| Cruise Region : Europe |
| Company : Azamara Cruises |
| Ship : Azamara Onward |
| Journey Start : երք 29 հնս 2027 |
| Journey End : երք 27 հլս 2027 |
| Count Nights : 28 nights |
| Day | Date | Port | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.06 երք | Պիրեուս (Աթենք) / Greece | 18:00 | |
| 2 | 30.06 չրք | Միկոնոս / Greece | 08:00 | 22:00 |
| 3 | 1.07 հնգ | Կուշադասի (Եփեսոս) / Turkey | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| 4 | 2.07 ուր | Հռոդոս / Greece | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| 5 | 3.07 շբթ | Ամորգոս / Greece | 08:00 | 20:00 |
| 6 | 4.07 կիր | Սուրբ Նիկողայոս, ո. Կրետե / Greece | 08:00 | 20:00 |
| 7 | 5.07 երկ | Սանտորինի, Կիկլադներ / Greece | 08:00 | 21:00 |
| 8 | 6.07 երք | Մոնեմվասիա / Greece | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| 9 | 7.07 չրք | Արգոստոլիոն, Քեֆալոնիա (Իոնիկ կղզիներ) / Greece | 09:00 | 20:00 |
| 10 | 8.07 հնգ | Կորֆու / Greece | 08:00 | 22:00 |
| 11 | 9.07 ուր | Օր ծովում / Sea | ||
| 12 | 10.07 շբթ | Ֆուսինա / Italy | 06:00 | 17:00 |
| 13 | 11.07 կիր | Զադար / Croatia | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| 14 | 12.07 երկ | Դուբրովնիկ / Croatia | 08:00 | 22:00 |
| 15 | 13.07 երք | Կոտոր / Montenegro | 09:30 | 18:00 |
| 16 | 14.07 չրք | Օր ծովում / Sea | ||
| 17 | 15.07 հնգ | Ջարդինի-Նաքսոս / Italy | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| 18 | 16.07 ուր | Սորենտո, Կապրի / Italy | 08:00 | 17:30 |
| 19 | 17.07 շբթ | Հռոմ (Civitavecchia) / Italy | 06:00 | 18:00 |
| 20 | 18.07 կիր | Պորտոֆերրայո / Italy | 08:00 | 20:00 |
| 21 | 19.07 երկ | ՖԼՈՐԵՆՑԻԱ ՊԻԶԱ | 08:00 | |
| 22 | 20.07 երք | ՖԼՈՐԵՆՑԻԱ ՊԻԶԱ | 20:00 | |
| 23 | 21.07 չրք | Պորտովերե / Italy | 08:00 | 22:00 |
| 24 | 22.07 հնգ | Սանտա-Մարգերիտա-Լիգուրե / Italy | 08:00 | 20:00 |
| 25 | 23.07 ուր | Մոնտե Կառլո / Monaco | 08:00 | 22:00 |
| 26 | 24.07 շբթ | Մարսել / France | 08:00 | 20:00 |
| 27 | 25.07 կիր | Սետ / France | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| 28 | 26.07 երկ | Պալամոս / Spain | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| 29 | 27.07 երք | Բարսելոնա / Spain | 06:00 |
Piraeus is the gateway to Athens , which, in turn, is rightfully considered the center of the centers of the whole world, with the main attraction - the acropolis. Piraeus is an old port city serving the port of Athens, the largest port in Greece to date. Piraeus is part of the great Athens, which boasts an abundance of attractions, including unique monuments of national fine art. More than two hundred museums and galleries, including the University History Museum, the Ceramics Archaeological Museum and many others, will hospitably welcome you within their walls and familiarize themselves with the culture of this area.
Mykonos is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island spans an area of 85.5 square kilometres (33.0 sq mi) and rises to an elevation of 341 metres (1,119 feet) at its highest point. There are 10,134 inhabitants (2011 census), most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, which lies on the west coast. The town is also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, following the common practice in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town).
Kuşadası is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast, and the center of the seaside district of the same name within Aydın Province. Kuşadası is 95 km (59 mi) south of İzmir, and 71 km (44 mi) from Aydın. The municipality's primary industry is tourism.
