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INTRODUCCION
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The capital of Catalonia is Barcelona. With
ample beaches and mild climate, the first
touristical attraction. One shouldn't forget is
that Catalonia offers as well high mountain
ranges, the Pyrenees in the north, the curious
formations of Montserrat, the inactive volcans
of Garrotxa,all the buildings that the romans
leave in Tarragona and Empuries.
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Is distinguished of most other Spanish regions
in several aspects, not at least by their
languages, Catalonian and Aranese, although
everybody speaks and understands Spanish
perfectly.
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Everywhere you will combine the beauty of
nature or monuments with modern attractions,
a main reason why Catalonia developed into
one of the preferred touristical destinations.
WHAT IS CATALONIA?
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The capital city is Barcelona. Catalonia is divided
into four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida,
and Tarragona. Its territory corresponds to most of
the historical territory of the former Principality of
Catalonia.
Is an Autonomous Community in the northeast
part of Spain. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114
km² and has an official population of 7,210,508,
(which immigrants represent 12.3%). It borders
France and Andorra to the north, the Valencian
Community to the south, Aragon to the west,, and
the Mediterranean Sea to the east.
Catalonia ocupies a 6,3% the all the extension of
Spain.
The official flag of Catalonia is yellow with four red
bars the version of this legend explain that Guifré
el Pelós, drew the bars during the conquest, a
war drawing them in a golden shield.
It has been and is an important maritime region,
though subordinate to the Crown of Aragón when
it was at the height of its influence. Nowadays, it
is one of the more prosperous regions of Spain
and has far greater influence in Spanish and
European affairs than you would expect for its
size or its population, a mere 7 million.
CATALAN. A few of history
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Catalan (Català) is a Romance language understood by as many as 12
million people in portions of Spain, France, Andorra and Italy, and
spoken by more than 7 millions. Most of the active speakers are in
Spain and especially in Catalonia.
By the end of the 10th century Catalan was already a fully-formed
language, clearly distinguishable from its Latin origins. It appeared for
the first time in written documents in the second half of the 12th century
(a charter and six sermons); the Homilies of Organyà, written in the late
12th or early 13th centuries, is the first extant text written originally in
Catalan. Catalan poetry flourished from the 13th century, before which
time Catalan poets wrote in Provençal (Occitan). The first poet that
started to write was Ausiàs ;arch. And Ramon Llull the first who started
to write their books in Catalan. Both are very important for our culture.
GASTRONOMY
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Catalonia has a very marked culture of its own, most evidently of
Mediterranean tradition, and Certainly it is one of the most
important places in Spain, it’s long tradition of international
commerce.
Certainly it is one of the most cosmopolitan places in Spain, thanks
to its long tradition of international commerce.
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It’s impossible to resist the temptations of tapas, those miniature
offering of Spanish cuisine, best enjoyed with a glass in hand. Like
boquerones (anchovies in vinegar), chipirones (small squid) and
croquetas (Iberian ham croquettes in béchamel sauce).
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The most important markets in Spain are: Boqueria market, Santa
Caterina market (Barcelona) there are another's but are
occasionally. The stands are terrific, a mosaic of green, red, yellow
and orange- mountains of fruit. You can find a lot of traditional food
and drinks, jamónes ibéricos, chorizos, shellfish…
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Catalonia's excellent gastronomy is characterized by seafood, rice
dishes,( paella and others) wines of great international reputation,
also cava it’s like champagne and traditional desserts like the
famous "Catalonian Cream".
Most dishes are combined with a piece of bread smeared with
tomato olive oil and salt. Combine this with ham, cheese…is a very
traditional Catalan dish.
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CULTURE AND ART
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Catalonia has an original and interesting past as
far as it concerns to culture, however the present
is probably one of the most active periods in
history. During centuries catalonia has been the
gate to cultural manifestations for the whole
Iberian peninsula.
From the Romanesque pintures trough the years
our culture is very rich. And we stress someone's:
Painting and sculpture have also been very
important during the last century with, Salvador
Dali, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró , Antoni Tapies…
The best of know all of that is visit MNAC, the
greatest museum of art in Catalonia.
Design is the new area in which Catalonia is
focused. During the Barcelona Olympic Games
previous years the country started out a new
period and Barcelona became a city known
worldwide allowing Catalan design to become the
next national culture challenge for the country.
Architecture, with the little Romanesque churches
in the Pyrenees. The Renaissance period with its
baroque and neo-Classical. But especially the
Modernisme, the national art of catalonia with
architects like Antoni Gaudi and others.
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The most important artists:
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Salvador Dali: is of course the museum
dedicated to the artist.
Situated in Figueres.
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Gaudí: (sculptor) Art Nouveau Catalan style- are
as spectacular as ever. True sculptures in their
own right, their undulating facades seem to have
been carved directly in stone. The strange
chimneys look like mushrooms. Exhibition centre
and concert venue. He also built all the Gaudi
Pack.
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Pablo Picasso: In Barcelona there are a
museum Picasso.
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If you visit Barcelona, the best is: the narrow
streets, El Born, Barri Gòtic or el Raval districts.
Where you can find all the modern arquitecture:
buildings, houses, the streets… In special the
cathedrals : “Catedral del Mar”, “Catedral of
Barcelona”. Another cathedral very important is
“La Sagrada Família”.
