about catalonia

One of the richest and most diverse parts of Spain

Catalonia is a small community (31.930 km2) with a bit more than six million inhabitants, over 1.000 years old history and their own language. In the north-east corner between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees is Catalonia one of the 19 independent regions that together found the Spanish government.

Catalonia is excellent holiday attraction for they who wants to relax and enjoy the sun at one of the hundreds of beaches along the 580 km coastline. The people are friendly and have good experience of tourists from the whole world. The last years Catalonia also been attractive because of the culture, landscape, sport and historical monuments.

This is what we offer you to discover!

Nature reservationsWhen you travel around in Catalonia you discover all kinds of European vegetation and landscapes. If you like the mountains you should take a walk in the Pyrenees with valleys, mountain peaks, forests and small lakes. If you arrives in the winter season you can also spend time at sport- ski facilities with a high quality. There’s also two spectacular national parks between the mountain peaks Aigüestortes & Sant Maurici lake and Cadí-Moixeró.

If you prefer higher heights you can go to Montserrat that have a fascinating geological mountain formation. Or discover a volcano area called Garrotxa's close to Olot. Another interesting visit is the park Montseny that’s been stated as a nature reserve of UNESCO thanks to its flora.

The Catalans have a good ability to protect their cultural heritage and keep their villages and landscape attractive. A good example is the typical farmhouses (Masies). You will find out how the farms adapt the modern agriculture technic without losing the since of their tradition and culture.

If you can’t resist the sea, Catalonia offer a wide range of coast life. When you travel along the Costa Brava cost you get fascinated by the high cliffs and the vegetation on the hills that goes all the way down to the sea. Further south by the Maresme coast and Costa Daurada you find the long beaches and small white fish cabins that welcomes you to a typical Mediterranean atmosphere.

It’s difficult to give a short description on the good enjoyment that you can get in Catalonia. That’s why you should read this text as a little sample on what you can discover in Catalonia.

Costa Brava and the Pyrenees in Girona

At the north part of the coast in Catalonia you find a very popular tourist cities called Lloret de Mar and Roses and other middle age villages and cities.

Baix Emporda

You will not stop to be amazed by the beautiful landscape that varies every step you take. Because of the different seasons the nature get different shades and the small villages that’s built of solid rock shows shapes from the middle age. Castles, monasteries and churches arise with their beautiful architecture all along the cliffs and roadways.

“Catalonia is excellent holiday destination if you want to discover many things and also have quality and relax.”

Gastronomy, culture, history, nature…

Museums, theatre, music…

Catalan museums: even if the province is small Catalonia has over 300 museums, some with collections of worlds intrest:

· Catalonias National art museum, Montjuic Barcelona.

· Joan Miro Foundation, Montjuic Barcelona.

· The modern museum, Ciutadella park, Barcelona.

· The Picasso museum, in Barrio Born, Barcelona.

· The Roman, symbolic and religious art you find in Vic, La Seu d´Urgell and Solsona.

· The Dali museum, Figueras.

· Dalis home, Cadaques.

· The wine museum, Vilafranca del Penedes.

Festivals and local celebrations: once a year all cities and villages in Catalonia has there one party. The streets fills with happy people and invites visitors to the festivities. Many villages kept their traditions since many years. In Tarragona they do the classical Catalan human towers. You see the giant figures gegantsin parades and dances that’s follows up with capgrossos(dwarfs). Another way to celebrate in Catalonia is to dance the Catalan national dance "Sardana" where they dance to the music of "Cobla", a group wind instrument. Catalonia also celebrate like many other countries, carnival. In Solsona, Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltru they are especially expressive.

Theatre and music: the drama tradition in Catalonia goes back to the middle age. Thanks to the famous writers and actors in the Catalan language the theatres in Barcelona and other cities got a well owned reputation in their critical audience. Catalonia has also been a scenario of the experimental drama where many groups been international famous. Within the symphony- concert music area Catalonia has for a long time been the cradle for many international composers and musicians. Barcelona offers every week good concerts of all kinds either in the concerts hall L'Auditori, spectacular Palau de la Música or the opera Liceu. In Barcelona the places and the streets fills with all kinds of music but thanks to many heritages from big musicians like Tete Montoliu, international jazz pianist born in Catalonia, many jazz festivals are arranged in the city.

Gastronomy: The Catalan gastronomic has always been open, hospitable and generous by taking products from other countries like for example Asian spices and south American vegetables. They mix continuously flavours from foreign cultures (Jewish, Arabic, Andalusian etc) To learn they been taking advantage of the countries nearby like the French and Italian kitchen. The Catalan gastronomy is based on tradition and handicraft on ingrediencies from their own land on the grandmothers knowledge and on the varying landscape. The province offers one of Europe’s richest and most fantastic landscape. This is what makes the Catalan gastronomy so seductive along the Mediterranean countries.