Catalonia

Situated in a triangular section of northeastern Spain, Cataluña is historically and in modern times an autonomous region of Span. One of the first Roman possessions in Spain, it was occupied by Goths in the 5th century, captured by the Moors in 712, and taken over by Charlemagne in the late 8th century. It united with Aragón under the same king in 1137. It was independent from Spain from 1640 to 1653. Its autonomy was prohibited by royal decree in 1716. A separatist movement revived in the 19th century. Today it is the most highly industrialized autonomous community of Spain. Most Catalan towns are along the Mediterranean shoreline and coastal plains. Inland agricultural products include traditional wine, almonds, grapes, olive oil for export, and, more recently, fruits and vegetables.