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece and is also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the South Aegean administrative region. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Rhodes. The city of Rhodes had 50,636 inhabitants in 2011. It is located northeast of Crete, southeast of Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. Rhodes' nickname is The island of the Knights, named after the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who once conquered the land.
Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The name of the U.S. state of Rhode Island is thought to be based on this island.
Agios Nikolaos or Aghios Nikolaos is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia.
In the year 2011, the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, which takes in part of the surrounding villages, claimed 27,074 inhabitants. The town is a municipality of the Crete region and sits partially upon the ruins of the ancient city of Lato pros Kamara.
Agios Nikolaos was settled in the late Bronze Age by Dorian occupants of Lato, at a time when the security of the Lato hillfort became a lesser concern and easy access to the harbour at Agios Nikolaos became more important.
The name Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas. Its stress lies on the second syllable of the word "Nikolaos". Agios Nikolaos or Ayios Nikolaos (alternative romanizations of the Greek Άγιος Νικόλαος) is a common placename in Greece and Cyprus, since Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and of all of Greece.
Santorini, classically Thera, and officially Thira, is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast of Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago, which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. It forms the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km2 (28 sq mi) and a 2011 census population of 15,550. The municipality of Santorini includes the inhabited islands of Santorini and Therasia and the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiana. The total land area is 90.623 km2 (34.990 sq mi).Santorini is part of the Thira regional unit.
The island was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the Minoan eruption(sometimes called the Thera eruption), which occurred about 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of metres deep. It may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (68 mi) to the south, through a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend of Atlantis.
It is the most active volcanic centre in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, though what remains today is chiefly a water-filled caldera. The volcanic arc is approximately 500 km (310 mi) long and 20 to 40 km (12 to 25 mi) wide. The region first became volcanically active around 3–4 million years ago[citation needed], though volcanism on Thera began around 2 million years ago with the extrusion of dacitic lavas from vents around the Akrotiri.
Մոնեմվասիա — Էգեյան ծովի ժայռե ամրոցը
Մոնեմվասիան եզակի միջնադարյան քաղաք-ամրոց է, փորված ժայռի մեջ՝ կղզու վրա, Պելոպոնեսի հարավ-արևելյան ափին (Լակոնիա): Մայրցամաքից գրեթե անտեսանելի, նրա անունը նշանակում է «միակ մուտք», ինչը վկայում է նրա ռազմավարական նշանակության մասին Բյուզանդիայի, Վենետիկի և Օսմանյան կայսրության ժամանակաշրջաններում:
Այսօր Մոնեմվասիան գրավում է այցելուներին իր պահպանված միջնադարյան ճարտարապետությամբ, քարե փողոցներով, բյուզանդական եկեղեցիներով և Էգեյան ծովի հիասքանչ տեսարաններով: Դա վայր է, որտեղ պատմությունը և հանգստությունը միահյուսվում են յուրահատուկ մթնոլորտում:
Արգոստոլիոնը Կեֆալոնիայի մայրաքաղաքն է, Իոնական կղզիների ամենամեծ կղզին, որը գտնվում է Հունաստանում։ Քաղաքը, որը գտնվում է կղզու արևմտյան ափին, հայտնի է իր նկարահայեցային ափամերձների, էքզոտիկ սրճարանների և նեոկլասիկ շենքերի համար։ Արգոստոլիոնում կա նաև բազմաթիվ պատմական հուշարձաններ, այդ թվում՝ Կեֆալոնիայի հնագիտության թանգարանը և Վալիանոս հրապարակը, որտեղ կարելի է տեսնել 1953 թվականի երկրաշարժից հետո մնացած ավերակները, որոնք գրեթե ամբողջությամբ ավերեցին քաղաքը։ Քաղաքում քայլելով՝ այցելուները կարող են վայելել ավանդական հունական ճարտարապետության և արդի կյանքի համադրման մթնոլորտը։
Քաղաքը նաև հիանալի Ausgangspunkt է Կեֆալոնիայի բնական գեղեցկությունները ուսումնասիրելու համար։ Մի քանի կիլոմետր հեռավորության վրա արգոստոլիոնից գտնվում են հայտնի լողափեր, ինչպիսիք են Լուրդասը և Մելիսանին, ինչպես նաև հայտնի Դրակոներա քարանձավը, որտեղ կարելի է դիտել ստալակտիտներն ու ստալագմիտները։ Արգոստոլիոնից նաև հարմար է մեկնել եզակի բնապահպանական տարածքներ՝ օրինակ՝ ծովախեցգետինների պահեստարան, որտեղ ապրում են հազվագյուտ Կարետա կարետա ծովախեցգետինները։ Քաղաքը կատարյալ վայր է մշակութային հանգիստը համատեղելու համար կղզու բնական հրաշքների հետ.
