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The Spanish region of Catalonia

Catalonia shares it's northern border withthe heiress of Aragon the two regions became
the countries of Andorra and France in theunited. The city of Barcelona became the
mountainous Pyrenees. The Mediterranean Seacapital as it was for future kings of Spain.
forms it eastern border with the coastA well ruled Barcelona expanded trade in the
running south west down as far as the regionMediterranean. Its cloth industry flourished
of Valencia. The eastern border is sharedand it became a powerful centre of banking
with the region of Aragon. Throughout historyand commerce. Around 1400 saw the peak in
Catalonia has struggled for greater autonomyit's fortunes, decline followed along with
in it's relationship with Spain. In attemptsthe rest of Catalonia. The French occupied
to gain full independent it has on more thanthe city on three occasions in 1640-52, 1715
occasion revolted. Few Catalonians todayand 1808-14. Catalan separatism centred on
aspire to have any real expectations ofBarcelona and the city was the scene of many
independence but the struggle for greaterinsurrections. It revolted against Philip IV
autonomy  within  Spain  continues.of Spain from 1640-52. It also became the
Spanish centre of socialism and other radical
History - Greeks and Romans established tradepolitical doctrines around 1900. Barcelona
along this part of the Mediterranean coast.was the capital of the region's autonomous
In the middle ages Catalan art and literaturegovernment from 1932-39. During the civil war
flourished and the now established coastalthe Spanish Loyalist government sat in
trade saw merchants become very powerfulBarcelona until it fell to Franco's forces in
rivalling those of Venice and Genoa. In 1461early 1939. The region saw demonstrations
Catalonia rose up in protest at it's allianceagainst Franco's dictatorship throughout the
with Aragon but the rebellion was crushed.1950's. Today Barcelona is Spain's second
The subsequent union of Aragon with Castilelargest city and the claims to be cultural
side lined Catalonia. Trade routes werecentre of the country. It is the capital of
moved, commercial income fell, famines andthe Catalonian region and more than one third
plagues all contributed to it's decline. Butof region's population reside there.
the Catalonian desire for independenceBarcelona is also Spain's largest port and
continued. It rose against Philip IV duringits chief commercial centre with
the thirty year war of 1618-48 and followedinternational banking and finance houses. It
that by taking the side of Archduke Charlesis a major industrial centre and production
in the War of the Spanish Succession againstincludes aviation, chemicals, electrical
Philip V. It was a centre for socialistequipment, foundries, locomotives, machinery,
influence at the turn of the 19th Century.textiles and vehicles. The city itself is
1931 saw the Catalans establish a separatemodern, with wide avenues, bustling traffic
government which went on to win autonomy fromand striking new architecture. By contrast
the Spanish Cortes in 1932. Two years later athe well preserved old city, Roman walls can
revolution for complete independence failed,still be seen, is filled with narrow, winding
but in another 2 years autonomy was restored.streets and ancient structures, including a
In the Spanish civil war of 1936-39,cathedral, many churches, the city hall and
Catalonia once again picked the wrong sidethe Lonja or exchange. Barcelona is the site
and following Franco's victory over theof a reputed opera house, the Contemporary
republicans the region suffered badly and theArt Museum, the Fine Arts Museum of Catalonia
cherished Catalan language was banned inand the Picasso Museum. In 1992 it hosted the
public life. In 1978 it was restored and issummer Olympics. The remainder of the
now an official language of the region alongprovince of Barcelona is in the main hilly or
with Castilian or Spanish. It elected itsmountainous. But it also home to some highly
first parliament as an autonomous region infertile plains where cereals grapes and
1980. By the mid-1990s Catalan nationalistsolives are grown. The province also produces
had become a force in both the region's andone third of Spain's wine. Much of the area's
the  nation's  politics.power is generated by hydroelectric plants
built on the Ebro, Cinca and Segre rivers.
Catalonia comprises four provinces, Girona,The coastline, stretching nearly 400
Barcelona, Tarragona and Lleida, all arekilometres has many good harbours and
named  after  their  capitals.marinas, excellent fisheries and an buoyant
tourist trade. West of Barcelona you will
Girona or Gerona in the north sits on thefind the vineyards of the Penedes area. Also
Onyar River. Dating from pre-Roman times,the mountain of Montserrat, on a clear day
the old town has preserved its medievalthe peak at 1236m above sea level offers
aspect. Girona was ruled by the Moors fromviews of the Pyrenees to the north and to
714 to 797. During the Peninsular War ofMallorca in the Balearic Islands to the south
1808-09 the town resisted the Napoleon'seast.
French forces. Industries today include
chemical production, machinery, paper makingTarragona sits on the mouth of the river
and textiles. Outside the city and on theFrancola on the Mediterranean. It was
coat the beaches and coves around Begur andformally known as Tarraco and in 218BC was
Palafrugell and particularly attractive. Orcaptured by Roman forces. They built up is
take in a sunrise at the Cap de Crues,fortifications against attack by the
Spain's most easterly point. Just to theCarthaginians. The ruins of Roman walls and
south is the enchanting whitewashed villagean aquaduct remain still. It fell to both the
of Cadaques built around a rocky bay. TheVisigoths and the Moors in the 5th and 8th
artist Salvador Dali spent the holidays ofcenturies respectively. The Christians
his youth there and later lived in the nearbyrecaptured it in the 12th century but when
village of Port Lligat. The barrenit's trade was captured by either regions
shorelines, odd formations of rocks andBarcelona or Valencia it fell into decline.
desolate moonscapes so typical of hisIn 1903 Carthusian monks settled in the city
paintings can be seen in abundance throughouthaving been expelled from La Grande
the locality. The Teatre-Musea Dali isChartreuse in France. Their famous liqueur is
located in the town of Figueres and containsproduced here to this day. Today it is
a great deal of the artist's works. Theimportant as both a commercial centre and
Pyrenees, in the north of the province, offerport. Industries include flour mills, an oil
many opportunities for walking and hiking,refinery and wine production and export. Some
the Parc Nacional d'Aiguestortes i Estany deof the countries finest wines are made nearby
Sant Maurici being one of the most attractivein  the  Priorat  region.
areas. There are several ski stations
operating  throughout  the  winter  months.Lleida lies on the river Segre. Formally
known as Llerda, Julius Ceasar defeated the
There is evidence of some settlement in thegenerals of Pompey here in 49 BC. The Moorish
area going back to the 15th century BC butinvasion from the south saw Lleida fall in
Barcelona is reputed to take it's name from714. It was liberated by Christian forces in
the powerful Carthaginian family of Barca who1149. By tradition a strategic, fortified
founded the basis for the city as we know itcity, Lleida became a key defence point for
today. Under the Romans and Visigoths theBarcelona in the Spanish civil war. It
city flourished. In the 8th century it felleventually fell to Franco's forces in the
to the Moors and in 801 it was taken byApril of 1938 having withheld for nine long
Charlemagne, who included it in the Spanishmonths. A castle, whose ramparts enclose a
March. The March became independent under theRomanesque cathedral, dominates the old
leadership of the powerful counts ofsection of the city. Lleida is the centre of
Barcelona in the 9th and 10th centuries, Theya fertile farm area and agriculture
won lands from the Moors to the south andpredominates. There is little in the way of a
acquired all of Catalonia. In 1137, followingmanufacturing industry.
the marriage of Count Raymond Berengar IV to



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