| Catalonia shares it's northern border
| |
| | became the capital as it was for future
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| with the countries of Andorra and France
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| | kings of Spain. A well ruled Barcelona
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| in the mountainous Pyrenees. The
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| | expanded trade in the Mediterranean. Its
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| Mediterranean Sea forms it eastern border
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| | cloth industry flourished and it became a
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| with the coast running south west down as
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| | powerful centre of banking and commerce.
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| far as the region of Valencia. The
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| | Around 1400 saw the peak in it's
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| eastern border is shared with the region
| |
| | fortunes, decline followed along with the
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| of Aragon. Throughout history Catalonia
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| | rest of Catalonia. The French occupied
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| has struggled for greater autonomy in
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| | the city on three occasions in 1640-52,
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| it's relationship with Spain. In attempts
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| | 1715 and 1808-14. Catalan separatism
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| to gain full independent it has on more
| |
| | centred on Barcelona and the city was
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| than occasion revolted. Few Catalonians
| |
| | the scene of many insurrections. It
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| today aspire to have any real
| |
| | revolted against Philip IV of Spain from
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| expectations of independence but the
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| | 1640-52. It also became the Spanish
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| struggle for greater autonomy within
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| | centre of socialism and other radical
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| Spain continues.History - Greeks and
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| | political doctrines around 1900.
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| Romans established trade along this part
| |
| | Barcelona was the capital of the region's
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| of the Mediterranean coast. In the middle
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| | autonomous government from 1932-39.
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| ages Catalan art and literature
| |
| | During the civil war the Spanish Loyalist
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| flourished and the now established
| |
| | government sat in Barcelona until it fell
|
| coastal trade saw merchants become very
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| | to Franco's forces in early 1939. The
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| powerful rivalling those of Venice and
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| | region saw demonstrations against
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| Genoa. In 1461 Catalonia rose up in
| |
| | Franco's dictatorship throughout the
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| protest at it's alliance with Aragon but
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| | 1950's. Today Barcelona is Spain's second
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| the rebellion was crushed. The subsequent
| |
| | largest city and the claims to be
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| union of Aragon with Castile side lined
| |
| | cultural centre of the country. It is the
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| Catalonia. Trade routes were moved,
| |
| | capital of the Catalonian region and more
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| commercial income fell, famines and
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| | than one third of region's population
|
| plagues all contributed to it's decline.
| |
| | reside there. Barcelona is also Spain's
|
| But the Catalonian desire for
| |
| | largest port and its chief commercial
|
| independence continued. It rose against
| |
| | centre with international banking and
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| Philip IV during the thirty year war of
| |
| | finance houses. It is a major industrial
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| 1618-48 and followed that by taking the
| |
| | centre and production includes aviation,
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| side of Archduke Charles in the War of
| |
| | chemicals, electrical equipment,
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| the Spanish Succession against Philip V.
| |
| | foundries, locomotives, machinery,
|
| It was a centre for socialist influence
| |
| | textiles and vehicles. The city itself is
|
| at the turn of the 19th Century. 1931 saw
| |
| | modern, with wide avenues, bustling
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| the Catalans establish a separate
| |
| | traffic and striking new architecture. By
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| government which went on to win autonomy
| |
| | contrast the well preserved old city,
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| from the Spanish Cortes in 1932. Two
| |
| | Roman walls can still be seen, is filled
|
| years later a revolution for complete
| |
| | with narrow, winding streets and ancient
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| independence failed, but in another 2
| |
| | structures, including a cathedral, many
|
| years autonomy was restored. In the
| |
| | churches, the city hall and the Lonja or
|
| Spanish civil war of 1936-39, Catalonia
| |
| | exchange. Barcelona is the site of a
|
| once again picked the wrong side and
| |
| | reputed opera house, the Contemporary Art
|
| following Franco's victory over the
| |
| | Museum, the Fine Arts Museum of Catalonia
|
| republicans the region suffered badly and
| |
| | and the Picasso Museum. In 1992 it hosted
|
| the cherished Catalan language was banned
| |
| | the summer Olympics. The remainder of the
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| in public life. In 1978 it was restored
| |
| | province of Barcelona is in the main
|
| and is now an official language of the
| |
| | hilly or mountainous. But it also home to
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| region along with Castilian or Spanish.
| |
| | some highly fertile plains where cereals
|
| It elected its first parliament as an
| |
| | grapes and olives are grown. The province
|
| autonomous region in 1980. By the
| |
| | also produces one third of Spain's wine.
|
| mid-1990s Catalan nationalists had become
| |
| | Much of the area's power is generated by
|
| a force in both the region's and the
| |
| | hydroelectric plants built on the Ebro,
|
| nation's politics.Catalonia comprises
| |
| | Cinca and Segre rivers. The coastline,
|
| four provinces, Girona, Barcelona,
| |
| | stretching nearly 400 kilometres has many
|
| Tarragona and Lleida, all are named after
| |
| | good harbours and marinas, excellent
|
| their capitals.Girona or Gerona in the
| |
| | fisheries and an buoyant tourist trade.
