Cultural Highlights of Catalunya

Historically, Catalunya has differed in culture from the rest of Spain. Having enjoyed independence with its own government, language and customs, it is a unique territory in that it has tried, rather successfully, to preserve its Catalan heritage. It mixes the modern quite naturally with the ancient to form a wonderful collage of buildings, museums, shopping centers, and natural resorts.

Catalunya is well noted for many cultural aspects of its heritage such as art, architecture, wineries, Roman ruins, its own Romance language, the great religious works and buildings such as cathedrals, convents and monasteries. As well, the people have done an excellent job of promoting Catalunya’s assets to the point of becoming one of the most visited tourist areas in Europe.

Moreover, the festivals in Catalunya pay homage to its past keeping the roots and origins of the territory alive and current with the younger generations. The traditional folk dances, the fire run, amazing human castles and the re-enactment of ancient plays help to keep the history, customs and rituals of Catalunya alive. When visiting Catalunya, it is a good idea to check the calendar in advance so that one can participate or at least watch one of these spectacular performances. It would be a shame to miss something so grand.

With the many rivers and streams and the natural environment of Catalunya, many people head to the territory for the wonderful spas and wellness centers. One would not expect a spa to be “cultural” but indeed, in Catalunya, spas have historical significance due to the fact that the ancient Romans and Greeks used the area’s waters for healing and rejuvenation purposes. Barcelona is noted for its thermal villages that are usually surrounded by grandiose ancient buildings and gardens.

Other cultural areas include the natural parks of Catalunya. In an attempt to preserve the old and original landscape, the territory has deemed many areas as having ecological importance and thus made them natural reserves. Some examples are The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Ebro Delta Nature Reserve, Montseny Natural Park, Garraf Park and the Poblet Mountain Range.

Most of the hotels in Barcelona specifically and in other cities of Catalunya are restored ancient buildings. Castles and monasteries from as early as the twelfth century form the present day accommodations for many travelers. Great pains are taken to maintain the beauty and originality of the old architecture and furnishings of ancient buildings. In fact, Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is a well-preserved medieval district.

Sculptures, fountains and historic monuments are found all over Catalunya. Museums in honor of dead painters, famous architects and historic landmarks are numerous. Indeed, Catalunya has produced many famous creative people. And UNESCO has named several buildings and nature areas World Heritage Sites.

Even the theme parks are built with cultural importance in mind. El Poble Espanyol de Barcelona, built in 1929, was created with the express purpose of building a traditional Iberian village complete with one hundred and sixteen buildings all representing important facets of Spain. Catalunya en Miniatura is a miniature version of Catalunya’s important buildings.

And when highlighting Catalunya’s culture, a description would not be complete without mentioning the food and wines of the territory. Traditional Catalan meals are different depending on the area of Catalunya, whether it be high in the mountains, seaside or in the cities. Additionally, each month of the year seems to have its own specialty. What makes Catalunya different from other tourist areas is that one can find the local food being served in many restaurants. One of the most interesting facets of Catalan cooking is the pairing of foods from the land with foods from the sea. For example a stew might include both chicken and crayfish.

Finally, one cannot ignore the grand wines from some of the oldest cellars in the world. Catalunya takes pride in this old tradition and aggressively seeks to keep its prestigious heritage alive.