Catalunya - the famous autonomous community of Spain, which is divided into 4 provinces - Barcelona, Tarragona, Gerona and Lleida - is located in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula. This ancient region of Spain with a rich historical past is now famous for its national cuisine, city holidays and festivals, artists with world names and, of course, the coast with gentle golden sand and crystal clear Mediterranean Sea.
The capital of Catalonia is Barcelona, but no less important cities are the ancient Tarragona and the "immortal" Gerona.
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How to get to Catalonia
By plane
Regular flights from Moscow to Barcelona are performed by Aeroflot and Clickair (the daughter of Iberia). There are further flights with transfer in Madrid (Iberia), Amsterdam (KLM), Milan or Rome (Alitalia) and other European cities.
In Catalonia, there are also airports in Gerona (flights run by Ryanair and British Airways). From this airport to Barcelona you can reach in 90 minutes by bus, to Gerona for € 8. Other airports are in Reus (near Tarragona and Dorada) and in Lleida (Western Catalonia).
Search for airline tickets to Barcelona (nearest airports a / n to Catalonia)
By train
The main railway station of Barcelona is Estació de Sants, most of the local and regional trains leave from Plaça de Catalunya, and from Passeig de Gràcia there are some local and long-distance trains.
The RENFE railway connection is well established between Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza, the Basque Country and the whole country.
Transport
In Catalonia itself, there are several trains connecting the three provincial capitals - Lleida, Tarragona and Gerona. The Catalan railway company Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) operates at several destinations near Barcelona and on some tourist routes.
Costa Dorada is easily accessible by trains to Tarragona. Costa Brava can not boast of such a rail service.
The climate of Catalonia
In the Pyrenees and foothills, a typical high mountain climate with abundant snowfalls in winter and a relatively cool summer. Along the Mediterranean coast - Costa Brava, Costa del Maresme, Barcelona, Costa del Garraf and Costa Dorada - a mild, moderate climate. The further from the shore, the colder the winter and the hotter summer.
Kitchen
Although the Catalan cuisine has its own unique flavor and aroma, it is still part of the Mediterranean gastronomic tradition with its three classic ingredients - flour, oil and wine - and the influence of the East and the New World.
In Catalonia, several types of local sweets and baked goods, mainly from marzipan (panellets, massapà) or cream (crema cremada, menjar blanc).
As an important addition to the main dishes and dessert, a glass of Catalan wine is served - red, white, pink table or simply dessert (ranci).
The beaches of Catalonia
The Catalan coast is an important asset of the autonomous community. It's no wonder that most of the beaches here have Blue Flags from the European Foundation for Environmental Education, as a guarantor of positive ecology and a symbol of crystal clear water and sand. Of the total 580 km of the sandy coast of Catalonia, the beaches of Costa Brava, Costa del Maresme, Costa del Garraf and Costa Dorada are allotted.
- Costa Brava
For the beaches bordering the hills covered with evergreen pines, this beach got its name - "Rocky". Here stretches a whole string of typical Mediterranean towns like Palamos or La Escala. Another is to look into the botanical gardens in Lloret de Mar and Blanes, see the Old Town and the ruins of an ancient Roman villa in Tossa de Mar. Ideal for fans of excursions, golf, water sports and flights on an airplane.
- Costa del Maresme
The proximity of the mountains provides the entire coast of the Costa del Maresme with a mild Mediterranean climate and 275 sunny days a year. This area in the resort and health plan developed before the rest, and therefore today it has well-thought-out transport links, and the "right" infrastructure like cozy inexpensive hotels and restaurants for travelers. The main points are Malgrat de Mar, Pineda de Mar, Calle and Sant Pol de Mar with its ancient temples and churches.
- Costa del Garraf
Today this rocky coast with wide sandy beaches has won a good name among the elite resorts .The most prestigious apartments and expensive villas, as a rule, are here .By the way, Rosignol, Casas, Dali and Nonel chose these places for their summer residences .Sitges - an ancient town built on the site of a fishing village, around which cultural, culinary and sports life revolves in the form of festivals, exhibitions and forums, sometimes of international importance, is also located here .Also popular is the local resort of Castelldefels .
- Costa Daurada
This "Gold Coast" with a crystal clear shallow sea is a leisure center for a tourist for any age and size of a purse. There is also an amusement park Port Aventura in Salou, famous all over the world, and ancient architectural monuments in Tarragona, and excellent beach holidays in Cambrils, La Pineda or Miami-Playa.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Catalonia
- Gothic Quarter, the Museum of Contemporary Art MACBA, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
- The Seu Vella de Lleida Cathedral in Lleida
- Roman Forum and the "Mediterranean Balcony" (Balcó del Mediterrani) with a panorama of the city and the sea coast in Tarragona
- Plaza Catalunya on the bridge over the river Onyar, Arab baths and the gates of San Cristofol in Gerona
- Spiritual center and heart of Catalonia - Montserrat Monastery
Catalonia is still worth a visit because there were born three great artists of the 20th century: Miro, Dalí and Tapies. For several years Picasso spent his most productive and important period in Barcelona, Gozol and Cadaqués. The works of these artists can be seen in the Picasso Museum, the Joan Miró Foundation, the Antonia Tapies Foundation in Barcelona and the Dalí Theater in Figueres.
Developments
The main event of any Catalan city is the day of its patron saint, or Festa Major. Traditionally, these holidays (usually summer) are organized by stylized medieval times competitions, craft and food fairs, concerts and open-air performances are held. Such an event is the best way to see how castelles or "human castles" are built, when the castellarians build each other's kind of tower.
Photos of Catalonia (138)