Regions of Spain : Catalonia -

Catalonia has a very marked culture of its own, most evidently of Mediterranean tradition, and is distinguished of most other Spanish regions in several aspects, not at least by its language, Catalonian (although everybody speaks and understands Castilian Spanish perfectly). Certainly it is one of the most cosmopolitan places in Spain, thanks to its long tradition of international commerce.
The coast offers ideal facilities for all sorts of water sports, but everywhere you will realize about that special talent to combine the beauty of nature or monuments with modern attractions, a main reason why Catalonia developed into one of the preferred tourist destinations.
Catalonia's excellent gastronomy is characterized by seafood, rice dishes, wines of great international reputation and traditional desserts like the famous "Catalonian Cream" [Crema Catalana].

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Major attractions

Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is known as Spain's sunny 'wild coast'. It is lined with rugged cliffs, sandy inlets and bustling holiday resorts. Here you will find long crescents of sand and shingle and the long beaches of the main resorts where all manners of water sports can be found. Estartit is great for scuba diving. There is a crammed marina here, filled with luxury yachts and one of the best sandy beaches on this part of the coast. Every resort along this stretch of coast has its own character and Tossa de Mar is no exception. Here are British-style pubs, late night clubs and lively bars. The town of Tossa de Mar also has narrow, twisting streets dating back to the 12th century.
With its good weather, great hotels, superb golf and varied nightlife Costa Brava has all the qualities to become the best new golf destination in Spain. more...
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Girona sits in the Ter valley and the city is split by the Onyar River which is best viewed from the ancient footbridge. Many tourists head here on day trips in the summer from the coast. The only way to see Girona is by foot and the best part to see is the Call, the old quarter with its narrow streets and steep alleyways.
In Girona you will discover 12th century Arab baths which, although restored, they give a good impression on how the ancient baths would have looked. Other sights include an impressive cathedral, the city walls, several churches, the City Hall and some important museums. The most important museum is the chapter museum where a rare collection of gold and silver items are on display. Most of the tourist sights can be found close to the river.
Girona is also a good place to shop. Being on the tourist trail you will find a wide selection of goods from cameras to t-shirts. A good place to start is Carrer Santa Clara, a very busy shopping street.
Girona also presents a good selection of restaurants and places to stay.
Girona offers a pleasant night life with endless tapas bars and cafes in the centre and scattered along La Rambla on the outskirts. Many people spend the evening hopping from one to another

Figueres
Figueres, county capital of Alt Empordà, extends over a river plain situated inland in the province of Girona. Known as the home of Salvador Dalí, this town with deep Catalan roots offers visitors the chance to go to the Dalí Theatre-Museum, dedicated to the genius of surrealist painting. It is a cultural range completed with various museums and a calendar full of festivals and events divided up throughout the year.
Figueres also has an important heritage of monuments, among which the old medieval walls and the castle of Sant Ferran are outstanding, as well as examples of Modernist and Neoclassical architecture which appear dotted around the city centre.
To the many attractions of Figueres, are added its excellent position, which enables you to discover the great tourist potential offered by beautiful parts of the Costa Brava.
Without doubt, however, one of the historical milestones that has left the greatest mark on the character of the town was the birth of Salvador Dalí. The Dalí Theatre-Museum, situated in the old municipal theatre, has become one of the main cultural places to see in the city. Designed by the artist himself, it holds an important exhibition, which, through numerous works, allows you to take a trip through the career of the main considered a master of Surrealism. The site was extended with the Torre Galatea, where the artistic genius died.
Another two museums complete Figueres' wide cultural offer: the Catalan Toy Museum, which exhibits an interesting collection of toys from different periods and the Empordà Museum, where you can penetrate the history and art of the county. All this will contribute to uncovering a town with a deep Catalan nature, as demonstrated by its being the home of the sardana, the typical Catalan dance.

Costa Dorada
The Costa Dorada, on the east side of Spain, runs from north of Barcelona to Tarragona and encompasses about 150 miles of golden beaches, hence its name 'the Gold Coast'. The safe, shallow waters found in Salou and Cambrils are perfect for the small children.
Sitges is a little more relaxed and sophisticated. Wherever you find yourself make sure you check out the local Catalan dishes, many of which are based on fresh fish caught locally. The whole coast has a reputation for its friendly informality, its glorious beaches and almost endless sunshine.

Tarragona
The Romans saw the importance of the location of Tarragona in the 3rd centtury B.C when they set up military and political headquarters there. The strategic location, mild climate and the local wine were an ideal combination. Known as Tarraco, it became the capital of the Roman's biggest Spanish province. It grew to a population of around 30,000 and had its own money mint. So much was built here by the Romans and so much remains here its like stepping back in time.
Tarragona is 98km from Barcelona, within Catalonia.
All over Tarragona you will see remnants of the Roman Empire, from simple columns to a full size amphitheatre along the beach edge. During excavations here in 1953, an early Christian church was discovered. Above this site is what's called the Balco de Maditerrani, a cliffside promenade that offers unbeatable views over the sea.
Close to the central market lie the excavated remains of the Roman Forum where you can wander and wonder on what the shops and amenities looked like in Roman times.
On the edge of the city, over-looking the River Francoli is an extraordinary museum, quite unique. The Necropoli i Museu Paleocristia is a cemetery for Tarragona's early Christians. The museum which is about the size of three football pitches has observation platforms looking over hundreds of graves, left as they were discovered.
The Cathedral is a 'must-see'. Built in 1171 on the site of a Roman temple to Jupiter, it has 19 chapels in all. Inside you will also find the museum with a wealth of important artefacts.
If history is your scene then this is the place to be and just for good measure is a wonderful beach. There are ample hotels, bars, restaurants and shops.

Lleida (Lerida)
In the centre of the fertile plain of the river Segre sits Lleida, a city which has played host to several cultures through its history. Prominent atop a hill in the historic quarter of the city is the old cathedral or Seu Vella, symbol of the capital.
This exceptional location of fertile lands first attracted the Iberian "ilergete" tribe in the 5th century BC, the people who gave rise to this city which later passed into the hands of the Romans under the name of Ilerda.
The hill was and continues to be the centre of Lleida. The highest point in the city bears remains of buildings left by the different peoples to have settled in the area. Chief among them is the Seu Vella or Old Cathedral, a Gothic Romanesque temple which began to be built at the beginning of the 13th century and which is noteworthy for having a plan at odds with the canons of the age, with the cloisters situated in the front part of the building.
A few metres from the old cathedral premises are the surviving ruins of the old walls which once circled the city and some walls from the Zuda, an Arab fortress from the 9th century.
The rest of Lleida's historic quarter preserves picturesque corners such as Plaza de la Paeria, where the City Hall is located, a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture from the 13th century.
The Cathedral square, meanwhile, has two outstanding buildings: The Seu Nova or New Cathedral, built in the Neoclassic style in the 18th century, and the Hospital de Santa María, a former convent which houses an interesting flamboyant Gothic interior courtyard.
Other buildings worth visiting are the Casino Principal, a 19th century construction, the Episcopal Palace and the church of Sant Llorenç (13th century), Romanesque in style with a great many Gothic additions.
Lleida is a city which also offers a wide variety of options, from shopping on the streets of Sant Antoni or Carrer Major, to a quiet stroll along the banks of the river Segre or along the tree-lined Rambla de Ferrán.