Cataluña is the most prosperous region in Iberia—and one of the proudest. The region’s linguistic identity, rich natural resources, and cultural tradition have set it apart from the rest of Spain. Colonized first by the Greeks and then the Carthaginians, Cataluña later became one of Rome’s favored provinces. It was briefly subdued by the Moors, and then fell into Charlemagne’s domain for a short time. Cataluña declared independence in 989, growing more powerful after it united with the throne of Aragón in 1137. Still, while this pact allowed Cataluña to pursue her own empire for a time, it ultimately meant one thing: surrender to Spanish rule. The Catalan Nationalist Movement that resulted from the subjugation has been a contentious political issue for centuries.
Cataluña’s achievements have lent credence to the region’s fierce sense of autonomy. In the late 18th century, the region became one of Europe’s premier textile manufacturers and pursued a robust trade with the Americas. Nineteenth-century industrial expansion nourished the arts and sciences, ushering in an age known as the Catalan Renaixença (Renaissance). The turn of the century gave birth to the Modernista movement and an all-star list of wildly innovative artists and architects including Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner, and Puig i Cadafalch. Despite all of its achievements, it was also the site of merciless persecution under Franco’s dictatorship. Many catalaneses were imprisoned or killed, and dictatorship brought suppression of Catalan language instruction and publications, degrading the very foundation of the population’s identity: its beloved tongue, a Romance language—not a dialect—closely related to Spanish and French. There is no “Spanish” here, only castellano, (literally, “language spoken in Castilla”), a distinction that allows catalaneses to differentiate themselves from a historically dominant culture. Since receiving full autonomy in 1979, Cataluña’s media and arts have flourished; Catalan is once again the official language. After you’ve been to Cataluña, you may understand why many here call it “A Nation of Europe”—it isn’t quite like anywhere else in Spain.
☎ 938 Sitges Forty kilometers south of Barcelona, the beach town of Sitges (pop. 27,000) just might deserve its self-proclaimed title as the “jewel of the Mediterranean.” Composed of crystalline ...more
☎ 975 Costa Brava Skirting the Mediterranean Sea from Barcelona to the French border, the Costa Brava’s cliffs and beaches draw throngs of European visitors—especially French—-in July and August ...more
Lérida (Lleida) Lleida (pop. 130,000) lives in the constant presence of history; trendy boutiques are framed by old churches and palaces, and well-kept parks and plazas compete with the fashion ...more
 |
 |
 |
 |
For 50 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
Overview