Catalonia
Catalonia combines the mountain with the sea, reason why
their calm sand beaches, as it goes towards the French
border, become steeper and wilder. It’s located
in the Northeast end of Spain and has the second biggest
city of the country, Barcelona, that competes in many
aspects with the Spanish capital and sometimes it surpasses
it. It was the first industrial region of the country
and still continues maintaining the primacy. It’s
also the richest region. In Catalonia there are two official
languages: Spanish and Catalan.
Barcelona is the main industrial and commercial city of
Spain, in addition to be one of the most important Mediterranean
ports. One of the prettiest zones of the city is the Gothic
District. It’s unforgivable to lose a walk by the
Ramblas, the main artery of all the walkers that ends
at the sea, and also is worth the trouble to approach
the District of Grace. Among the most visited monuments
of the city are the Episcopal Palace, the Palace of the
Generalitat, the Seat of the King and the Seat of Catalonia.
But there is something absolutely exclusive of Barcelona,
the architectonic works of Antonio Gaudí: the Holy
Family Church, the Battlló House, the Milá
House and Park Güell.
The Costa Brava, called thus by the rustic coastline,
begins 65 km to the Northwest of Barcelona. The most interesting
places are Tossa del Mar -relatively little exploded-,
and Lloret del Mar, a first level tourist destiny. The
city of Gerona has a medieval city, and still conserves
a Jewish District. Other interesting sites to visit are
Figueres - where it is the Dalí Museum-; Cadaques,
a fishing town that was in addition the Dali home during
many years; and Empuries, that has very impressive Greco-Roman
ruins.
The Golden Coast extends from Barcelona to Tarragona and
is full of fine white sand beaches. The more interesting
towns and cities to visit are Sitges, Mont Blanc, Lleida,
Tarragona, Manresa, Salou and the famous Monastery of
Montserrat, where is the Black Virgin of Montserrat.
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