Catalogna

Catalogna, known in Catalan as Catalunya and in Spanish as Cataluña, is an autonomous community of Spain located in the northeastern part of the country. It borders Aragon to the west, Valencia to the south, the Pyrenees and the French and Andorran alps to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. The capital and largest city is Barcelona. The territory covers about 32,000 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 7.8 million people.

Catalogna has its own self-government under the framework of the Spanish constitution. It has the Generalitat of Catalonia, a bicameral Parliament, and a regional presidency. The Statute of Autonomy defines competencies in areas such as education, health, transport, and culture. Catalan and Spanish are official languages; Catalan is widely used in administration and daily life.

The region has a diversified economy with a strong services sector, manufacturing, tourism, and port activity centered on Barcelona and Tarragona. It is one of Spain's most dynamic economic regions; GDP share is significant.

Historically part of the Crown of Aragon, Catalonia retained distinct institutions until incorporated into the centralized Bourbon state after 1714. Following Spain's transition to democracy, Catalonia obtained autonomous status with the 1979 Statute of Autonomy, later revised in 2006. In 2017, the Catalan Parliament approved a declaration of independence following an unauthorized referendum; the Spanish government suspended autonomy under Article 155.

Catalan culture is anchored in the Catalan language and regional traditions, with notable architecture of Modernisme (Gaudí), literature, cuisine, and festivals such as La Mercè. The region is known for dishes like pa amb tomàquet and calçots, and for crafts such as castells and human towers.