comenius team in Palamós[ ]

fishing museum[ ]

besalú[ ]

dali museum[ ]

stª. maria de ripoll[ ] peratallada

[ ]

st. joan de les abadesses[ ]

girona[ ]

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Teachers’ welcome to the Comenius Pro-gram:

Good morning and welcome to the institute of Palamós to all of you who are with us this week to partici-pate in the activities of the Come-nius Program. Particularly and in a very special way to the teachers of the institutes of Alcanena (Portu-gal), Boras (Sweden), Buzau and Craiova (Romania), Kaunas (Lithua-nia) and Riga (Latvia) that take part in the project “MY RIVER, MY LIFE.

“It allows us to learn, through the water of our rivers, the culture, vegetation and history of the par-ticipating countries. I also want to welcome all the people who have accepted from the first moment and with a great interest to be involved in different talks and visits and of-fering us all their support, especially the City council of Palamós.

I think that to take part in a Multi-

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lateral Comenius program is more than producing some material on the topic we have chosen. We can learn by ourselves the reality, which is directly linked mainly with the education of the participating countries and the everyday of this neighborhood more or less distant from all over Europe. The human warmth has been always present in all the stays when visiting a part-nership country and this is a very interesting aspect.

I hope that this week will be very useful in terms of work and even more of human relationships be-tween people. I also hope that it will allow you to know about the reality of Catalonia so as you will have the curiosity to learn more and come back again.

I wish as a director of the institute and on behalf of all the teachers that the activities we have prepared are of your interest. I also wish you

a profitable in our home and that the objectives could be achieved.

Welcome to our school, that will be yours for this week, and have a very nice stay with us.

Thank you very much.

Lluïsa Teixidor MarimonPrincipal of INSTITUT PALAMÓS

welcome[ ]

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PALAMÓS ...

History: The first inhabitants

Human settlement in the current term is found in the dolmen of Montagut at the top of the Montagut hill , where we know about the human presence, without specifying the exact date between 2100 and 1500 BC. The first documented site is the Iberian Castle, a settlement that was formed at the beginning of the sixth century BC, discovered in 1935 by the Museum curator, Luis Barceló Ox. It was excavated in the 40s by Dr.. Pericot and Michael Oliva. The materials found show that it is one of the most important pre-Roman indigenous villages in the north-eastern Catalonia. In the Castle area, it has been found some lead in Iberian epigraphy one of the longest in Catalonia. The occupation of the settle-ment was possibly from the early sev-enth century BC to the first century AD. The Romanization, which began with the landing of the Roman consul Cato at the coast of Roses, in 195 BC, also left trac-es and some are still remaining today

at the hill of St. Stephen of Mar. At the Roman Villa, there is a large villa called the Palace, which belongs to the imperial periods. We lose the track of the living community up to the dates where there was life in the castle, Vila-romà, around the X-XI century. Perhaps a short time later, there is the castle of Sant Esteve de Mar, linked to the beginnings of the population and so Palamós entered into the history.

La Carta Pobla (“Town Charter”)

“1279” December 3, everyone knows that I, Astruc Ravaia, the mayor of Mr. Pere, King of Aragon by the grace of God, the part of the king and his (...) and I grant perpetually all each of you, men and women present and future inhabitants of the Royal Port of Palamós ... “ (extract from Palamós Town Charter, 1279)The territory of the town of Palamós was bought in 1277 by King Pere II, as of

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the castle of St. Stephen of Mar, whose remnants remain on the eastern slope of the beach of La Fosca. He was moved by the desire to possess a strategic north of Barcelona, and thus to replace Torroella, blinded by the progression of the alluvial lands of the River Ter. Two years later, the king granted a charter franchise and all those who inhabit this village called Palamós.Palamós was born then as a fortress, and acquired a fully urban character by the nineteenth century. From the sea came very soon some dangers. The vio-lent raids, such as those suffered by the forces of the Turkish pirate Barbarossa in 1543, and the pressure to support the continued presence of troops of differ-ent flags could not afford more a slow economic and population growth.

