Year after year, Barcelona consolidates its position as the leading European city in terms of quality of life for its employees. According to a study by Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker, Barcelona has maintained this position since 1996, beating other European cities such as Paris, London and Dublin.

Catalonia is a very pleasant country to live in. Catalonia's geography is rich and varied, the sea coast and the valleys and mountains inland offering many recreational opportunities all year round: hundreds of kilometres of sunny beaches all along the Mediterranean coast, 53 golf courses, 11 downhill-skiing resorts and 11 cross-country-skiing resorts, 14 spas, 16 National Parks, 29 marinas, 7 water parks, etc.

The warm Mediterranean climate of the Catalan coast and the fact that it is close to the Pyrenees make outdoor activities popular. In addition, we can't forget it's extensive historical heritage, ranging from major Greek and Roman ruins through to Modernism and the architecture of Gaudí.

The Catalan tourism industry is the largest of any region in Spain. Catalonia is the number one destination for foreign tourists coming to Spain. In 2005 it received 14 million tourists, 12.3% more than the year before and a quarter of all foreign tourists coming to Spain. These figures place Catalonia among the top 15 countries in the world in terms of attracting the most tourists.

One look at life-expectancy figures shows that Catalans are among the longest-living people in the world. Their secret is a combination of good environmental conditions, a healthy diet, good social services and a lifestyle with the right balance between hard work and leisure. The Spanish healthcare system is on a par with the most advanced systems in the world and, according to different WHO indicators, it is among the top seven. Among the international medical community, Barcelona stands out for the calibre of its renowned medical experts.

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