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Catalonia

The beautiful region of Catalonia is made up of four provinces: Barcelona, Tarragona, Lérida and Girona and its history goes back to ancient Roman times. Spanish is not the only idiom spoken here - the other official language is Catalan.

A highly developed region in all senses, its economic and cultural patrimony is evident everywhere with a wealth of walled cities, churches and monasteries, and all sorts of museums worth a visit. Sports-wise, there are magnificent ski tracks, ports in Costa Brava and in the Costa Dourada, and golf courses practically everywhere.

Barcelona – the capital – is the most prosperous, dynamic and sophisticated city in the country. Tarragona is ancient - it was here where the first settlers of the Peninsula established themselves. The Romans, Arabs and others peoples passed through Lérida; presently known for its winter sports. Girona is one of the four provinces that make up Catalonia, the others being Barcelona, Tarragona and Lérida.

Their nine million inhabitants have a history that dates back to the Romans. Catalan and Castilian are the two officially spoken-languages. They have high quality tourism, and important wine and textile industries.

Its provinces have a wealth of walled cities, churches and monasteries, and all sorts of museums worth a visit. Sports-wise, there are magnificent ski tracks, ports in Costa Brava and in the Costa Dourada, and golf courses practically everywhere.

Barcelona – the capital – is perhaps the most prosperous, dynamic and sophisticated city in the country. Tarragona is ancient - it was here where the first settlers of the Peninsula established themselves. The Romans, Arabs and others peoples passed through Lérida; presently known for its winter sports. Girona is fundamentally the Costa Brava and its Mediterranean sea.

Gastronomy Catalan cuisine is one of the most sophisticated in Spain. Its main dishes rely on four basic sauces: sofrito, samfaina, picada and ali-oli. Of these Samfaina is strictly Catalan and used with a wide variety of dishes. It is a half-cooked mixture of tomato, pepper and aubergine. Catalonia has a variety of rice as well as meat dishes, particularly poultry, and the famous Girona veal, not to mention rockfish.

The visitor will also find a rich collection of sausages, including butifarra, which is roasted or fried with mongetes - white beans. The wines in the area are magnificent. Worthy of note is El Priorato - very special thick and mild reds not easily found outside Catalonia. El porrón, or glass jug, is also very popular in Catalonia: the wine is poured from the glass jug with the spout held high. More common is the leather wineskin, which is equally appropriate for the liquid, but drinking from the porrón seems to give the wine a different taste.

History The history of Catalonia dates back to Roman times when two tribal chiefs – Indíbil and Mandonio – offered their services to Hannibal in the fight against Escipión, two hundred years before Christ. Lérida was the “key” city in the fight between Julius Caesar and Pompeii. Then came the Visigoths and the Moors and, towards the end of the eighth century Catalonia became part of the Charlemagne empire. Under the rule of the Counts of Barcelona the fighting against the Moors continued and various regions and districts merged to make up the present Catalonia, at the time ruled by Aragon.

The Catholic Queen and King – Isabel de Castilla and Fernando de Aragon – united Spain and from then on the county became less important. Indeed, for various centuries, the Austrians and Bourbons ruled it. Catalonia has gone through dissociated movements in its time – against the Bourbons, against Franco – and it only became autonomous in 1979, after Franco’s death.

Culture - Fiestas The most traditional summer festivities are the “Festes Majors”, when the popular sardanas (typical dances) come into their own. They are danced in a circle with the dancers holding hands and to the music provided by an orchestra known as a 'cobla'. Other festivities have changed from being strictly local events to becoming an attraction for the masses. This is the case of the 'Cantada de Habaneras' (Song Festival). It is held at Calella de Palafrugell in July. Las Almorratxes and the maritime procession take place at Lloret de Mar on August 24th. The 'Festivity of the Pilgrim is held at Tossa on January 20th, fulfilling a promise made at the time of the outbreak of an epidemic during medieval times, and the 'Dance of Death' can be witnessed at Verges on Maundy Thursday.

The Costa Brava includes the entire shoreline of the province of Girona. It is an area of great natural beauty, formed by a succession of steep cliffs and small coves with finely grained sand. Some of its towns have been massively exploited for tourism, but others, such as Tossa de Mar, still maintain their original size and fishing-village charm.

Lerida - Fiestas All the towns celebrate the feast of their Patron Saint (Festa Major). There are gatherings at shrines and hermitages on the particular Saint's Day (aplecs), and, naturally, Corpus Christi, the celebrations of the Eve of San Juan (revettla) and the Carnivals are all observed. The 'Festa Major' in Lleida is celebrated on the day of San Anastasio. Solsona retains its ancient traditions such as the 'trabucaires' (soldiers armed with blunderbusses) and the popular giants (gegants) during the Carnivals and Corpus Christi. Cervera is well known for its performances of the Passion play 'La Passió', and in Tárrega, in September they hold the famous Theatre Festival (Festival de Teatro).

Monuments Capital of the province of the same name, is set on a steep slope that culminates in the grandiose citadel, in the centre of which is the "Seo", or cathedral, built between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Activities An excursion along the Catalonia coast enables the traveller to discover, amongst other things, the rugged beauty of El Cabo de Creus and the local colour of Cadaqués, as well as the small town of Roses.

There is also the impressive Romanesque Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes and, above all, Empúries, which has the most important archaeological site in Spain. The coastline is beautiful, with small villages and woods running right down to the sea.

The coast is perfect for water sports. Several regattas are held every year in the region. The mountains are ideal for rambling and skiing. Those who enjoy hiking are recommended to take the path from Núria to Ull de Fer, (Girona) taking in the ascent of El Puigmal (2,913m).

This section of mountains almost reaches 3,000m, and there is an abundance of mountain huts and excellent places to camp. Barcelona also boasts the Formula 1 grand prix, which takes place every May at Montmeló.