The port

The first pier was built in the fifteenth century, and had to be rebuilt and upgraded several times, until the late

nineteenth century, the bourgeoisie linked to the cork industry and maritime trade, forced the design of a new infra-structure capable of providing a shelter for the ships and coastal steamers and also to facilitate the loading and unload-ing. Linked to the burgeoning industry of cork, the port received and distributed all production, first icebergs, after plugs, both locally and in the region.The stone for the construction of the port was not far away. It was open a gap in the stone promontory by the Mill area to the tip of the costs that enters the sea. From this major operation is kept the memory of the foundation stone which was laid on the day of the Festi-val of 1902. The port has always been the work of fishermen. The tax counts give news at the eighteenth century the number of “llaguts” to fish. The fishing was besides his character collector and primary in nature an involving manu-facturing industry and the marketing of the fish- salting and also the coral. The main fishing included the blue fish,

mostly sardines and anchovies that were exported to Barcelona.From the port sailed large vessels seeking luck in the trade with America. Students from Palamós went to the pilot school in Arenys the Mar to search the knowledge and the necessary skills to cross the Atlantic. Two families were the stars of the local ship owners in the mar-itime activity: Matas and Ribera. Frigates as Palamós, Catalonia or Palamós Villa carried building materials to Cuba while they came back with coffee, Scotch pine, etc.. The Ribera family had the first steam Mercedes, which was responsible of the route Barcelona- Palamós- Roses.The Port evokes us a lot of French, Turkish, English or Italian sailor stories. It explains the origin of the town and points the evolution. Since the seventies, the size of the tourist port drives a new and fruitful brand to a new economic activity. The port continues to be the scene of the failures and successes, the challenges that the future of the mari-time sector and the entire community must face.

palamós[ ]

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WHO ARE WE?The Fish Place wants to contribute to knowledge, sustainability and gastron-omy of sea products, by enhance and by teaching about those undervalued species, but with a high culinary and gastronomic properties.

The main goals are:• Promote the fresh fish cuisine as a

staple of Mediterranean diet.• Develop knowledge of the fishing

world to enhance the profession of fisherman

• Encourage healthy consumption habits

• Be a reflection, debate and knowl-edge forum on an international scale for fish catching and cooking studies.

• Contribute to achieve a sustainable management of natural resources

• Spreading the process from capture to consumption of fish

• Fighting childhood obesity• Provide the specific requirements

to assess historically, socially and economically the Port of Palamós.

• Promoting local food related to con-sumption of fish

• Offering a sensory experience for all users

FISHING INTERPRETA-TION CENTREFishing is one of Palamós leading indus-tries. Invoices over 10 million Euros per year, employing directly or indirectly more than 500 people: fishermen, fish-mongers, administrative staff and ancil-lary industries. The fishing fleet consists on trawling boats, circling, long lining and “tresmalls” net, called “armelladers”.

Historically, fishermen have played a key role in shaping social and cultural life in town, and fishing is now an essential and defining element of Palamós identity.

Located at the Fish Place’s entrance the Fishing Interpretation Centre’s aims is to provide keys to understand the Palamós fishing sector and fish auctions, unique process by which fishermen sell their catches.

The most important elements of fishing world such as the auction and auctioned species, kinds of fishing systems, seabed where fish is found, the way fishermen are collectively organized in guilds and confraternities, are explained through an audio-visual, exhibition panels and always together with a guide: so as to make visitors aware of all about fishing,

people related to it and the sea prod-ucts.

FISH WORKSHOPThe way we cook fish in Catalonia is the result of a first quality raw material’s development according to the tradition and learning transmitted by our fisher-men. Is a place of culinary teaching and demonstrations, which values are spread food, nutritional and sensory quality of fish products.

We deal with several topics related to fishing world, cooking and gastronomy, through a rigorous and informative tour:• Types of fish and its nutritional

values• Past and present of fish consump-

tion• Keys to buy fish at the market• Fish in Catalonia and the world• Ingredients and utensils used for

cooking fish• Cooking and preparation techniques

The end of the visit is to taste different traditional and innovative fish “tapas”, cooked with economic and healthy spices typical from the Mediterranean area.

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SUQUET DE PEIX(FISHERMAN STEW)

• 800 gram with fish (conger/eel)• 4 garlic clove• Parsley• 50grm. Hazelnut• 200grm. Clean and chopped toma-

toes• Mineral Water

Chop the garlic clove, parsley and hazel-nuts and cook them for 2 minutes in a pan with some olive oil.Add the tomatoes and let it cook for about 10 minutes. Add some water. Once it is hot add the fish and let it cook for about 5 minutes.

