![Men_on_bench.jpg Men_on_bench.jpg](https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/downloads/26727/download/Men_on_bench.jpg?cb=4f15fad279b6612aa3a028fe0f915a7e&w={width}&h={height})
Photo by Ben Cooke
A friend of mine who lives in San Francisco recently told me that he feels extremely lucky to live in a city where the world comes to him. Today, the same rings true in Barcelona, Spain’s most cosmopolitan city, which, although relatively small, is home to many different cultures.
![Graffiti.jpg Graffiti.jpg](https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/downloads/26728/download/Graffiti.jpg?cb=a3122a0f878607d0a94accd4bb6403a5&w={width}&h={height})
Photo by Ben Cooke
Not only does the city attract millions of international tourists each year, it is also the adopted home of more than 250,000 immigrants from across the world—from Chile to Iran, and Senegal to Pakistan.
![Kitchen.jpg Kitchen.jpg](https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/downloads/26729/download/Kitchen.jpg?cb=c7a385fb2e1f148cd5f27a904c885a56&w={width}&h={height})
Photo by Ben Cooke
This particular melting pot of cultures gives the city a unique flavour.
![Portrait1.jpg Portrait1.jpg](https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/downloads/26730/download/Portrait1.jpg?cb=4439047106d4e72f0326141eaecfaf6d&w={width}&h={height})
Photo by Ben Cooke
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Raval. I took to the streets with my camera to capture a portrait of the neighbourhood and its diverse characters.
![shop.jpg shop.jpg](https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/downloads/26731/download/shop.jpg?cb=ce822dd68982307a128b97d99890581b&w={width}&h={height})
Photo by Ben Cooke