The Province of Barcelona is the centre of the Catalonia region in the north-east of Spain with a Mediterranean coastline, four natural parks and some of the most significant cities in the country. The three other Catalonian provinces of Tarragona, Lleida and Girona, surround it, and the capital is the city of Barcelona. The area is very popular and affluent, with a rich history and culture, traditional to Spain yet distinct and unique in its regional customs.
The city of Barcelona is possibly the most known city in the province as the second largest urban centre in the country and known for its progressive art, beautiful beaches and historic architecture. Aside from Barcelona, the area has many smaller cities to explore, including Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, famous for its gastronomy and wine production, as the primary producer of Spanish Cava. The province also has much natural beauty to offer, such as Montserrat Mountain National Park, an area of stunning scenery and ecological welfare with a diverse landscape and program for protected wildlife. Along the coast, visitors can enjoy famous Spanish beaches and resorts like Costa de Ponent or Costa del Garraf, where the mountains and the sea merge in epic beauty.
The principal transport hub of the province is Barcelona El Prat, the second busiest airport in Spain connecting the country with the countries of Europe and the rest of the world, with bus and train links into the city. The RENFE is the national rail of Spain and is well connected the Province of Barcelona. There are also far, cross-country buses travelling to the area on a daily basis.
The Province of Barcelona distances itself slightly from the rest of Spain by refusing to be part of the division by Comarques, and the agreements made during the establishment of separate regions within the country. Consequently, all the provinces of Catalonia have independent cultural elements, although they share the common Spanish routes of Roman and Medieval history. There is even an official language called Catalan often spoken in the province.