TASTING WORKSHOPTasting workshop offers training and learning courses which makes users discovers fish’s quality, diversity and cooking potential, turning the experience to fill your senses.This workshop organizes activities for all kind of publics, from family to profes-sionals, in order to enjoy the experience of cooking fish under best chef guidance and mastery.• Introductory courses in fish ma-

nipulation, cooking and tasting for families, groups and schools.

• Courses topics: Fishermen’s cook-ing, Empordà’s cuisine, Grand-mother’s kitchen, specialised and advanced courses for hotel and restaurant’s professionals.

• Talks, workshops and seminars on nutrition, cooking and fish gas-tronomy.

• University lecture classroom.• This Tasting Workshop is presented

as a design and implementation platform for all different kinds of initiatives which bring fish world in society and preserve a part of the Mediterranean cuisine and the lifestyle.

From: http://www.espaidelpeix.org/

ARROSSEJAT(VERMICELLI)

• 400 grm. vermicelliTo chop:• 1 head garlic• Parsley• 100cl. tomato sauce• 500grm. fish for soup• 2 l. water• Oil• Salt

Put some oil in a pan and cook the chopped ingredients for 5 minutes. Add some water and the fish and let it cook for 30 minutes, strain it. In a pan put the vermicelli and cook it until it gets brown. Add the fish broth, add some salt to taste and let it cook for 16 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let it stand for 2 minutes. Add “all i oli” before eating.

Cooks:

Joan Cuadrat i Ramon Boquera

www. espaidelpeix.org

espaidelpeix@palamos.cat

Tel. 972312333

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FISHING MUSEUM OF PALAMÓSOBJECTIVES : TASTE OF THE SEA At Palamos work man show at sea be-comes the eye of the visitor: afternoon arrival of the boats in the harbor and unloading fish box has a unique color and movement.

In Palamos, but the world does not end on the dock fishing, but has continued in the Fishing Museum, unique in its kind in the Mediterranean. This center presents the past, present and future of fisheries, through its permanent exhibition and a series of activities related to the sea made the Costa Brava.

The Fishing Museum to contribute, as a quality cultural development, economic and social community. Work for foot-hold on territory and help bring about changes and thoughts towards fisheries and maritime heritage favoring society.

The objectives that should help forward these proposals revolve around the areas of conservation, research, dis-semination and interpretation of the Museum:

• Ensure the conservation, protection and preservation of the collections belonging to the Museum’s collection and maritime fishing heritage of the Costa Brava.

• Promote research on fisheries and maritime done.

• Provide consultation and study background.

• Consider an expository discourse, which through fishing and maritime heritage, will contribute to raising awareness towards sustainability.

• Give the keys to interpreting reality, economic, social and cultural devel-opment of the maritime sector.

• Becoming a dialogue between sea-farers and the rest of society.

• Accentuate lal maritime vocation of Palamos

• Be a leader, a key element of the communities along the coast of Girona.

• Show our maritime past• Consider the problems and chal-

lenges the sector is facing.

PERMANENT MUSEUM OF FISHINGThrough an audiovisual introduction of five areas, visitors will discover the world of fishing in our region. The key to the museum’s permanent exhibition of Fisheries is finding the origins of the world and live active, as can be seen in the fishing harbor of Palamos.

The project has been in the museum’s architecture firm, Various Architects Freixes Dani, a company that has inter-national recognition in the realization of museums and exhibitions. Dani Freixes has been awarded the National Design Award in 2001.

00. PROLOGUE. AudiovisualThanks to an eight-minute video the visitor realizes that the last fish dish is a technique, a knowledge, an effort to share a long history.

01. WHAT FISHINGThe species that are caught are only part of the vast biodiversity of the Mediter-ranean, all the species living there. The man has learned through the years where you live and what are the habits of the species most appreciated.

02. HOW AND FROM WHERE FISHINGThe sea, as the surface of the earth is not flat, it is full of elevations and de-pressions. No fishing anywhere, but the sea is great fishing spots are very spe-cific. The men have known and identified as “fisheries”. To go fishing, you need a floor space that also functions as a refer-ence: the port.

03. WHO’S WHO IN THE WORLD FISH-INGIn this area are all professions and trades assistants with fishing and its evolution over time: shipwright and Calafate, the sailing master, the mechan-ic, the cobbler, the lamb, the remenda-dores, companies salting, fish marketing and fishermen.

