Catalonia, a rich region of Spain that you must see!

You can't talk about Barcelona without mentioning Catalonia (Catalunya – Catalan, Cataluña – Spanish). It is one of the 17 autonomous regions of the Kingdom of Spain, and the locals are justifiably proud of their independence. Just them after all they are not spanish, they are catalan! 

What you will find in the article: Location of Catalonia, Parts of Catalonia, What are Catalans like?, How do you speak in Catalonia?, Catalan flag, What to visit?

Where is Catalonia located?

Catalonia is located in the north-east of Spain, where it stretches from the Pyrenees in the north to the Ebro River in the southwest of the country. Catalonia borders Andorra and France to the north, Aragon to the west and Valencia to the south. The eastern part of the area is washed by the Mediterranean Sea with many holiday resorts. 

Map: Spain with the location of Catalonia marked

What are the parts of Catalonia?

Catalonia itself divided into 4 main provinces: 

1. Barcelona
2. Tarragona
3. Lleida SPAIN
4. Girona

Well, Barcelona, ​​to which I dedicate this entire website, is the capital of Catalonia. Among other things, you will find here the local parliament and other components of regional self-government. 

Catalonia itself gained autonomy already in 1977, and since then the voices for even greater independence and secession from the Kingdom of Spain have been growing stronger every year. 

In total, 7 million people live in Catalonia. 

What are Catalans like as people?

Catalans are lovers of the sardana folk dance, football (FC Barcelona), good food and wine. Tourists come to Catalonia mainly to the sea or beyond monuments to Barcelona. Costa Brava coast is announced as a seaside holiday destination and you can easily travel to the sea from Barcelona by train. Barcelona is attracting tourists again numerous sights and its specific atmosphere.

If I had to describe the people here, I would say that they are very friendly, hospitable and warm people. With a large nationalist base, of course. 

Catalan flag 

If you pass through Barcelona during a national event holiday or celebration, you will see flags in many windows and balconies. But you except for exceptions they will not be Spanish, but Catalan. This is precisely because the local people identify themselves as Catalan rather than Spanish. 

It's herself the Catalan flag bears similar colors to the Spanish one: red and yellow. It even has the same horizontal stripes – but unlike the Spanish flag with only 2 stripes, the Catalan flag has 4.

In Barcelona and throughout Catalonia, you will most often meet 2 types of Catalan flag: Senyera a estelade.

While the first (senyera) is the official Catalan flag, the second (estelada) is recognized and used mainly by nationalist sympathizers hoping for the secession of Catalonia from Spain. 

Flag	senyera	Estelada
Appearance	Four red stripes on a yellow background	Four stripes on a yellow background with a blue triangle in the left part, the triangle contains a white star in reference to the flag of Cuba and the struggle for independence there
Historical significance	It refers to the traditional, historical and cultural identity of Catalonia	Associated with Catalonia's modern tendencies for independence and secession from Spain
Use of the flag	It is the official flag of Catalonia, so you can see it on government buildings, during official events or even celebrations.	Unofficial flag of Catalonia, used mainly by supporters of Catalan independence from Spain. It is often seen during protests and demonstrations.

How do you speak in Catalonia?

It is considered an official language in Catalonia (along with Spanish). Catalan. 

What places besides Barcelona are worth visiting in Catalonia?

Of course, Catalonia is not just Barcelona. There are many beautiful cities, places, monuments, mountain ranges or even natural parks in the whole area that are worth a visit. This is, after all, the reason why Catalonia is a frequent destination for tourists from all over the world - they head here for all kinds of sightseeing and stay trips or for a holiday by the sea. 

Below you will find a few other tips that you can visit in Catalonia in addition to Barcelona: 

• Blanes – a well-known seaside resort famous for its Pinya de Rosa botanical garden
• Figueres – this town is known primarily for its most famous native, Salvador Dalí. He has his own here Teatro – museo Dalí, i.e. theater and museum. Dalí is also buried in his museum. Crazy or genius like the author himself? 
• Girona – an ancient city about 100 km from Barcelona, ​​which some tourists may accidentally visit on their way to Barcelona (there is a cheap airport). In terms of sights, the Jewish quarter is worth mentioning here, and Game of Thrones fans will feel right at home here - several locations of this famous series were filmed here. More about Girona.
• Montserrat – the most famous Catalan mountain range with a pilgrimage site in the rocks where you can find the admired Black Madonna. A more detailed description in my article about Montserratu.  
• Sitges – a well-known holiday resort by the sea with several beautiful beaches, but also a bohemian town full of cafes, bars and restaurants. More about Sitges and holidays in this beautiful seaside town.
• Tarragona – a former Roman city with a rich history, where you can find many UNESCO monuments (cathedral, ancient amphitheater, aqueduct, castle,...). The city is accessible by train directly from the center of Barcelona. More about Tarragona.

You can find more information about Catalonia on a separate website Catalonia.com or a blog Catalonia 2011.