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Barcelona have important buildins makes for
important architects Jean Nouvel (Torre Agbar),
Santiago calatrava (communication tower), 'Arata
Isozaki (Palau Sant Jordi), these are the new
skyline of Barcelona.
TRADITIONS
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Castellers: Castles, spectacular human towers. Six tiers is considered child's
play, nine is not uncommon. Competitions are held, and the real fun comes when
they have to get down.
Sant Jordi: St. George’s day, the day of the book. In this day the men gives a
rose to the women and the women gives a book to the men.
Sardanes: is the Catalan national folk dance and music, though originally only
from the north of the region. It is a circle dance, popular since at least the 16th
century. Its music usually by a sardana band called a cobla (which apparently
involves 11 musicians playing 12 instruments,
Tots Sants/Castanyada: It’s Halloween, but here we celebrated different, we go
to the cemetery, to visit our kill family, also we eat chestnuts and “panallets”, a
little ball sweet.
La Patum :a popular and traditional festival that is celebrated each year in the
Catalan city of Berga during the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. It consists of several
performances of mystical and symbolical figures that dance at the rhythm of a big
drum and vivid music.
Carnestoltes: A carnival, events are usually during February and March. Carnival
typically involves a public celebration where people often dress up or
masquerade during the celebration.
Correfocs: Firework processions with monstrous figures, particularly devils.
Tió de nadal: a character in Catalan mythology relating to a Christmas tradition
widespread in Catalonia. It’s a a dead piece of wood. n Christmas Eve, one puts
the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to "poop" in particularly presents.
Diada Nacional: Is the official of Catalonia, in 1714 we lost the war against
France.
MUSIC
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Opera: has been very important in catalonia. El Teatre
del Liceu in Barcelona is a well know opera house
worldwide and the real home for Catalan voices such as
Francesc Vinyas, Montserrat Caballé, or Josep Carreras
among others.
Classic music: Pau Casals, a member of the Catalan
opposition to Franco's regime and a renowned pacifist,
pianists such as Ricard Vinyes or Alícia de Larrocha, and
musicologist Jordi Savall, amongst many others, are the
best ambassadors of catalan classic music during the
last century.
Popular music: We can't forget the great composers of
sardanes, Catalonia 's national dance, such as Pep
Ventura or Juli Garreta, Anselm Clavé and prestigious
institutions such as the Orfeó Català.
During the last decades musicians in other stiles such as
Tete Montoliu and Jordi Rossy in jazz, Raimon, Joan
Manuel Serrat, Lluís Llach or Maria del Mar Bonet
amongst the singer-songwriters, Peretan gato Perez the
leading exponents of Catalan rumba.
Pau Casals in Catalonia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KVX6fKxojk
GEOGRAPHY
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The geography of Catalonia is divided in three parts: the mountains, the interior and the
coast.
Mountains: To the north the Pyrenees offer year-round sport facilities for skiers and
hikers. skirting crystal clear lakes and mountain ranges, such as the extinct volcanic
parklands around Olot, and further south, the stone spires of legendary Montserrat - a
mountain range so unique it has been declared a conservation area by UNESCO .
Interior: the mountains give way to Catalonia's fertile interior, with hillsides of vineyards
and fields interrupted by ridges.
Coast: the southwest, the land becomes flatter and more arid. Thanks to a irrigation
from the Ebro river this sun-baked region produces excellent wine, olive oil, and fruit.
the most important beaches are the Costa Brava ( Brava coast), Costa Daurada (Golden
Coast)…
Catalonia is excellent, and along with the land's topographical diversity, one should keep
in mind that cultural traditions, architecture, as well as gastronomy, differ from region to
region.
TOURISM
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Visitors generally only see a part of the real Catalonia: a seaside area, a ski resort, a
modern but historical city like Barcelona. There is nothing wrong with that, they are all
good reasons to visit the region, Catalans have the reputation of being hard-working
and money-loving, not necessarily in that order.
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The coast, is very touristic, where you can go, building sand castles, surfing or
playing volleyball by the other hand if you want to relax is better to sunbathe, swim,…
offers all of water sports, but also in the mountain you can do others activities, for
example danger sports. Is very typical to rend a rural house.
ADVENTURE PARKS
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Tibidabo: take the funicular enjoy the view from the
Tibidabo, far from atop the Tibidabo, opened in 1908,
has welcomed generation of Barcelona’s kids, there
are still no video games. The park includes merryporounds, automations, wooden horses, a Ferris.
There are panoramic view of the city is breathtaking.
Port Aventura: another park near Tarragona with a lot
of roller coasters, wooden horses, automatons… at
the top of the free fall you can see a panoramic view
of the beach is breathtaking.
BLIOGRAPHY
• http://www.telefonica.net/web2/catalannation/general.ht
m
• http://spainforvisitors.com/sections/catalonia.htm
• http://www.villasbarcelona.com/travelguide/geo.php
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalonia
• http://www.red2000.com/spain/region/r-catal.html
• A report of a magazine “10 reasons to visit Barcelona).
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditions_of_Catalonia
THE END
ANA BUENO AND MERCÈ GRAU.