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Culture, history and beaches the Catalonia region has it all
• 31 May 2007 •
 By Barbara Kamphuis
AFTER last week’s review of Aragon, we have travelled the short distance to its neighbour Catalonia.
Everyone knows Barcelona or has heard of Lloret de Mar or Salou but Catalonia has much more to offer. The autonomous region of Catalonia consists of four provinces each very different but offering something for everyone such as culture, history, beaches, beautiful scenery and shopping.
<b>Many new experiences, many new adventures</b>
Every year, thousands of young people travel to the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada to have a good time. They seek sun, sea, beach and the buzz of the nightlife, which is perfectly possible in famous places like Lloret de Mar (Gerona) and Salou (Tarragona). The towns have available cheap apartments, sandy beaches, lots of sun and a great variety of bars and clubs, for which ´proppers´ roam the beaches and streets during the day to try to lure the people in by flirting and promises of cheap drinks.
The idea of relaxing all day and having fun at nighttime attracts a lot of youngsters looking for summer love and a tan, but there is a lot more on offer for young people.
Situated near Lloret de Mar is a huge water park called Waterworld with spectacular water slides and pools and the more daring people can make a bungee jump inside the park. If you want to get your adrenaline going, Lloret de Mar has a lot to offer too. There is a wide variety of water sports to take part in when you want to cool down from the sun, including scuba diving, kayaking, sailing, water-skiing and parasailing.
Furthermore you can go hiking or mountain biking or horse riding in the woods around Lloret de Mar.
Close to Lloret de Mar, lays Blanes where the spectacular international fireworks concourse 'Concurs de Focs d'Artifici' is held each year during the Santa Ana festival.
The theme park resort Port Aventura is situated just outside Salou. In the park you can ride the stomach turning rollercoaster Dragon Khan. Salou also has a water park but the Aqualeon Park hosts a zoo where people can watch lion and snake shows. The town also offers the opportunity to go on jeep safari or quad safari just outside the town, which is a very popular excursion amongst the visitors.
Catalonia and its coast is a great area for the young generation to go on holiday and experience many new adventures, but this doesn’t mean you can not find anything else in the region´s coastal towns.
The smaller, less touristy towns can still provide great insight into the local fishing culture.
<b>From Romans to Catalan culture</b>
Catalonia has four provinces which each offering its own cultural and natural beauty. To showcase the inland area of Catalonia, we will start off in the north, in the province of Gerona.
Gerona capital is an ancient city founded by the Iberians and later occupied by the Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians. The legacy of these cultures can be found in this great city that often is overshadowed by Barcelona.
The historic part of the city is situated on the steep hill “Caputxins” but the rest of the city lies on the plains. Remains of the walls that stopped many attacks can still be found. One of the most beautiful squares in the city is the “Plaza de la Independencia”, an atmospheric square filled with terraces and restaurants. A characteristic image of Gerona is the ´hanging buildings´ on the river Onyar and the bridges crossing the river. Another highlight of Gerona is the Arabic bath house that was built in 1194.
The original cathedral was situated at the site of the current cathedral and was used as a mosque by the Moors. After they were driven out of the city during the Reconquest, it was completely rebuilt. The result is one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in Spain designed by the Mallorcan architect Jaume Fabre.
Other worthwhile places to visit are the archaeological museum of Catalonia and the museum of Jewish history.
The province of Gerona is steeped in Roman history and there is a route which includes the most important places to visit in order to see the best of the Roman remains. If you take the time and effort to go off the usual path and visit the small picturesque towns, you will find a mass of Roman and medieval history. Al Empordà, Besalú, Blanes and El Ripoll’es are just a few examples of the hidden gems of the Gerona province.
Travelling west you will arrive in the province of Lleida or Lérida. This is one of the most typical Catalan places in Spain and many traditional Catalan festivals are held in the capital of the province, Lleida. The most important festivals are “Festa Major” and the “Fira de Sant Miquel” which attract people from all over the country every year.
Lleida has some great historical sites as well. The beautiful cathedral “Seu Vella” has been constructed in Roman as well as Gothic styles and was used as a military base in the 18th century. The former hospital “Institut d´Estudis Ilerdencs” is one of the highlights of the city; it now functions as the historical museum. The city hall “La Paeria” is an historical monument with intact remains from the Middle Ages and the Roman and Moorish times. Another great historic site is the castle “Gardeny” which was used in the Middle Ages by the Templars. The gardens of “Camps Elises” (the equivalent of the Parisian “Champs Elysées”) were already used in Roman times.
Vall de Boí is a valley in Lleida province that has earned a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its Early Romanesque churches. The valley also includes the highest ski-resort in the Pyrenees.
Tarragona capital, in the south of the Catalan region, was founded by the Phoenicians and was later conquered by the Romans during the second Punic War. Nowadays, Tarragona is a port city and a large part of its economy is based on the chemical industry and tourism.
The city is home to a vast number of historical monuments; one of them, the ruins of the old Tarraco from the Roman era, has even got a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The ruins consist of 14 separate structures that are considered to be one archaeological collection. In the historical centre of the city, you can find the remains of the old Roman consortium and a part of the original city wall. The amphitheatre in Tarragona originates from the first century; it contains the remains of a Visigoth Basilica and a Roman church. El Balcó del Mediterráni (the balcony of the Mediterranean) a viewpoint at the end of one of the ‘rambla’ of the city, offers you a panoramic view of the city, the port and the Mediterranean.
The last province is Barcelona and particularly Catalonia’s capital Barcelona city. This city is often called an ´open-air museum´ because of its architectonic masterpieces in the Gothic quarter or the modernistic houses in Eixample. The city contains nine buildings, mainly designed by Antoni Gaudi and Lluís Domènech, which are on the famous UNESCO World Heritage list, including the Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell, Casa Milà, Hospital de Sant Pau, and Palau de la Música Catalana.
Barcelona seems to have been the playground of the renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, who was famous for his “organic architecture” and he was one of the founders of the Jugendstil movement. His most famous work is the Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic basilica, which is still under construction and Parc Guëll, a garden complex with architectural elements designed by the master in the early 20th century. The other great architect that left his mark on the metropole is Lluís Domènech. He gave the city the Hospital de Sant Pau, which is still in use nowadays and the Palay de la Música Catalana concert hall which hosts musical performances that range from symphonic and chamber music to jazz and Canço (Catalan song).
Besides these architectonical masterpieces Barcelona has more to offer; the Olympic stadium on Montjuïc hill, that was built for the 1992 Olympic Games and the FC Barcelona stadium Camp Nou. For the ones who like shopping you can visit Barcelona´s centre and especially the “La Rambla”, where you can also find “El Liceu” the Opera house of Barcelona. Montjuïc hill has another great site: the “Font Magica” (Magic Fountain), a magnificent terrace of fountains which are also known under the name of Fountain of Plaça d'Espanya.
You can spend days in Barcelona and still not see everything. It is a great city to visit for lovers of culture and architecture.
Catalonia is a region with its own culture and language. It has a lot to offer to people of all ages. A holiday at the beach or a city trip to Barcelona, or a combination of both, everything and anything is possible.
Next week we will see you in Extremadura. |  Return to Top
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