Outline of Catalonia

With 7,7 million inhabitants, it is the second most populous Spanish autonomous community, as well a major industrial and touristic powerhouse.

Once a polity within the Crown of Aragon known as the Principality of Catalonia, it was integrated in to the Monarchy of Spain at the beginning of the 16th century.

It lost its separate status, public law and institutions in 1714, after Bourbon victory on the War of the Spanish Succession.

Throughout the nineteenth century, it became an industrial center while workers' movements and Catalan nationalism appeared.

The dictatorship of Francisco Franco abolished autonomy and repressed liberties and Catalan culture and language.