Catalan is the official language of Catalonia, according to the Statute of Catalonia and the Spanish Constitution, together with Castilian, the official language of Spain. People have the right to use both official languages, and citizens of Catalonia have the right and the obligation to know them. The two languages exist in a bilingual situation in Barcelona, similar to situations in other parts of the world. Catalan and Castilian are the languages understood, written, read and spoken by the majority of the population of Barcelona. The city is open to the co-existence of, and dialogue between, different languages. The importance of tourism, and the fact that Barcelona overflows with many different cultures, means that other languages, such as English, French, Italian, German and different Arabic and Asian languages, are all heard on the streets in the city. In the majority of shops, museums, cultural and social centres and venues in the city, the languages most commonly used for signs, notices and information are the two official languages and English, a fact which enriches the socio-cultural fabric and the everyday life of Barceloneans. © Barcelona City Council