The city of Barcelona itself has a population of just over 1.6 million, with more than double that in the outlying areas. A quintessentially Mediterranean city, Barcelona was home to the 1888 World’s Fair, which catapulted the city onto the international scene as an icon for culture and the arts. Today, the city is a riveting study in contrast: Modern skyscrapers reflect their shadows over the city’s Gothic center, which is preserved, almost completely intact; historic Barcelona is a maze of narrow streets, while the 19th century Eixample district, for …