There is a fascination with Gaudi and his architectural legacy in Barcelona, but it's really only part of the character of this supersized Catalonian metropolis. Barcelona is one of the Mediterranean's greatest cities and with a metro population of 3.1million, it's also one of the biggest. It's a city of great variety; sandy beaches, old gothic quarters, impressive parks and towering churches. Architecture is a staple of Barcelona, even without Gaudi's work. Once you add his edgy collection into the urban equation, you have a city with some of the most interesting sights in Europe.