Introduction

Catalonia is a Spanish autonomous community located in its north-east and separated by the Pyrenees from southern France. Almost 8 million people live there and 1,6 million live in the capital, Barcelona, the biggest and most visited city by tourists, even though there are a lot of beautiful places to see all around the region. 

It’s interesting to know that it has its own flag is called “La Senyera”, the National day of Catalunya is called ‘La Diada,’ and is celebrated on September 11^th and the Anthem is “Els Segadors”. You can listen to it here

Catalonia was first settled during the Middle Paleolithic era and it was occupied by the Iberians. The Romans conquered the territory and had the Capital of Hispania in Tarragona which they called “Tarraco”. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Visigoths ruled the territory until in 714 when the moors arrived. During the middle ages the Count of Barcelona got married with the neighbor crown, Aragon’s. And Barcelona got to be the main base of naval power. An identifiably Catalan culture developed in the later Middle Ages under the hegemony of the counts of Barcelona. The marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1469 laid the foundations for a unified Crown of Spain and the discovery of America and the conquer began.

Catalonia is divided in four regions Barcelona, Lleida, Tarragona and Girona and 42 districts. We are from Lleida.

Travellers usually go to Barcelona but others choose the Mediterranean beaches of the Costa Brava andCosta Daurada/Dorada, and the Pyrenees are popular with hikers and skiers. You can travel to Girona and discover the Dalí museum or to Tarragona and find out about the Roman monuments. 

Catalan cuisine is a good mix of seafood and meat based dishes due to Catalonia’s proximity to both the sea and mountains. The most important is Pa amb tomata (toasted bread with tomato, olive oil and salt). See more here (link to the food entry)

We also have loads of traditions, and we are proud of it, such as castellers which are human towers and “La sardana”, the tipical dance. (link to castellers)

If you come to Catalonia be ready to find out about history traditions and a lot more!

See you soon!!

By Meritxell Aluja.