Corfu or Kerkyra is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the northwesternmost part of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality, which also includes the smaller islands of Ereikoussa, Mathraki and Othonoi. The municipality has an area of 610,9 km2, the island proper 592,8 km2. The principal city of the island and seat of the municipality (pop. 32,095) is also named Corfu. Corfu is home to the Ionian University.
The island is bound up with the history of Greece from the beginnings of Greek mythology. Its history is full of battles and conquests. Ancient Korkyra took part in the Battle of Sybota which was a catalyst for the Peloponnesian War, and, according to Thucydides, the largest naval battle between Greek city states until that time. Thucydides also reports that Korkyra was one of the three great naval powers of fifth century BC Greece, along with Athens and Corinth. Medieval castles punctuating strategic locations across the island are a legacy of struggles in the Middle Ages against invasions by pirates and the Ottomans. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. As a result, Corfu's capital has been officially declared a Kastropolis ("castle city") by the Greek government. From medieval times and into the 17th century, the island, having successfully repulsed the Ottomans during several sieges, was recognised as a bulwark of the European States against the Ottoman Empireand became one of the most fortified places in Europe. The fortifications of the island were used by the Venetians to defend against Ottoman intrusion into the Adriatic. Corfu eventually fell under British rule following the Napoleonic Wars. Corfu was eventually ceded by the British Empire along with the remaining islands of the United States of the Ionian Islands, and unification with modern Greece was concluded in 1864 under the Treaty of London.
In 2007, the city's old quarter was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, following a recommendation by ICOMOS.
Corfu is a very popular tourist destination. The island was the location of the 1994 European Union summit.
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its total population is 42,615 (census 2011). In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy.
In 1991, after the break-up of Yugoslavia, Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. After repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, Dubrovnik re-emerged as one of the top tourist destinations in the Mediterranean.
Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of Kotor Municipality.
The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called it the southern-most fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen, Kotor and its surrounding area form an impressive landscape.
Since the early 2000s Kotor has seen an increase in tourists , many of them coming by cruise ship. Visitors are attracted by the natural environment of the Gulf of Kotor and by the old town of Kotor. Kotor is part of the World Heritage Site dubbed the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor.
The fortified city of Kotor was also included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list as part of Venetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar in 201
Sorrento is a town overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy. A popular tourist destination due to its variety of small antique shops and location on the Amalfi Coast, it can be reached easily from Naples and Pompeii as it is at the south-eastern end of the Circumvesuviana rail line. The town is most commonly known for its small shops selling an arrangement of ceramics, lacework and marquetry (woodwork).
The Sorrentine Peninsula has views of Naples, Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri. The Amalfi Drive, connecting Sorrento and Amalfi, is a narrow road that threads along the high cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Ferries and hydrofoils connect the town to Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and Ischia. Sorrento's sea cliffs and luxury hotels have attracted celebrities including Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti.
Limoncello, a digestif made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar, is produced in Sorrento. Other agricultural production includes citrus fruit, wine, nuts and olives.
Rome is the capital city and a special comune of Italy (named Comune di Roma Capitale). Rome also serves as the capital of the Lazio region. With 2,872,800 residents in 1,285 km2(496.1 sq mi), it is also the country's most populated comune. It is the fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. It is the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome, which has a population of 4,355,725 residents, thus making it the most populous metropolitan city in Italy. Rome is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of the Tiber. The Vatican City (the smallest country in the world) is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.
