CATALONIA!CATALONIA!

GeographyGeography

Catalonia (is an Catalonia (is an Autonomous CommunityAutonomous Community in in northeast northeast SpainSpain..

Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an official population of 7,210,508. It has an official population of 7,210,508. It borders borders FranceFrance and and AndorraAndorra to the to the north, north, AragonAragon to the west, the to the west, the ValencianValencian Community Community to the south, and the to the south, and the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea to the east (580 km to the east (580 km coastline). Official languages are coastline). Official languages are CatalanCatalan, , SpanishSpanish and and AraneseAranese..

The capital city is The capital city is BarcelonaBarcelona. Catalonia is . Catalonia is divided into forty-one divided into forty-one comarquescomarques that that are part, in turn, of four are part, in turn, of four provincesprovinces: : BarcelonaBarcelona, , TarragonaTarragona, , LleidaLleida, and , and GironaGirona (often spelt Gerona in English as (often spelt Gerona in English as it is in Spanish). Its territory corresponds it is in Spanish). Its territory corresponds to most of the historical territory of the to most of the historical territory of the former former Principality of CataloniaPrincipality of Catalonia..

ClimateClimate

In the Mediterranean area, summers In the Mediterranean area, summers are dry, hot and humid with sea are dry, hot and humid with sea breezes, and the maximum breezes, and the maximum temperature is around 30 °C. Summer temperature is around 30 °C. Summer is the rainiest season in the Pyreneean is the rainiest season in the Pyreneean valleys with frequent storms. Winter is valleys with frequent storms. Winter is cool or cold depending on the location. cool or cold depending on the location. It snows frequently in the Pyrenees, It snows frequently in the Pyrenees, and it occasionally snows at lower and it occasionally snows at lower altitudes, even by the coastline. altitudes, even by the coastline. Overall, spring and autumn are Overall, spring and autumn are typically the rainiest seasons.typically the rainiest seasons.

The inland part of Catalonia is hotter The inland part of Catalonia is hotter and drier in summer. Temperature and drier in summer. Temperature may reach 35 °C, some days even 40 may reach 35 °C, some days even 40 °C. Nights are cooler there than at the °C. Nights are cooler there than at the coast with the temperature of around coast with the temperature of around 14° to 16 °C. Fog is not uncommon in 14° to 16 °C. Fog is not uncommon in valleys and plains, it can be especially valleys and plains, it can be especially resilient and with resilient and with freezing drizzlefreezing drizzle episodes during winter by the episodes during winter by the SegreSegre and other river valleys.and other river valleys.

Language Language

Originating in the historic territory of Catalonia, Originating in the historic territory of Catalonia, CatalanCatalan is one of the three official languages and is one of the three official languages and has enjoyed special status since the approval of has enjoyed special status since the approval of the the Statute of Autonomy of 1979Statute of Autonomy of 1979 which declares it which declares it to be the language "proper to Catalonia".The other to be the language "proper to Catalonia".The other languages with official status are languages with official status are SpanishSpanish, which , which has official status throughout Spain, and has official status throughout Spain, and AraneseAranese (a (a dialectdialect of of GasconGascon OccitanOccitan) spoken in the ) spoken in the Aran ValleyAran Valley).).

Today, Catalan is the main language of the Today, Catalan is the main language of the Catalan autonomous government and the other Catalan autonomous government and the other public institutions that fall under its jurisdiction. public institutions that fall under its jurisdiction. Basic public education is given in Catalan except Basic public education is given in Catalan except for two hours for week of Spanish medium for two hours for week of Spanish medium instruction. instruction.

ReligionReligion

Religion depens of Religion depens of people, because you people, because you can be a believer or can be a believer or non believer. non believer. If you believe religion If you believe religion is Christianity and if is Christianity and if you do not believe you do not believe you're an atheist. you're an atheist.

Government Government

Law and government of Catalonia The

Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia is the fundamental organic law, second only to the Spanish Constitution from which the Statute originates. The Catalan Statute of Autonomy establishes that Catalonia is organized politically through the Generalitat de Catalunya, conformed by the Parliament, the Presidency of the Generalitat, the Government or Executive Council and the other institutions created by the Parliament.

The seat of the Executive Council is the city of Barcelona. Since the restoration of the Generalitat through the return of democracy in Spain, the presidents of Catalonia have been Jordi Pujol (1980-2003), Pasqual Maragall (2003-2006) and incumbent José Montilla Aguilera.

