Catalonia Tourist Information
Catalonia comprises of four separate provinces – Girona, Lleida, Barcelona
and Tarragona – in the north eastern corner of Spain. In an area of 32,000
square kilometres – that’s about three quarters of the size of Switzerland – and
with 500 kilometres of coast, it boasts a fascinatingly diverse geographical
nature. In the north, the Pyrenees reach 3,000 metres, descending through
wonderfully lush pine and fir tree valleys.
In the east the area around Olot is
extinct volcanic territory and just northwest of Barcelona are the weirdly
shaped mountains around the legendary Montserrat. In the south west of the
region is the Ebro Delta, one of the Mediterranean’s finest surviving wetlands,
teeming with flamingos, purple heron and other migratory birds. The coast also
offers contrasts between the rocky cliffs and sandy beaches of the Costa Brava
and the apparently infinitely wide beaches of the Costa Dorada – with towns as
different as Sitges, perhaps Spain’s most spectacularly outrageous resort;
Tarragona, with its lovely old town and Roman heritage; and Cadaqués, with a
landscape that illuminates Dalí’s paintings. Map of Catalonia
History of Catalonia
The history of Catalonia is as complex as the history of Spain itself and
helps explain the fiercely independent nature the people still retain.
"Catalonia is not Spain" the banners will proudly claim – because they have what
Catalans themselves refer to as hecho diferencial – the differentiating
fact. Catalans have always considered themselves to be different. In the 14th
Century, Catalan traders were the equal of those in Genoa and Venice and they
developed the wealth of the region. In 1479, when Aragón and Castile united,
Catalonia was still independent enough to stand alone. In the War of the Spanish
Succession, the Catalans allied themselves with Archduke Charles against Philip
V and the reprisals for this continued for many years. Always a centre for
anarchism and socialism, Barcelona and Catalonia were staunchly Republican in
the Civil War, again leading to reprisals which were deeply wounding, including
the banning of the language in public life. By the mid 1990s, however,
Catalonian nationalism was a force again and, in 2006, the region was officially
recognised as a ‘nation within Spain’.
Catalan Language
Catalan is the first language of more than seven million people – mainly in
Catalonia but also in Andorra, the Roussillon region of France and in northwest
Sardinia. It has close connections with Spanish, obviously, but without the
Moorish influences, but also has much in common with French vocabulary – as you
will often see by the street signs. If you can speak Spanish, you should have no
problems in the area as there are few occasions where you will meet someone who
only speaks Catalan. If you were to consider moving to Barcelona, for instance,
then learning Catalan alongside Castellano- traditional Spanish – would be
really useful and greatly appreciated by the locals.
Economy of Catalonia
One of the main reasons Spanish politicians worry about Catalan nationalism
is that the economy of the region is vital for the nation. For example, 25% of
all Spain’s production industries are based in Catalonia. Agriculture, once so
important for the area, now accounts for only 4% of the wealth – but nearly all
of Spain’s cutting edge electronic, automotive, chemical and textile industries
are based here. With unemployment often a third lower than the rest of the
country, young people from all over Spain still migrate here for work. Catalan Flag
Climate
Broadly speaking, the climate of Catalonia is typically Mediterranean –
meaning many hours of sunshine, mild winters and warm summers. The higher
altitude areas around the Pyrenees experience temperatures below freezing in the
winter and annual rainfall of in excess of 1,000 mm, as well as lots of winter
snow. Barcelona and the coastal area to the north are much wetter than in the
south, as well as being milder in the summer. Inland Catalonia has a continental
Mediterranean climate, experiencing very hot days in the summer but also cold
winters.
See Also:
Catalonia Tourism
Catalonia Flag
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