04. AS FISHING FISHING AND HOWThe adaptation of humans to the envi-ronment has evolved systems of fishing, we see from the most rudimentary to the most sophisticated.

05. THE FUTUREAfter knowing the past and present of this area fisheries we will reflect on what their future scenarios

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fishing museum[ ]

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THE GIANTS OF THE CITY

The giants of Palamós represent the marriage formed by the king Pere II of Catalonia, called the Big, and his wife Constança of Sicily. They make us go back to the 13th century, when the king Pere of the Crown catalano- aragonesa chose Palamós as a royal port due to its privileged geographic situation. In the year 1279 the king Pere dictates Astruc Ravaia the royal major and gave also a document that awarded all a series of privileges and freedom to all those that wanted to establish in Palamós. This document is called the Letter of the Town and is the parchment that has the giant in the hand that represents the king Pere. The original document is preserved in the Municipal File Service of Palamós.

Along its history Palamós has known three couples of giants that we com-monly know as the ancient giants, the old giants and the new giants.

The ancient “giants” or “the grand-parents”

The first graphic document we have of the giants of Palamós is a picture of the inauguration of the Small Train in 1887, a documentary sample of the 125 years of giant tradition in the town that was celebrated in 2012. These first giants were bought in Barcelona. He, Pere the Big, dressed as a warrior with a mediae-val dressing of diplomatic and with the band crossed to the breast. She Con-stança of Sicily, dressed in in the same

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way and according to the period.This couple went with four dwarves. Two since its origin and two more done in 1916 in honour to the première of the restoration of the giants and of his new dresses.These giants were kept until the pre-mière of the next couple the 1951. Un-fortunately we don’t have them today.

The old Giants The year 1951 there was a new couple of giants that lose their warrior character and have a kinder and nobler face. They highlight upon the reign of the marriage. They went accompanied by four tadpoles that the City council of Palamós has not been able to recover.

The continuing use started spoiling them until the point that in 1963 they had to be restored and new dresses paid by means of a popular collection.In 1974 we had some new giants that left the old couple into disuse. In 2004, the City council of Palamós commis-sioned a copy of the old giants and their dresses to Ramon Aumedes of the Work-shop Sarandaca.The heads of the original old giants are preserved in the reserved room of the Museum, in the Montaner house.

Copy of the ancient Giants.

These Giants were used for the first time the Day of 11th September 2004.

As we only preserved the heads of the giants it was necessary to do the copy of the bodies and dresses by means of photographies. The Workshop Sarandaca opted to do some bodies with fibre of glass in order to obtain a greater ma-nipulation.These dresses were paid thanks to per-sonal contributions of the people of the village.At present we can see them in the poly-valent room of the Library Lluís Barceló and Bou.

From : http://elmonperunforat.org/la-colla/els-

gegants/

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PALAMÓS – THE WRITER’S REFUGE.THE PALAMÓS OF TRUMAN CAPOTE

Truman Capote was born in New Orleans in 1924 and died in 1984 in Los Ange-les. He arrived at Palamós on 26th April 1960, bringing with him everything he needed to begin writing his novel In Cold Blood, based on real events –the murder of the Clutter family by two merciless psychopaths in the small Kansas town of Holcomb.In Palamós, Capote was seeking the tranquility he needed to write his mas-terpiece.

Capote’s secret paradiseTruman Capote and his partner Jack Dunphy spent three long periods of time in Palamós between 1960 and 1962, in the middle of Franco’s dictatorship. They would arrive in the spring and then head off at the end of September or in November to their Swiss getaway in Vebier, where they spent the autumn and winter.Midway between the sun-baked Medi-terranean and the Alpine plain, near the snowy mass of Montblanc, Capote produced a crime fiction masterpiece –In Cold Blood. The novel revolutionized the literally and journalistic world.

A literary refugeTruman Capote exiled himself in Europe so that he could write In Cold Blood. He

was looking for a quiet place, far from the partying in Manhattan, where he could concentrate and keep up a good rate of work. He chose Palamós on the recommendation of the well-known US novelist Robert Ruark.Ruark had lived near the beach at Es Monestrí since 1953. From there he would write columns that were pub-lished in two hundred of US newspa-pers, often singing the praises of Costa Brava’s charms and the peacefulness of Palamós. He was buried in the cemetery of Palamós, according to his written instructions.

