One reason that Barcelona had success as with the Olympics, was that the city had celebrated huge events several times over the last hundred years, including the two world exhibition in Barcelona, respectively the one in 1888 and in 1929.
During the first world exhibition held in 1888, a new architecture, modernism (modernismo in Spanish and Moderisme in Catalan) had its break through. The most well known architect of the movement is Antoni Gaudí, but there are more than hundred architects working along the same lines from 1888 to the 1920’s.
With the second World's Fair in 1929, the monumental area below the Montjuïc mountain, was building. Among the most important monuments from this period is The National Palace (which is todays museum Museu Nacional d'Arquitectura de CAtalunya).
In 1992 Barcelona held the first Olympic games in Spain ever. The infrastructure, highways, homes (more than 10,000!) were built and the beach area was renovated.
The hotels of the Olympic Games are now used by Spaniards and people from all over the world, participants of the congresses and fairs held in the city, cruise guests, etc.
