Culture and leisure

Catalonia (capital city: Barcelona), established as an autonomous community of the Spanish state, is a historical nationality located in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. It borders Andorra and France to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. It covers an area of 32,108.2 km² and has an estimated population of 8,146,265 inhabitants.

According to the framework established by the Statute of Autonomy of Catalunya, it exercises self-government within the Spanish state through the institutions of the Government of Catalonia. Above all, Catalunya is characterised by its own identity, defined by its language, culture, and a long institutional tradition.

With a plural, open, and cohesive society, Catalunya stands out both for the richness of its territory and for the vitality of Catalan, its own language. For international students, it offers a dynamic academic environment, high-quality universities, and an enriching cultural experience in a multilingual and welcoming context.

Creativity, the ability to absorb diverse influences, coexistence, and tolerance have shaped a culture that is both national and cosmopolitan.

The linguistic richness of Catalunya is the result of its history. Before the consolidation of Catalan and the other Romance languages, people in the territory wrote in Latin, Christians wrote in Latin, Muslims in Arabic, and Jews in Hebrew.

Catalan emerged between the 8th and 10th centuries as an evolution of Latin, just like Spanish, French, Italian, and the other Romance languages.

93.8% of the population of Catalunya understands Catalan, which is an official language alongside Spanish and Aranese. In addition to Catalunya, Catalan is also spoken in other territories, especially in the Valencian Community (where it is called Valencian), the Balearic Islands, Andorra, southern France, the city of Alghero on the island of Sardinia, and part of Aragon (La Franja). In total, it is estimated that around nine million people speak it and eleven million understand it.

As for Spanish, virtually the entire population understands it (98.9%) and speaks it (96.4%).

If you are interested in learning Catalan, you will find many resources available.

The Catalan culture has developed, over the centuries, a distinctive yet universal identity. New artistic and intellectual movements have traditionally entered Catalunya strongly, thanks to its geographical position, open to the countries of the Mediterranean and Europe, and also thanks to the attraction and pioneering spirit generated by its capital, Barcelona.

Numerous writers, artists, and intellectuals, through their art and knowledge, have helped to elevate the name of Catalunya and bring it to almost every corner of the world.

Popular festivals are a strong reflection of how the people of Catalunya have preserved their cultural heritage. In this sense, the most modern trends coexist in harmony with deeply rooted traditions. A good example is the castells, a tradition of human towers from the counties of Tarragona that has spread to other parts of the territory and gained international fame, or the Patum of Berga, celebrated in mid-June and declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

On 23 April, Saint George’s Day (Diada de Sant Jordi), Catalunya celebrates a festival of love and culture, symbolised by the rose and the book. Streets in all cities and towns are filled with book and rose stalls, where citizens exchange gifts with their loved ones. This Catalan tradition has achieved great international visibility in recent years, and UNESCO has declared 23 April World Book and Copyright Day.

On 11 September, the National Day of Catalunya takes place. It commemorates the loss of Catalan liberties and institutions following the defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. The commemoration aims to remember the desire to preserve identity, and across Catalunya countless institutional and public events are held.