At the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

 "Tomorrow we will do beautiful things." -- Antonio Gaudi

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(on the coast of northeastern Spain, in the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia) The seaport city of Barcelona is located 90 miles (144 km) south of the French border. It is Spain’s major Mediterranean port and commercial center -- famed for its individuality, cultural interest, and physical beauty. An enchanting ity with boundless culture, fabled architecture and a world-class drinking and dining scene, Barcelona's architectural treasures span more than 2,000 years. Towering temple columns, ancient city walls, and subterranean stone corridors provide a window into Roman-era Barcino. Fast forward a thousand years or so to the Middle Ages by taking a stroll through the shadowy lanes of the Gothic quarter, past quiet plazas and soaring 14th-century cathedrals. In other parts of this city are found the sculptural masterpieces of Modernisme, a mix of ingenious and whimsical creations by Gaudi and his Catalan architectural contemporaries. Barcelona has also long inspired artists, including Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, both of whom have major Barcelona museums devoted to their works. Barcelona is indeed a unique experience, unlike any other place in the world. From days spent exploring the Gothic Quarter to afternoons at the beach and nights partying ‘til dawn, the city is quite magnetic. While tapas and bustling mercados are well worth the attention they get in guidebooks, Barcelona’s true crown jewel is the work of Antoni Gaudí. His iconic creations, like the awesome Basilica of La Sagrada Familia (featured here), are instantly recognizable. You can expect to find your own Mediterranean magic here, any time of year.

+ The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family) is considered to be the symbol of Barcelona by many residents, and the one place you really shouldn’t miss when visiting the Catalan capital. Initially intended to be a simple Roman Catholic church dedicated to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the church grew to become the most prominent example of Catalan Modernism. (Pope Benedict XVI declared it a basilica in 2010.) Said to be the result of a dream by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the basilica exemplifies his philosophy that nature is the work of God. Gaudí sought to combine Christian speech and biblical allegories with complex natural symbols like organic, geometric shapes which are prominent in every column, pinnacle, and stained glass window of the basilica. The end result is an astounding architectural masterpiece, which (despite being unfinished and under construction for some 140 years), has become one of the most visited monuments in Spain, receiving nearly five million visitors in a "normal" year.