Yin and Yang Truman Capote and Jack Dunphy be-came partners in 1948. Whilst Capote was happy, sociable and extrovert, Dun-phy was much more reserved. Dunphy –ten years older than Capote- spurned

the dances, parties and gossip that were so much to the liking of his companion.Jack Dunphy was also a writer. The au-thor of a number of novels and plays, he never, however, received the success or recognition his partner did.

Living alongside fishermenIn the spring of 1960, Palamós still had the charm of a Mediterranean fishing vil-lage. In those days, the fishermen would put their boats in the water and lay out their fishing nets on the sand, either to repair them, or so that the nets could dry out in the sun on the beach at La Catifa or Platja Gran beach.Tourists began to be attracted to the daily arrival of the fishing boats at the quay and the subsequent auction at the fish market. Capote bought fish there on more than in one occasion.

Pure Palamós-dinning at Los CaracolesOver a twenty-year period, from 1947 until 1966, Los Caracoles was one of the most popular restaurants in Palamós. Capote often had breakfast there. People remember him drinking orange juice and dressed in Bermuda shorts, a mambo shirt (untucked) and wearing glasses. His slightly eccentric behavior came as a surprise to more than a few diners.Los Caracoles was fashionable and a trendy place, attracting the likes of musicians Xavier Cugat and Abbie Lane; actors and actresses Ava Gadner, Walter Chiari, Gary Cooper, Joseph Cotton, Liz Taylor and David Niven; and singers Lola Flores and Carmen Sevilla.

The serenity of La CatifaEvery season, Capote and Dunphy would spend a few months in a house situated

on La Catifa beach. The modest house, comprising a living room that opened up to the beach, was owned by the US dip-lomat John Y. Millar. A plaque now marks the spot where the house used to be.Capote was very happy with the time they spent at the house. Soon after moving in, he wrote to some friends: -The house has its charm. It’s in a fishing village, right next to the beach. The water is a blue and clear as the eye of a mermaid1

The almost invisible manCapote’s presence in the Costa Brava was not picked up by the media until the local magazine Proa broke with the story in 1961:“TRUMAN CAPOTE. The famous American novelist Truman Capote, currently the country’s most popular writer, has also

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fallen in love with Palamós. Last year he spent several weeks at the beginning of the summer in a house at La Catifa. (…) With the arrival of winter, he went back to Switzerland and returned to Palamós last month. As it wasn’t possible for him to stay in the same house, he has taken a house near where his fellow-writer Robert Ruark lives, in Calonge.” 2

Four-legged friendsCapote and Dunphy did not travel alone to Europe. In 1960, they arrived in Palamós in the company of a terrier named Kelly, Bunky the bulldog and a Siamese cat called Sister. Bunky and Kelly died between Christmas and the following spring.To fill over the void, Capote bought a bulldog puppy, which he called Charlie J. Fatburger. It was a common sight to see the two of them walking around

Palamós, when the writer was our run-ning errands.

News ThreadCervantes bookshop opened its doors in Major street in 1955, selling books, newspapers and stationery. At about 11 o’clock in the morning, Capote would drop in to pick up The New York Times and other US newspapers he had re-served.In August 1962, whilst he was browsing a newspaper on the counter, Capote read about the death of his friend Marilyn Monroe. Those present at the time still remember Capote’s cry of grief when he read the news.

Please, Mr PostmanCapote would often send postcards and letter to friends, publishers and cor-respondents. He soon became known

to the staff at the post office, as this account by Capote of how he was given on 16 August 1962 from detective Alvin Dewey reveals: -I was driving through the village when the guy from the telegram office shot out into the street like lightening, waving his arms about as if he knew how eager and happy I’d be to receive it1Dewey’s telegram was informing him of the date set for the execution of Dick Hickcock and Perry Smith, those respon-sible for the tragic events recounted in In Cold Blood.

Sardanas next to the seaThe sardanas (traditional Catalan dances) that took place in the Sea Prom-enade fascinated tourists; so much that, in 1960, tourism companies from other coastal towns would charter coaches to take people to watch.

