Cataluna is made up of four provinces - Barcelona, Girona,
Tarragona and Lleida (Lerida), each with a capital city of the
same name. Barcelona is the place people want to visit and the
capital is now very much an international city. The area enjoys
a varied landscape from the high sierras of the Pyrenees, to
the Mediterranean coast and the central lowlands. There are two
Cataluna coastlines - the Costa Brava with its cliffs and deep
coves (Costa is Catalan for coast and Brava means Rugged) - and
the Costa Dorada (Gold Coast) with long, wide and gentle beaches.
There are three airports - Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona. There
are two international rail stations at Estacion de Sants and
Estacion de Francia, both in Barcelona.
Manresa is located about 40 miles
north of Barcelona, situated at the crossroads of two strategic
communication axes in Cataluna: the Llobregat Axis and the Transverse
Axis.
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The Llobregat Axis goes through the
Bages region from north to south, crossing Manresa, and it is
the quickest way between Barcelona and the Pyrenees. The Transverse
Axis crosses the Bages region from east to west, passing again
through Manresa, and connects Lleida with Girona, two of the
four most important cities in Cataluna. Manresa is strategically
situated in the heart of this Axis. Manresa is an interesting
town historically - the ancient quarter has a splendid Gothic
basilica known as La Seu, the Baroque Saint Ignatius and the
old Pont Vell over the river Cardener. In contrast is the modern
urban development along its main boulevard Passeig Pere III. |