Barcelona
Barcelona is today one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair/exhibitions and cultural-sports 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.[9][10] It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula), 24th in the world (after Zürich, before Frankfurt)[11] and a growing financial centre (Diagonal Mar and Gran Via). It is the fourth economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with an output amounting to €177 billion.[12] As of 2009 the city was ranked Europe's third and one of the world's most successful as a city brand.[13] At the same time, the city was ranked Europe's fourth best city for business and fastest improving European city, with growth improved by 17% per year.[14] Barcelona is a transport hub with one of Europe's principal seaports, an international airport which handles above 35 million passengers per year, an extensive motorway networkand a high-speed rail line with a planned link to France and the rest of Europe