Catalonia’s proud heartland, Barcelona, with its beaches, is now popular as a tourist destination owing to its vibrant artist community. There are many medieval-themed tapas bars, markets, and cathedrals in the Gothic Quarter, which gives it its name. Barcelona is known for Gaudi’s distinctive and colorful architecture which sculpted the city and remains one of the most notable attractions in the city today. Catalan is preferred by locals over Spanish as a language of communication.