Rome's history spans 28 centuries. While Roman mythology dates the founding of Rome at around 753 BC, the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Europe. The city's early population originated from a mix of Latins, Etruscans, and Sabines. Eventually, the city successively became the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization and by some as the first ever metropolis. It was first called The Eternal City (Latin: Urbs Aeterna; Italian: La Città Eterna) by the Roman poet Tibullus in the 1st century BC, and the expression was also taken up by Ovid, Virgil, and Livy. Rome is also called the "Caput Mundi" (Capital of the World). After the fall of the Western Empire, which marked the beginning of the Middle Ages, Rome slowly fell under the political control of the Papacy, which had settled in the city since the 1st century AD, until in the 8th century it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. Beginning with the Renaissance, almost all the popes since Nicholas V (1447–1455) pursued over four hundred years a coherent architectural and urban programme aimed at making the city the artistic and cultural centre of the world. In this way, Rome became first one of the major centres of the Italian Renaissance, and then the birthplace of both the Baroque style and Neoclassicism. Famous artists, painters, sculptors and architects made Rome the centre of their activity, creating masterpieces throughout the city. In 1871, Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, which, in 1946, became the Italian Republic.
Rome has the status of a global city. In 2016, Rome ranked as the 14th-most-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The famous Vatican Museums are among the world's most visited museums while the Colosseum was the most popular tourist attraction in world with 7.4 million visitors in 2018. Host city for the 1960 Summer Olympics, Rome is the seat of several specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The city also hosts the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) as well as the headquarters of many international business companies such as Eni, Enel, TIM, Leonardo S.p.A., and national and international banks such as Unicredit and BNL. Its business district, called EUR, is the base of many companies involved in the oil industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and financial services. Rome is also an important fashion and design centre thanks to renowned international brands centered in the city. Rome's Cinecittà Studios have been the set of many Academy Award–winning movies.
Պորտոֆերրայո՝ պատմական քաղաք, որը գտնվում է Էլբա կղզում՝ Տոսկանայում, Իտալիայում։ Երբ քաղաքը հիմնական նավահանգիստ է և վարչական կենտրոն՝ կղզու, Պորտոֆերրայոն գրավում է ճանապարհորդներին իր եզակի մթնոլորտով, որը պահպանվել է Ռենեսանսի դարաշրջանից։ Քաղաքը հիմնադրվել է 1548 թվականին և մինչ օրս պահպանվում են բազմաթիվ պատմական հուշարձաններ, ներառյալ վենետիկյան ամրոցը և հին փողոցները, որոնք մղում են դեպի գեղեցիկ հրապարակներ և հմայիչ խանութներ։
Բացի այդ, Պորտոֆերրայոն հայտնի է իր բնական գեղեցկություններով՝ նման հիասքանչ ծովափերով և կանաչ բլուրներով, որոնք կատարյալ են քայլարշավների և ակտիվ հանգստի համար։ Կարևոր տեսարժան վայրերից է Մուլինի Վիլան, որտեղ Նապոլեոնն անցկացրել է իր ժամանակը վտարանդիությամբ և որտեղ այցելուները կարող են ծանոթանալ նրա կյանքի պատմությանը։
Սանտա Մարգերիտա Լիգուրե՝ Իտալիայի Լիգուրիական ափի վրա գտնվող գեղեցիկ հանգստյան քաղաք է, որը գտնվում է Պորտոֆինոյից մի քանի կիլոմետր հեռավորության վրա։ Նրա հմայիչ փողոցները, պատմական նամուտները և բուրավետ պարտեզները ստեղծում են հանգստի և հարմարավետության մթնոլորտ։ Քաղաքը գրավում է զբոսաշրջիկներին իր համալիրված մթնոլորտով և հիասքանչ տեսարաններով՝ կապույտ ծովի և կանաչ լեռների վրա, որոնք շրջապատում են այն։
Բացի գեղեցիկ բնապատկերներից՝ Սանտա Մարգերիտա Լիգուրեն առաջարկում է բազմաթիվ մշակութային և պատմական տեսարժան վայրեր։ Այնտեղ գտնվում է Սուրբ Մարտին եկեղեցին և ամրոցը, որտեղից բացվում է արտասովոր տեսարան ափի վրա։ Այս վայրը կատարյալ է նրանց համար, ովքեր փնտրում են հանգստություն, սակայն միաժամանակ ցանկանում են վայելել հարուստ մշակութային կյանքն ու խոհանոցը։
Monte Carlo officially refers to an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter (corresponding to the former municipality of Monte Carlo), which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins, and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while that of the quarter is about 15,000. Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille (the newest), Monaco-Ville (the oldest), La Condamine, and Monte Carlo.
