Catalonia is located in northeastern Spain and is divided into four provinces containing 947 towns. Its history began with Guifré el Pilós in the 9th century and it was later unified with the Crown of Aragon, expanding across the Mediterranean coast. In the 18th century, Catalonia lost rights after losing a war to Spain. Today, Catalonia enjoys more autonomy but some seek full independence. The region has a unique culture with its own language, flags, foods like pa amb tomàquet, and traditions like human towers called castells.

1. Catalonia

2. Location
It is in the north-east of Spain.
It is divided into four provinces,
which have 947 towns.

3. History
We know that the history of Catalonia starts with Guifré
el Pilós. When he was injured during a battle, he put his
fingers in his wound then he drew four lines on a shield,
with his blood. Those four lines now form our catalan flag.

4. History
Then, Catalonia was unified with the crown of Aragon.
The Catalan kings expanded their territory across the
Mediterranean coast and took control of Mallorca, Valencia,
Sicily, Corsica, Sardignia and Naples.

5. History
In 1714, Barcelona lost a war against Spain, and its rights were
abolished in the “Decret de Nova Planta”.
At the end of the XIX century, Catalan people lived a golden era
because their councils started working again.
But there was a civil war in the XXth Century (1936-1939), with a
long, dark period under Francisco Franco, who prohibited speaking
Catalan, so this was another difficult age.

6. History
Democracy came to Catalonia again in 1977, with
Josep Tarradellas as our President.
The president of Catalonia today is Artur Mas.

7. Flags
Flag of Barcelona
This is the official flag of Barcelona. It
has represented the city since 1906.

8. Flags
Catalan flag “Senyera”
This flag is the official Catalan flag, which
has represented the nation (Catalonia) since
1187.

9. Flags
Flag for Independence “Estelada”
A lot of Catalan people aren’t happy with
Catalonia being a part of Spain. They feel
different and they want to be a new country.

10. Flags
The Reason for
Separatism
Galicia Catalonia
Euskadi
Historically, there are three regions whithin Spain,
Catalonia, Euskadi and Galicia, which were different
kingdoms with different languages too.
Euskadi was added to Castilla (future Spain) in 1035, Galicia
in 1230, and Catalonia finally in 1479.

11. Flags
Spanish Flag
This is the official Spanish flag, which
has represented the country since 1978.

12. Symbols
“Barretina”
“Barretina” is our typical hat and has been
used in Catalonia since the XVII century.
Now it is worn in folk acts. It can be red
or purple.

13. Symbols
“Ase català”
“Ase” means “donkey”, and it is one of our symbols. Spanish
people also have an animal as a symbol, but it is the bull.

14. Symbols
El “Caganer”
One of our most popular
traditions from the
XVII and XVIII
centuries. Little
children always put it in
their Nativity scenes,
and it is always present
in every Catalan home.

15. Landscapes
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a big range of mountains, located in
the north of Spain, they are the natural border
between Catalonia (Spain) and France.

16. Landscapes
The Ebro River
The Ebro is the largest river by water volume and the
second longest river in Spain.

17. Landscapes
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is a 60 km long coastline located in the
province of Girona. The climate, the beach and the beauty of
the landscape make of it an important tourist attraction.

18. Architecture
“La Masia”
The typical Catalan house is called “Masia”. It is a rural
construction, where farmers live and work. However,
today some people have restored them to live there
without working the fields

19. Sagrada
Família
Art
Modernism
Palau
de la
Música
Parc Güell
Casa
Batlló
It’s the most important art movement in Catalonia,
developed between 1885 and 1920.

20. Monuments
“Empúries”
“Empúries” are ruins from the
IXth century BC. They are located
in Sant Martí d’Empúries.

21. Monuments
Tarraco
“Tarraco” was the Roman name of a Catalan city. Today it is
Tarragona and has 14 Roman monuments

22. Monuments
Montserrat’s monastery
It is 50 km far from
Barcelona. It was founded
in 1025. Its basilica
contains the Moreneta
Statue, a black Virgin
from the XII century.

24. Monuments
Dalí Theater-Museum
Dalí was a Catalan Modernist
artist.

25. Monuments
“Palau de la Música”
“Palau de la música” is a concert hall.It was inaugurated in
1908.

26. Monuments
Antoni Gaudí
La Pedrera Casa Batlló Parc Güell

27. Monuments
Sagrada Familia

28. Our Food
“Embotits”
“Embotits” consist of hashed meat, generally pork, with
spices. The most famous Catalan “Embotits” are: Catalan
“botifarra”(often eaten with beans), “Fuet”, “Sobrassada”,
and Spanish ham and “Chorizo”

29. Our Food
“Pa amb
Tomàquet”
“Pa amb tomàquet” consists of bread rubbed with tomato
and seasoned with olive oil and salt. It goes with cold meat,
fish, cheese... Almost everything.

30. Our Food
“Paella”
“Paella” is a typical rice dish. The boiled rice can be cooked
with meat, fish and seafood. And some vegetables always come
with it. It originally comes from Valencia.

31. Our Food
“Cargols”
and
“Calçots”
“Cargols” (snails in Catalan) and “Calçots” (long onions
with a special flavour) , are often eaten in Catalonia.

32. Our Food
“Ensaïmada”
and
“Coca”
“Coca” and “Ensaïmada” are traditional handmade pastries
created in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

33. Traditions
“Sardana”
The “Sardana” is our traditional dance which
originated in the 16th century. It is performed at
every festivity.

34. Traditions
“Correfocs”
“Correfocs” are one of the most important
performances in Catalan festivities. A group of
people dress as devils and set off fireworks while
drums are being played.

35. Traditions
“Gegants”
and
“Capgrossos”
“Gegants” and “Capgrossos” are costumed figures which are
exhibited in Catalan festivities. A person goes inside the
figure and makes it dance.

36. Traditions
“Castells”
“Castells” are human towers built in all Catalan festivities
and festivals. Many villages have a group of people who
train every week.

37. Traditions
Clothes
“Castellers” are the people who build
“Castells”. They wear special clothes, to help
others climb.

38. Traditions
The music
It is typical to play music while the people are climbing
the tower. The instruments played are “gralla”, a flute
with a very loud sound, and drums

39. Traditions
“Castells”
“Castells” were declared UNESCO World Heritage. In this
video you can see the highest “Castell” built ever.

40. Festivities
“Diada de
Sant Jordi”
This festivity is celebrated on April 23rd every
year. Men give women a rose and women give men
a book.

41. Festivities
“Castanyada”
“Castanyada” is celebrated every October 31st, like
Halloween. The tradition consists of eating chestnuts
and “Panellets”, a typical marzipan sweet.

42. So... How are Catalan
People?
If we ask ordinary people how to describe ourselves as
members of the same community, these words pop up:
-Hard-working
-Proud of our origins
-Serious (but not always!)
-Honest and generous
-Very traditional
-Family lovers
-Music lovers
-Stubborn (sometimes)
-Creative
-Sporty
Don’t you think we
probably share
most of those
characteristics?

43. The End