is Catalonia is What it like When we try to describe Catalonia to those who know nothing about us, we tell them we are home to the sea and the mountain, a land that is ancient and avant-garde, a place of adventure and tranquillity, rural and cosmopolitan, modern and old, active and calm, sweet and bitter, serious and joyful. What other place on earth presents people with such a positive, quality offering of so many different things? is Catalonia home to the high mountains and recalls the ancient history of theVal d’Aran. It is the land of the inland strength of Terres de Lleida. The vivid colours of Costa del Garraf. The magical landscapes 4 of the Pirineus. The water horizons of Terres de l’Ebre. The appealing nature of Costa del Maresme. The cosmopolitan energy of Barcelona. The shimmering beaches of Costa Daurada. The Costa Brava, where the mountain meets the sea. The historical heritage of Catalunya Central. VAL D’ARAN PIRINEUS COSTA BRAVA 5 CATALUNYA CENTRAL TERRES DE LLEIDA COSTA DEL MARESME BARCELONA COSTA DEL GARRAF A E S COSTA DAURADA N A E N A R R E T D I M E TERRES DE L’EBRE 6 7 sea and mountains sea and mountains In Catalonia, the mountains and the sea are cheek by jowl. The Cap de Creus and the whole of the form the bright, pleasant Costa Brava meeting point between the sea and the mountains, 8 a land of rugged cliffs and idyllic coves, inviting hidden beaches and pinewoods that run all the way to the water. The whole of Catalonia is shrouded in this spirit. It is where the mountains are a stone’s throw from the sea. The sea is close to the highest peaks. The snow close to the beaches. The Mediterranean by the high mountains. Green alongside blue. 9 sea and mountains Catalonia is a Mediterranean landand its history has been shaped by the sea. The coast is 580 kilometres long and runs from Cap de Creus in northern Catalonia to Terres de l’Ebre to the south. The imprint of the sea is one of the major traits of Catalonia’s character and sailing activities are a great way to discover it. All along the Catalan coast there are many natural places that are essential for Southern Europe’s fauna, including the Delta de l’Ebre Nature Park and the Empordà Marshes – two of the largest bird habitats on the Mediterranean; or the Illes Medes Marine Reserve, a spot that is vitally important owing to its seabed, and which constitutes one of the foremost places in Europe for controlled scuba diving. Catalonia has built up a major network which today has 46 marinasand provision for almost 15,000moorings. There are also five yachting resortsand many certified recreational and tourist areas that are ideal for many varieties of water sports tourismand which likewise offer a whole host of amenities such as accommodation, restaurants, nearby tourist attractions and services for the maintenance of boats. 10 This infrastructure and seafaring traditionhas led to Catalonia’s water sports calendar being full of competitions for all levels and types of boat. Moreover, with over a million cruise passengers every year the port of Barcelona has built a reputation as the foremost port in Europe and on the Mediterranean and it currently has seven terminals which have capacity for 10vessels at any time. Other ports such as Tarragona and Palamós, which also receive vessels all year round, are also earning an increasing share in this sector. With the coves dottedalong the Costa Brava and the Costa del Garraf and the long sandy beachesof Costa del Maresme and Costa Daurada, the Catalan coast is ideal for relaxing on the Mediterranean sand or practising all kinds of water sports. Furthermore, there are many attractive coastal towns and villages, some of which have been designated World Heritage sites such as Empúries, the first Greek colony on the Iberian Peninsula, or Tarragona, formerly Tarraco, where one can find one of the largest ensembles of Roman remains on the Mediterranean. ACTIVITY: PAGE 46-47 SNOW: PAGE 46 NAUTICAL : PAGE 46 RURAL: PAGE 46 URBAN: PAGE 46 SPORTS: PAGE 47