The sardanas also captivated Capote. The hotelier Josep Colomer recalls, “He was a man who used to enjoy the small things that happened in the vil-lage, such as the sardanas. He was fascinated by the way people would join hands, regardless of their social class or circumstances. The seriousness of the people and the music, along with the instruments themselves, were unfamiliar to him”5

The hosts of PalamósOn 26 April 1960, Capote and Dunphy booked into the Hotel Trias, with their 25 suitcases and three pets. They booked two rooms and stayed for two days whilst they were getting the house ready at La Catifa.Josep Colomer and Anna Maria Kammül-ler, who ran the hotel, became their lo-gistic support. Colomer explains, “When-

ever he had a problem, he’d come to the hotel and we’d try to sort it out. In a way we were a kind of refuge for him.” Kammüller still remembers the author’s “theatrical and spontaneous” entrances at reception. “One day he came in car-rying a wicker basket, very pleased with his find. He said he was going to use it to put coins in”.6

Neighbour of Robert RuarkFrom 24 June 1961 until the end of October, Capote and Dunphy lived at Es Monestrí, very near the villa where the writer Robert Ruark lived. In fact, they moved into Alan Ritchie’s house. (Ritchie, an Englishman, was Ruark’s secretary). Josefina Blanch stayed on as cook.Capote was delighted with the house. On 12th July 1961, he wrote to some friends:I’ve moved a house and I am now living

next to the beach. It’s very nice. The address is simply: Palamós, Costa Brava, Spain” 7

Cult NovelIn Cold Blood is about the murder of four members of the Clutter family in the small, quiet Kansas town of Holcomb. Capote’s novel started a new artistic genre –the non-fiction novel, where the author applies journalistic reporting techniques to a novel. Capote said,For many years, I had been increasingly attracted to journalism as an art form in itself. This was for two reasons. Firstly, it didn’t seem to me that in prose litera-ture, or in general literature, anything really innovative had happened for 20 years. Secondly, journalism as an art form was practically virgin territory” 10The book was published simultaneously in 23 countries at the end of 1966.

truman capote[ ]

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BESALÚ

Welcome to the county town of Besalú, one of the largest and best preserved places of medieval Catalonia.

Besalú is situated in the area of La Gar-rotxa at the point where two rivers, the Fluvia and the Capellades meet. It´s situated 150m above sea level and has a surface area of 4,81 Km. Besalú gained importance when it became the capital of an independent country in 902, after Guifré el Pilós death, and it continued up until Bernat III died without inheritance. After that, Besalú felt under Barcelona’s count control.

Nowadays, most habitants live from textile and plaster industries or from many of the family run shops and small shops within the village. In 1966 the vil-

lage was declared a monumental centre giving protection to its historical build-ings and preserving its beauty for the local inhabitants and the many visitors it receives each year.

Thanks to the invaluable heritage and its excellent preservation, Besalú has become one of the tourist destinations of Spain. The extraordinary landscape of this region called Garrotxa (Besalú) is also one of the incentives enticing the visitor. The monuments of the town make a historic step that express hun-dreds of different cultures in the region.

Besalú is part of the network of Judeo Spain, a route involving exclusive loca-tions with a high value of the Jewish memory on its way to the medieval age. Its Jewish baths (Micvé) are the third

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found throughout Europe …

Enjoy this rich history from the tourist office in Besalú, which will inform you about many tours and activities offered by this Count Town.

Undoubtedly, the cultural heritage of Be-salú is one of the main attractions of the town. So preservation and restoration has been a priority of the City Council in recent decades. As a result, Besalú has become an example of historic and cultural preservation.

The inherited wealth comes from the many cultures that were developed at one time or another in the history of Besalú. From the Iberian settlement, the first Roman conquests, at medieval

times the county development, the consolidation of an important Jewish community ... This evolution of history, on its way to Besalú is reflected in every corner that makes up the town.

Besalú becomes an essential cultural tourism destination. Aware of this, the town of Besalú works hard to offer visi-tors many facilities such as guided tours, exhibitions and thematic markets, tradi-tional cuisine, festivals ... The purpose of these activities is to provide citizens and tourists valuable cultural experiences.

In addition to the activities generated by the historical content and heritage, the cultural life of Besalú encourage the artistic growth and development of the town. The Library Ramon Vidal, or the Trunk Theater, home to a wide variety of

programming throughout the year help the town to be always alive. The Monas-tery of San Pedro, is often the scene of musical programming, protected by its exquisite acoustics.