Monte Carlo (literally "Mount Charles") is situated on a prominent escarpment at the base of the Maritime Alpsalong the French Riviera. Near the quarter's western end is the world-famous Place du Casino, the gamblingcenter which has made Monte Carlo "an international byword for the extravagant display and reckless dispersal of wealth". It is also the location of the Hôtel de Paris, the Café de Paris, and the Salle Garnier (the casino theatre which is the home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo).
The quarter's eastern part includes the community of Larvotto with Monaco's only public beach, as well as its new convention center (the Grimaldi Forum), and the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. At the quarter's eastern border, one crosses into the French town of Beausoleil (sometimes referred to as Monte-Carlo-Supérieur), and just 8 kilometres (5 mi) to its east is the western border of Italy.
Marseille is the second-largest city of France. The main city of the historical province of Provence, it nowadays is the prefecture of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is located on France's south coast near the mouth of the Rhône river. The city covers an area of 241 km2 (93 sq mi) and had a population of 852,516 in 2012. Its metropolitan area, which extends over 3,173 km2 (1,225 sq mi) is the third-largest in France after Paris and Lyon, with a population of 1,831,500 as of 2010.
Known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as Massalia, Marseille was an important European trading centre and remains the main commercial port of the French Republic. Marseille is now France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2013 and European Capital of Sport in 2017; it hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016. It is home to Aix-Marseille University.
Սետ քաղաքը, որը գտնվում է Ֆրանսիայի հարավում՝ Թու աղի լճի և Միջերկրական ծովի միջև, հաճախ անվանում են «Լանգեդոկի Վենետիկ»՝ իր գեղատեսիլ ջրանցքների շնորհիվ, որտեղ շրջում են ձկնորսական և զբոսաշրջային նավակներ։ Քաղաքը հիմնադրվել է 17-րդ դարում՝ Միջի ջրանցքի նավահանգիստ լինելու համար և մինչ օրս մնում է կարևոր ձկնորսական և առևտրային կենտրոն։ Սուրբ Կլերի լեռը բարձրանում է քաղաքի վերևում՝ բացելով համայնապատկերային տեսարաններ աղուտների և ծովի երկնագույն ջրերի վրա։
Սետը հայտնի է ոչ միայն իր ծովային հմայքով, այլև հարուստ մշակութային կյանքով։ Այն բանաստեղծ Պոլ Վալերի ծննդավայրն է․ նրա անունով անվանվել է թանգարան և ծովափնյա գերեզմանոց, որտեղ էլ նա հուղարկավորված է։ Ամառը քաղաքում անցկացվում է յուրահատուկ փառատոն՝ նավակների վրա միջնադարյան ասպետական մենամարտեր (joutes nautiques), ավանդույթ, որ սկսվել է միջնադարից։ Տեղական խոհանոցը հայտնի է թարմ ծովամթերքով, հատկապես՝ խեցգետիններով և միդիաներով Թու լճից։ Սետը այն վայրն է, որտեղ միաձուլվում են միջերկրածովյան ոգին, պատմությունը, գաստրոնոմիան և պոեզիան։
Barcelona is a city in Spain. It is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.
Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, Barcelona continued to be an important city in the Crown of Aragon as an economic and administrative centre of this Crown and the capital of the Principality of Catalonia. Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments.
Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe, 24th in the world (before Zürich, after Frankfurt) and a financial centre. In 2008 it was the fourth most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with GDP amounting to €177 billion. In 2012 Barcelona had a GDP of $170 billion; and it was leading Spain in employment rate in that moment.
In 2009 the city was ranked Europe's third and one of the world's most successful as a city brand. In the same year the city was ranked Europe's fourth best city for business and fastest improving European city, with growth improved by 17% per year, and the city has been experiencing strong and renewed growth for the past three years. Since 2011 Barcelona has been a leading smart city in Europe. Barcelona is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelona being one of Europe's principal seaports and busiest European passenger port, an international airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which handles over 50 million passengers per year, an extensive motorway network, and a high-speed rail line with a link to France and the rest of Europe.