Catalonia - Art and Culture 2018

Architecture Stones that talk

One night, 5,000 years ago in the natural area of l’Albera (Costa Brava), a community was shaken by the death of its chief. And among the sadness and fear of forgetting the chief, someone had the idea of raising large slabs vertically and placing another horizontal stone on them. Today in Catalo- nia, we can still admire the dolmens that stand in memory of those men and women who left mark. The Jewish community, which was very im- portant in Catalonia between the 10th century and the time when they were expelled in the 15th century, left signs of their presence. Visitors can admire the Jewish quarter in Girona, where they can still explore its narrow and steep streets, go into the synagogues whose beautiful courtyards are filled with colourful floral decorations every May, visit the Jewish History Museum or the Bonestruc ça Porta Centre. Not very far away, in Besalú , visitors will find one of the three miqvé or Jewish baths remaining on the continent. In Tortosa, a 5th century synagogue can be ad- mired as well. Barcelona’s Jewish Quarter also invites visi- tors to wander through its winding streets brim- Prehistoric monuments, synagogues, maze-like districts... This is how we see the legacy of the different cultures that have inhabited Catalonia. From the dolmens to the Jewish ghettos

Mysterious dolmens, arrogant castles, luminous cathedrals... Visiting these sites is a thrilling way to discover the history of humanity.

© imagen m.a.s.

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A walk through time Catalonia’s 32,108 km 2 allows visitors to conduct a day trip through history, starting with a dolmen, such as the Creu d’en Cobertella Dolmen (Costa Brava), continuing on to visit and learn about the Cardona Castle (Paisatges Barcelona), experiencing the feeling of being in a mediaeval religious site through places such as the Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery (Pirineus), and learning about the progress Catalonia made during the Industrial Revolution through visits to locations such as the Colonia Vidal, in Puig-reig (Paisatges Barcelona). In the great Catalan capital cities, the architecture of the late 19 th century and early 20th Century has become a demonstration of power and refinery of the bourgeoisie, as in the case of the house of Navàs de Reus (Costa Daurada). Today, singular buildings appear that are important for their use or for the art, like Torre Glòries (Barcelona).

o remember loved ones, to defend oneself or to show one’s own power ... Architecture has left its mark on Catalonia since Neolithic

ming with history and legends and located in a district occupied by bookbinders, goldsmiths, doctors, and lawyers. On more than one occa- sion, they all descended the stairs leading to the ancient synagogue in calle de Sant Domènec del Call, a construction which is believed to date from the 9th century and which is not only the oldest synagogue in the city, but is also the oldest syna- goge in Europe.

the courtyard of the bonestruc ça porta centre in girona, and the gentile stone dolmen on the costa brava.

times and has changed the landscape with constructions that speak of other times. One million and a half visitors bear witness to this every year when they visit the Dalinian Triangle of Figueres, Portlligat, and Púbol (Costa Brava), the Vall de Boí (Pirineus) and la Pedrera (Barcelona), to mention just three great tourist landmarks.

cardona castle.

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© lluís carro

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