Although the games were heralded as a huge success by virtually all who watched, attended and competed, the real success, at least as far as the city of Barcelona and her residents were concerned, was the long-lasting positive impact the Olympics had on the city. From the status of relatively provincial port city (think along the lines of Naples), Barcelona was catapulted into cosmopolitan resort on the Mediterranean and by the end of the 90s had become one of Europe's most visited cities, behind London, Paris and Rome