Catalonia

Catalonia, region in northeastern Spain, comprising the provinces of Lérida, Gerona, Barcelona, and Tarragona. It was occupied by the Romans and Goths, who called it Gothalonia. It maintained its own customs and language after its union with Aragon in 1137. There is also a rich body of Catalan literature. It is now the chief industrial area of Spain, and is dependent on the interior for grain and protected markets. It experienced a brief period of independence during the 1930s. In 1980 the Spanish government handed over certain limited functions to a Catalan regional government with its own parliament and premier.

See also: Spain.