When I was walking down Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma, there was a photographic exhibition sponsored by the government of Cataluña, Spain's region along the Mediterranean next to the border of France. (Cataluña, whose language is Catalán, has a long history of independence going back to medieval times, and there are those who would still wish to see the region separate Spain.)
Here are a few of the photos...
A view of the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Empúries
This trading port on the Mediterranean coast was founded in 580 B.C. Its name gave us the English word "emporium".
The town of Besalú
This town is noted for its Roman bridge. It was a regional capital in the days of Charlemagne.
Home of Salvador Dalí in Port Lligat
The famous painter bought a number of houses along the coast and consolidated them into a mansion filled with his surrealistic art. His home is now a museum.
Tossa del Mar
A castle was built in the 11th century to fortify this coastal town. The castle is gone, but the medieval walls and towers still remain.
The distinctive rock formations of Montserrat, a mountain range to the west of Barcelona.
Barcelona, the capital and largest city of Cataluña
You can make out, just above the center of the photo, the famous Church of the Holy Family, designed by the architect Antoní Gaudí. It was begun in 1882 and is still under construction.
The delta of the Ebro River
The mouth of Spain's largest river includes a wildlife sanctuary where flock of flamingos nest.
The snow-covered peaks of the Pyrenees
The Pyrenees form the border between Spain and France.
I have been to Barcelona four times, but this photo exhibit makes me want to return and see more of Cataluña beyond its capital city.
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