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| north sits on the Onyar River. Dating
| |
| | West of Barcelona you will find the
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| from pre-Roman times, the old town has
| |
| | vineyards of the Penedes area. Also the
|
| preserved its medieval aspect. Girona was
| |
| | mountain of Montserrat, on a clear day
|
| ruled by the Moors from 714 to 797.
| |
| | the peak at 1236m above sea level offers
|
| During the Peninsular War of 1808-09 the
| |
| | views of the Pyrenees to the north and to
|
| town resisted the Napoleon's French
| |
| | Mallorca in the Balearic Islands to the
|
| forces. Industries today include chemical
| |
| | south east.Tarragona sits on the mouth of
|
| production, machinery, paper making and
| |
| | the river Francola on the Mediterranean.
|
| textiles. Outside the city and on the
| |
| | It was formally known as Tarraco and in
|
| coat the beaches and coves around Begur
| |
| | 218BC was captured by Roman forces. They
|
| and Palafrugell and particularly
| |
| | built up is fortifications against attack
|
| attractive. Or take in a sunrise at the
| |
| | by the Carthaginians. The ruins of Roman
|
| Cap de Crues, Spain's most easterly
| |
| | walls and an aquaduct remain still. It
|
| point. Just to the south is the
| |
| | fell to both the Visigoths and the Moors
|
| enchanting whitewashed village of
| |
| | in the 5th and 8th centuries
|
| Cadaques built around a rocky bay. The
| |
| | respectively. The Christians recaptured
|
| artist Salvador Dali spent the holidays
| |
| | it in the 12th century but when it's
|
| of his youth there and later lived in the
| |
| | trade was captured by either regions
|
| nearby village of Port Lligat. The barren
| |
| | Barcelona or Valencia it fell into
|
| shorelines, odd formations of rocks and
| |
| | decline. In 1903 Carthusian monks settled
|
| desolate moonscapes so typical of his
| |
| | in the city having been expelled from La
|
| paintings can be seen in abundance
| |
| | Grande Chartreuse in France. Their famous
|
| throughout the locality. The Teatre-Musea
| |
| | liqueur is produced here to this day.
|
| Dali is located in the town of Figueres
| |
| | Today it is important as both a
|
| and contains a great deal of the artist's
| |
| | commercial centre and port. Industries
|
| works. The Pyrenees, in the north of the
| |
| | include flour mills, an oil refinery and
|
| province, offer many opportunities for
| |
| | wine production and export. Some of the
|
| walking and hiking, the Parc Nacional
| |
| | countries finest wines are made nearby in
|
| d'Aiguestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
| |
| | the Priorat region.Lleida lies on the
|
| being one of the most attractive areas.
| |
| | river Segre. Formally known as Llerda,
|
| There are several ski stations operating
| |
| | Julius Ceasar defeated the generals of
|
| throughout the winter months.There is
| |
| | Pompey here in 49 BC. The Moorish
|
| evidence of some settlement in the area
| |
| | invasion from the south saw Lleida fall
|
| going back to the 15th century BC but
| |
| | in 714. It was liberated by Christian
|
| Barcelona is reputed to take it's name
| |
| | forces in 1149. By tradition a strategic,
|
| from the powerful Carthaginian family of
| |
| | fortified city, Lleida became a key
|
| Barca who founded the basis for the city
| |
| | defence point for Barcelona in the
|
| as we know it today. Under the Romans and
| |
| | Spanish civil war. It eventually fell to
|
| Visigoths the city flourished. In the 8th
| |
| | Franco's forces in the April of 1938
|
| century it fell to the Moors and in 801
| |
| | having withheld for nine long months. A
|
| it was taken by Charlemagne, who included
| |
| | castle, whose ramparts enclose a
|
| it in the Spanish March. The March became
| |
| | Romanesque cathedral, dominates the old
|
| independent under the leadership of the
| |
| | section of the city. Lleida is the centre
|
| powerful counts of Barcelona in the 9th
| |
| | of a fertile farm area and agriculture
|
| and 10th centuries, They won lands from
| |
| | predominates. There is little in the way
|
| the Moors to the south and acquired all
| |
| | of a manufacturing industry.Ken Jones
|
| of Catalonia. In 1137, following the
| |
| | runs a Spanish Guide.
|
| marriage of Count Raymond Berengar IV to
| |
| | More information about Catalonia can be
|
| the heiress of Aragon the two regions
| |
| | found here.
|
| became united. The city of Barcelona
| |
| |
|
