Catalonia or Catalunya or Cataluña

Catalonia is found huddled in the north-eastern corner of Spain. It was once an independent kingdom and still, today, it seems like a different land. Catalonia is not only different in its landscape and cuisine but also its language - Catalan.

It has some of Spain’s finest beaches - the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada Golden Coast on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The inland granite peaks of the Pyranees rise sharply from these shores to over 3000m. Diverse, different, independent and stunning are the words that spring to mind in connection with Catalonia.

It is an area with excellent walking and good skiing, beautiful villages and superb architecture, weird fiestas and superb sparkling cava.

The powerful River Ebro cuts deep ravines through this land, creating magnificent rugged views with lush green valleys that are fed by this mighty river which is famous for some of the best angling waters in Europe.

The River Ebro discharges into the Mediterranean where its delta sticks out 20km into the water near Catalonia´s southern border with Valencia. Around half the delta is used to grow rice grow, and the rest of the delta is one of northern Spain´s most important habitats for water-birds.

Some of the best diving on the whole of the Spanish coast can be found on the rugged Costa Brava coast, and there are many diving schools that offer tuition for all levels.

Head inland from Tarragona with the Pyranees to your north and the Ebro river is never far away - unchanged and undemanding whitewashed villages lie as if waiting for time to pass. Many have only a third of their fomer population as the younger ones head away from the agricultural life into the larger towns and cities.

Codorniu and Freixenet, two of the larger cava producing cellars are open to the public for visits and tastings in the cava producing capital of Sant Sadurni d’Anoia.

Sitges has played host to the Sitges International Film Festival for over forty years, it takes place every autumn and is now a serious attraction in the world of film.

Barcelona and Girona International airports make this is a great escape weekend with cities of culture and beaches not far away - but far enough for the mass holiday makers not to intrude on your peace. The choice of where to stay is varied there are multitudes of campsites that have bungalows or log cabins to rent either in the country or near the coast. Hostels, hotels casas rurales – self-catering homes abound nearer the towns and of course the Govenrment Paradors offering 4 and 5* luxury.

Here is the official website for Catalunya.

Pyranees from Girona Airport

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