CATAUÑA

PROVINCES: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona

Cataluña is the northeastern most region (autonomous community) in Spain. It borders France and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Spanish regions of Aragon to the west and the Valencian Community to the south. It's capital is Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain and famous for the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí.

Catalan is one of the three official languages in Cataluña. The other official languages are Spanish and Aranese, a dialect of Gascon Occitan spoken in the Aran Valley.

The climate of Catalonia is diverse. The areas lying by the coast in Tarragona, Barcelona and Girona feature a Mediterranean climate. The inland part show a mostly continental Mediterranean climate. The Pyreneean peaks have a mountain or even Alpine climate at the highest summits.