Palau de la Generalitat

Represented in the

Catalan regional Parliament

(135)

Convergence and Union (48) - Socialists' Party of Catalonia (37) - Republican Left of Catalonia (21) - People's Party of Catalonia (14) - Initiative for Catalonia Greens (12) - Citizens – Party of the Citizenry (3)

Represented in the Spanish

Congress of Deputies

(47)

Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSOE) (25) - Convergence and Union (10) - Republican Left of Catalonia (3) - People's Party of Catalonia (6) - Initiative for Catalonia Greens-United and Alternative Left (2)

Represented in the Spanish

Senate (22)

Catalan Agreement of Progress (PSC, ERC, ICV and EUiA) (16) - Convergence and Union (6)

EconomyEconomy

The Catalan economy is distinguished in the Spanish context by a The Catalan economy is distinguished in the Spanish context by a more industrial profile. The distribution of sectors is the following one:more industrial profile. The distribution of sectors is the following one:

Primary sectorPrimary sector: 2.8%. Land dedicated to agricultural use is 33%: 2.8%. Land dedicated to agricultural use is 33% Secondary sectorSecondary sector: 37.2% (compared to Spain's 29%) : 37.2% (compared to Spain's 29%) Tertiary sectorTertiary sector: 60% (compared to Spain's 67%) : 60% (compared to Spain's 67%) Catalonia is the first Catalonia is the first tourist destination of Spaintourist destination of Spain. The main tourist . The main tourist

destinations in Catalonia are the city of destinations in Catalonia are the city of BarcelonaBarcelona, the beaches of the , the beaches of the Costa BravaCosta Brava at at GironaGirona and the and the Costa Costa DauradaDaurada at at TarragonaTarragona. In the . In the PyreneesPyrenees there are several ski resorts. there are several ski resorts.

THE EURO:The euro is the currency we use

Banknote coin

CultureCulture

CastellersCastellers are one of the main are one of the main manifestations of the Catalonian popular manifestations of the Catalonian popular culture. The activity consists in constructing culture. The activity consists in constructing human towers by competing human towers by competing colles colles castellerescastelleres (teams). This practice originated (teams). This practice originated in the southern part of Catalonia during the in the southern part of Catalonia during the 18th century.18th century.

The The sardanasardana is the most characteristic is the most characteristic Catalonian popular dance, other groups also Catalonian popular dance, other groups also practice practice Ball de Ball de bastonsbastons, or , or jotajota in the in the southern part. Musically the southern part. Musically the HavaneresHavaneres are are also characteristic in the marine localities of also characteristic in the marine localities of the the Costa BravaCosta Brava specially during the specially during the summer months when these songs are sung summer months when these songs are sung outdoors accompanied by a of burned rum. outdoors accompanied by a of burned rum. As opposed to other parts of Spain, As opposed to other parts of Spain, flamencoflamenco is not popularly performed, but is not popularly performed, but rather the rather the rumbarumba is a more prevalent dance is a more prevalent dance style.style.

In the greater celebrations other elements of In the greater celebrations other elements of the Catalonian popular culture are usually the Catalonian popular culture are usually present: the parades of present: the parades of gegantsgegants (giants) (giants) and and correfocscorrefocs of devils and firecrackers. of devils and firecrackers.

THE FOODTHE FOOD

EscalivadaEscalivada (various grilled vegetables) (various grilled vegetables) EscudellaEscudella (a stew with rice) (a stew with rice) OlladaOllada or "Putxero" (val.) (Meat and or "Putxero" (val.) (Meat and

vegetable stew) vegetable stew) or "esgarrat"" (val.) (or "esgarrat"" (val.) (salted codsalted cod salad with salad with

tomato and onion) tomato and onion) Mongetes amb Mongetes amb botifarrabotifarra (beans and pork (beans and pork

sausage) sausage) Pa Pa ambamb tomàquettomàquet (bread smeared with an (bread smeared with an

olive oil, garlic and tomato sauce) olive oil, garlic and tomato sauce) Tonyina en escabetxTonyina en escabetx ( (tunatuna escabecheescabeche) ) (a seafood casserole) (a seafood casserole) Savoury Savoury Coca (pastry)Coca (pastry) EmbotitsEmbotits, a generic name for different kinds , a generic name for different kinds

of cured of cured porkpork meat), including meat), including FuetFuet (a (a characteristic type of dried sausage) and characteristic type of dried sausage) and Salchichón or Llonganissa (salami). Salchichón or Llonganissa (salami).

Calçots (specially cultivated onions, grilled Calçots (specially cultivated onions, grilled and served as a and served as a "Calçotada""Calçotada") )

(cooked snails) (cooked snails) Catalan cream.Catalan cream.

Important things Important things

SAGRADA FAMILIA in Barcelona

BARÇA, a important team of Catalonia

THE BULLI, the best restaurant in Spain

THE SEU VELLA in Lleida

Catalunya triomfant,Catalunya triomfant,tornarà a ser rica i plena.tornarà a ser rica i plena.Endarrera aquesta gentEndarrera aquesta genttan ufana i tan superba.tan ufana i tan superba.

Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Defensors de la terra!Defensors de la terra!Bon cop de falç!Bon cop de falç!

Ara és hora, segadors.Ara és hora, segadors.Ara és hora d'estar alerta.Ara és hora d'estar alerta.Per quan vingui un altre junyPer quan vingui un altre junyesmolem ben bé les eines.esmolem ben bé les eines.

Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Defensors de la terra!Defensors de la terra!Bon cop de falç!Bon cop de falç!

Que tremoli l'enemicQue tremoli l'enemicen veient la nostra ensenya.en veient la nostra ensenya.Com fem caure espigues d'or,Com fem caure espigues d'or,quan convé seguem cadenes.quan convé seguem cadenes.

Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Bon cop de falç,Defensors de la terra!Defensors de la terra!Bon cop de falç! Bon cop de falç!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10CDqx8XeiE&feature=related