Besalú has some associations such as “Acunç” or “Friends of the Count Town of Besalú” or the Venerable Congregation of Our Lady of Sorrows of Besalú respon-sible for generating concerts, meetings and fairs (Smith Fair or Iron artists) and keep alive the own traditions. Civic participation and volunteering is one of the key elements for the development of trade fairs and events generated in the town.

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Santa Maria de Ripoll

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is a Benedictine monastery, built in the Romanesque style, located in the town of Ripoll in Catalonia, Spain. Although much of the present church was in 19th century rebuilt, the sculptured portico is a renowned work of Romanesque art.

History

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll was founded in 888 by Count Wilfred the Hairy (called Guifré el Pilós in Catalan) who used it as a centre to bring about the repopulation of the region after conquering it. Wilfred’s son, Ridulph, was educated there and was later abbot of the monastery, as well as bishop of Urgell. The monastery grew rapidly, and was subsequently reconsecrated in 935, 977 and 1032, though the monks are known to have been established there

permanently only from 1025 or 1032. The monastery at Ripoll had several off-shoots which included the abbeys of St. Martin-du-Canigou (now in France) and that of Santa Maria de Montserrat. The monastery was also known for its collec-tion of manuscripts which numbered 246 by the year 1046, and later included the 13th century Gesta comitum Barcinonen-sium, considered to be the first history of Catalonia and written by the monks themselves.

From 1070 to 1169 the monastery was governed by the Abbey of St. Victor of Marseille. Santa Maria de Ripoll was the main religious center of Catalonia until the 15th century, when it started to de-cline, beginning with the loss of control over the Monastery of Montserrat in 1402. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, after which it was re-stored with the new parts in Gothic style.

The monastery became the family mau-

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soleum for the Counts of Barcelona and Counts of Besalú, and well as a great center of learning, with a large library.[1]The library and much of the monastery’s vast archives were destroyed by fire in 1835, after it had been secularized. In 1847 part of the cloister was demol-ished, followed by the 1856 by the ab-bey palace. It was rebuilt in 1886, under the direction of architect Elias Rogent, the basilica being consecrated in 1896.

Architecture

The original monastic church had a nave and four aisles, roofed by barrel vaults. The nave and aisle terminated in five apses, later increased to seven when apses were added to the transepts also. The current church dates to Rogent’s reconstruction in 1896, and although maintaining features of the original church, the present building has only two aisles. The transept houses the

tombs of the counts of Besalú and of several counts of Barcelona, from Wilfred the Hairy to Ramón Berenguer IV.

The cloister contains more of the original structure than the church itself, the first floor having been built between 1180 and the early 15th century. The second floor dates to the 15th and 16th century. It is formed, on each side, by thirteen semicircular arches supported by small pairs of columns with carved Corinthian-like capitals, sculpted by Pere Gregori and Jordi de Déu. Each one of the latter has a different decoration, inspired by mythological themes or by daily life.

The portal, although damaged by fires and restored in modern times, is a no-table example of Catalan Romanesque sculpture. The frontal section features a relief from the mid-13th century (sty-listically similar to the tomb of Ramón Berenguer III in the cloister), divided in seven horizontal bands. The upper two

show God enthroned, near whom are the symbols of the Four Evangelists; the scene is completed by several angels in adoration and the Twenty-four Elders. The central bands are dedicated to the story of David and Solomon (left) and Moses (right). At the bottom are various mythical animals commonly identified with the visions of the prophet Daniel.

The portico is flanked by two statues, nearly destroyed, of St. Peter and St. Paul. Around them are various scenes, including the stories of Cain and Abel, that of Jonah and others.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/

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Sant Joan de les AbadessesSant Joan de les Abadesses is a town and municipality located in the south-east of the comarca of Ripollès, in the province of Girona, Catalonia.

Geography and climateThe town is located along the upper part of the River Ter, in the valley of the same name, and enclosed by the Serra Cavallera to the north and the mountain of Sant Antoni to the south. It has an in-land, continental climate, with abundant precipitation and notable temperature variability.

Most of the economy of Sant Joan de les Abadesses is centered on industry and manufacturing. However, there have more recently been increases in tour-ism to the town, with a corresponding increase in the service industry. Rural areas of the municipality are largely oc-cupied by farms, usually raising cows.

