The CaixaForum Madrid is a new cultural center in the historical center of Madrid, near the renowned Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, the 2001 Pritzker Architecture Prize winners. The CaixaForum is a restoration and expansion of one of the few examples of industrial architecture in Madrid’s historical center, the old power plant Central Eléctrica del Mediodía. Herzog & de Meuron used four basic principles to redesign of the building: to restore the brick outer layer using traditional techniques, to get rid of the stone base around the power plant, to open up a new public square with an entrance on Paseo del Prado and to add volume.

The Congreso de los Diputados (Congress of Deputies of Spain) is the seat of the lower house of the Spanish Parliament, and the building where the Parliament is located is called the Palacio de las Cortes de España. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of late neoclassical architecture in Madrid and was built in 1843 under the direction of the architect Narciso Pascual y Colomer. Queen Isabel II laid the first stone in a ceremony in November of that year.

In the heart of “Madrid de los Austrias” (Madrid of the Hapsburgs), there is a pretty and charming square called Plaza de la Villa which is home to a statue in honor of Álvaro de Bazán (19th Century). Alongside the square is Casa de la Villa House, designed by Juan Gómez de Mora in the 17th Century and formerly used as a prison. The large exterior balcony and doorways are outstanding. Next to it stands Casa de Cisneros House, a 16th century palace rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside, the Tapestry Room is a highlight, with an impressive collection of extraordinary quality.

Once the Madrid residence of the Duke of Villahermosa, this typically neoclassical building on three floors is nowadays home to the art collections of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

In a privileged position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian peninsula and the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in both size and population. It is also the capital of Catalonia, 1 of the 17 Autonomous Communities that make up Spain.

Barcelona El Prat Airport, simply known as El Prat Airport, is located 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, lying in the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans and Sant Boi. The airport is the second largest in Spain behind Madrid Barajas Airport and the largest in Catalonia. It is a main base for Spanair and Vueling and a focus city for Air Europa and Iberia. The airport mainly serves domestic, European and North African destinations, also having flights to Southeast Asia, Latin America and North America.

Barcelona can also be reached by transport links from other regional airports, including Girona, Reus and Lleida - Alguaire, which also offer services to their influence areas.

The Plaça de Catalunya, a large plaza surrounded by monumental buildings, is Barcelona's busiest square. It is located between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and the 19th century Eixample district. Barcelona's two most famous streets, the Rambla (a wide promenade in the old city) and the Passeig de Gracia (a grand showcase of modernist architecture in Eixample) start at the Plaça de Catalunya. Even though the square is enormous in size, it is constantly crowded with people walking to and from one of the nine streets emanating from the square.

La Rambla is the grand boulevard of Barcelona, with a length of 2 kilometres. La Rambla starts at the Placa de Catalunya and goes downhill to the puerta Barcelona. You can come to Barcelona for the 10th time in your life; La Rambla will never look the same. The boulevard changes its appearance with the years and seasons. La Rambla is always crowded with people. As the people change over the years, the Barcelona Boulevard changes as well.

The Montjuïc is a hill located near the center of Barcelona. It features a large number of attractions including the Spanish Village and the Montjuïc Castle.