Catalonia
is the eastern coastal region and borders France. It has an ancient
culture quite distinct from its neighbours, and many of the inhabitants
speak Catalan, a Romance language influenced by
medieval French. Catalonia is Spain’s industrial
and commercial powerhouse but agriculture (olive oil, almonds wine
and fruit) is also important in the region. Catalonia is an important
focus of tourism, especially the seaside resorts of the Costa
Brava and Costa Dorada. Skiing and winter
sports are on offer for up to six months of the year in the Pyrenees,
the resorts include Baqueira-Beret, Espot
Esquí, Masella, La Molina, Nuria, Port del Compte
and Rasos de Peguera.
Barcelona
Barcelona is spain’s second-largest city with a population
2.5 million, is a major commercial and industrial centre and an
important Mediterranean port. The Barri Gótic
(Gothic quarter), as the name suggests, has buildings dating back
to the 14th and 15th centuries. Highlights include the Seu
(old cathedral), the Episcopal Palace, the
Palau de la Generalitat and the Plaça del
Rei.
The Museo Picasso focuses on the artist’s
formative years, but includes works from the Blue and Rose periods.
Barcelona’s main thoroughfare, Las Ramblas
occupies the site of the ancient city walls and extends from the
Plaça de Catalunya to the port. Cafes, bookstalls,
flower and bird markets and street artists are just some of the
attractions of this fashionable avenue. Beyond Plaça
Catalunya, the Eixample (Extension) boasts a wealth of
Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture.
The still incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia
(Holy Family) is the masterpiece of Spain’s greatest 20th-century
architect, Antoni Gaudí. Other examples
of his work are the Casa Batlló, the Parc Güell and
Casa Mila. The funicular to Tibidabo, the highest
of Barcelona’s hills, and the cable car to Montjuic in the
southern suburbs, offer spectacular views over the city. There are
funfairs on both summits.
Barcelona’s best museums include the Picasso
(see above), the Fundació Joan Miró
with works by another of Spain’s most innovative 20th-century
artists, the Museum of Catalan Art, the Maritime
Museum, the Zoological Museum and the Monastery
of Peldralbes , which houses part of the Thyssen-Bornemisza
art collection.
A popular excursion from Barcelona (40km, 24 miles) is to the famed
monastery of Montserrat and the shrine of the Black
Madonna. The mountain setting, 1135m (3725ft) above the
Llobregat River, is spectacular.
The
Costa Dorada
The coastline from Barcelona to Tarragona
has more fine sandy beaches. Tarragona was an important
army base in Roman times and visitors can still see the remains
of the forum, amphitheatre, aqueduct and fortified walls. The city
also has an impressive medieval quarter. Inland is the town of Montblanc
with a fine Gothic church and the ruins of the 12th-century Cistercian
monastery at Poblet. The two main resorts are Salou
where the Port-Aventura Theme Park is a key attraction
and the cosmopolitan Sitges.
The
Costa Brava
The coastal strip northeast of Barcelona comprises pine-clad rocks,
sandy bays and package resorts. Inland is Lleida,
a province that borders the Pyrenees and boasts
some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Spain.
Resorts on the Costa Brava include, Tossa de Mar,
remain largely unspoilt despite the massive influx of holidaymakers,
Blanes and Lloret de Mar are intensely developed. In summer the
crowds can begin to pall but, with persistence, relatively isolated
beaches can be found.
Coastal ferries operate between the main resorts. Girona
(Gerona) is one of Catalonia’s oldest cities, dating back
to the Roman period. The Gothic Cathedral has a remarkable collection
of medieval religious art. Other attractions include the Arab baths,
the former Jewish quarter and the fortified walls. Figueres
was the birthplace of the artist Salvador Dalí
and has a fascinating Museum devoted to his work. Cadaquès
is an enchanting, but touristy, fishing village made famous by Dalí
who was a regular visitor. Pals is an intact medieval
village, complete with fortifications. Empúries
(Ampurias) has impressive Graeco-Roman remains. |
