The North and South of Catalonia
Incredible Catalonia
The region of Catalonia is marked by endless blue sea of the Mediterranean or verdant mountains of the Pyrenees, yet it’s fulfilled with an amazing history from Muslims and Romans times.
Northern Catalonia’s largest city, Girona is a jewelry box of museums, galleries, Gothic churches, Romanesque Monastery with maze-like cobbled lanes and medieval walls. The cultural melting pot is due to its history. When the city was taken from the Muslims by the Franks in the late 8th century, Girona became the capital of one of Catalonia’s most important counties, falling under the sway of Barcelona in the late 9th century. Girona’s wealth in medieval times produced many Romanesque and Gothic buildings that have survived to repeated attacks, while a Jewish community flourished until its expulsion in 1492.
Tarragona is the main town of Southern Catalonia, an effervescent port city, where Roman history is complemented with beautiful beaches and a delicious gastronomy that perfumes the air with freshly grilled seafood. The city’s biggest gem is Roman archaeological complex of Tarraco and the Cistercian monastery of Poblet, both monuments are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Roman times, Tarragona was one of the finest and most important outposts of the Roman Empire, literally making the city exude history.