August. Some residents consider August to be too hot, and leave the city in favor of coastal resorts. Expect beaches to be packed with tourists during the summer. Winters are cool, but temperatures rarely dip below freezing. Average lows in December, January and February hover around 40 degrees (4 C) and highs can climb into the fifties. Consider visiting the city during the off-season months of October or April, when Barcelona is less crowded, but temperatures are still relatively warm, although probably not beach-worthy. The wettest months are September and October, which each receive between three to four inches (75-95mm) of rain on average. Averages for the other months are between one to two inches (27-47mm).
Festivals
Special festivals occur in Barcelona throughout the year to celebrate the various seasons. The largest of these is Festes de la Mercè, a week-long party that happens around the 24th of September. The festival commemorates the patron saint of Barcelona, La Mare de Dieu de la Mercè. Events take place around the clock, such as concerts, plays and celebrations in the streets. One popular event is the construction of 'Castellers,' or human towers, which can climb to a height of nine people.
The second largest city of Spain, Barcelona is located at a strategic position from where one can depart for a number of nearby towns and villages and therefore traveling in Barcelona becomes not only important but also strategic. With its natural landscape that stretches from the Pyrinees Mountains to the tempting beaches and its historic architecture traveling in Barcelona becomes one of the most memorable experience of ones life that keeps lingering in the heart and the mind.
