The capital of Catalonia and a key Mediterranean port, Barcelona is a bilingual city, its citizens speaking both Castilian Spanish and Catalan. With one foot in the new Europe and the other in traditional Spain, in may respects, the city seems almost as close to Paris and Rome as it is to Madrid, and has long been Iberia's link to the rest of Western Europe.

The city most characterized by the extraordinary works for modernist architect Antoni Gaudi has also produced other world-figures in the arts - Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Pablo Casals, Jose Carreras and Montserrat Caballé, for instance. For the 1992 Olympic Games, it was given an enormous facelift. Many fine medieval buildings were renovated, new structures put up, a ring road created, and the port and waterfront districts comprehensively overhauled.

The Insight FlexiMap of Barcelona is a great travel addition. Here is an innovative laminated folding map that marries durability and convenience with accuracy, utility, and readability.

Produced with state-of-the-art technology, FlexiMaps feature detailed city street and road maps clearly marked with all the sites and services of particular interest to travelers.

Text and photographs offer a wealth of valuable tourist information including "10 sights you shouldn't miss," plus information on transportation, visas, currency, important telephone numbers, emergency services, and more.

Price: $7.95