Bubbling with an electrical energy and warmed by the Mediterranean sun, Barcelona is unsurprisingly one of Europe’s liveliest destinations. It has a world-famous soccer team and some tremendous tapas, but it’s really the incredible history of artistic innovation that draws the crowds. A unique language and culture—plus a bit of a chip on the shoulder—helped Barcelona develop a peerless style that’s intricately woven into its architecture. Every big city in Spain seems to have its own iconic institution—Madrid holds unsurpassed museums, Seville spins with flamboyant flamenco, and Granada shows off the Alhambra. Barcelona’s beating heart is its spirit of trendsetting, its modernist soul.