History

Ancient times Human settlement in the valley around Sant Joan de les Abadesses dates to prehistoric times, and archeological research has found evidence of settle-ments in the region from the Lower Paleolithic era.It seems that the area was not very much Romanized, despite the fact that a branch of the Via Augusta went up the valley to the Coll d’Ares.

Middle AgesThe origins of the present town lie in the founding of the Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses by Wilfred the Hairy in 887. This was one of the first nunneries founded in Catalonia, and its first ab-bess was Emma of Barcelona, daughter of Wilfred. The Benedictine community grew in wealth and importance through-out the 10th century. However, in 1017, the nuns, accused of violating the rules by which they were supposed to be living, were expelled in a bull by Pope Benedict VIII.

This expulsion initiated a period of insta-bility that lasted until the re-establish-ment of canons of the order of Saint Au-gustine in the 12th century and with the patronage of Ramon Berenguer III. The new Augustinian monks largely rebuilt the monastery, including new churches for the monastery itself and the parish of Saint Pol. New cultural importance and splendor was brought to the monastery in this period, as evidenced by its exten-sive archive of troubadour songs from this era.Around the monastery, the town of Sant Joan was founded. Initially, the laypeople lived around the Church of Sant Pol, in the neighborhood today known as El Raval. But the town’s growing population necessitated the construction of a walled town (the Vila Vella) on land that had been known as El Vinyal. This part of the town was home to numerous medieval guilds.As time passed, power in the town shift-ed from religious to secular. The town became a Carlist capital, and suffered the consequences of wars with nearby France, as well as industrialization and social change.

Contemporary eraIn the mid-19th century, coal mining was begun in Ogassa, precipitating the con-struction of a railroad from Sant Joan to Barcelona. The railroad was finished on October 17, 1880. This accelerated the town’s growth and industrialization. Like other towns along the Ter River, numer-ous factories and industrial colonies were built to take advantage of hydrological power from the river. A native citizen of the town introduced concrete to the Iberian Peninsula, and the town itself pioneered concrete manufacturing.During the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, the town renamed itself Puig-Alt de Ter (High-Hill of the Ter). And as Re-publican forces retreated in defeat, many passed through the town on their way to the French border. However, Republican soldiers destroyed bridges and the train station as they passed, to cover their re-treat. After the war, the town recovered and diversified its industries.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Joan_de_les_

Abadesses

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THE INDUSTRIAL COLONIES ALONG THE RIVER TER

Along the 208km length of the river Ter there are nine industrial colonies.The industrial colonies were one of the characteristic features of the industrial revolution in Catalonia.

Almost all the textile colonies were built next to a river to take advantage of water power. At the beginning, when the colonies began to work, working condi-tions were extremely harsh and the own-ers were limited to providing housing, school, church...

Later, in the late nineteenth century, the owners adopted a different attitude and provided other services relating to hy-giene, supplies, recreation and culture, and often large houses for the owners. But it was not until the twentieth century

that workers lived with less tensions and gratitude towards their owners.

THE LIFE IN THE COLONIESIt was very hard at working time, because they worked long hours and on Saturday, too. If someone was late to work you could be assigned the most precarious work or if it occurred frequently you could be laid off. Also if someone was hurt with some machine work and could not work he/she didn’t receive any money. If a family wanted to live with all the basic needs (food, cloth-ing and housing), all its members from the age of 10 had to work because their salaries were very poor. Until this age children went to school in the colony. In 1905 the weekly wages in most of the colonies along the Ter were:

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• The men were paid from 17 to 30 pesetas. • Women 15 pesetas. • Children 9 pesetas.

In everyday life people do not have much free time except on Sunday, which was the only day off, but they had to go to church necessarily because the own-ers were very religious. If there was a day they didn’t work they could get the worst job or they could even be forced to change their house for another worse one, and if they miss their work for a long time, they could be withdrawn from the colony. The houses did not have any shower or wash for them-selves, but they were added later.The Industrial colonies textile facilities were designed as a self-sufficient town,

with houses for the workers, church, school, grocery stores, ballroom, etc..

ELIONOR Eleanor was fourteen years old and three hourswhen she started working.These things arerecorded in her blood forever.She was still wearing braidsand said: << Yes, good afternoon sir >> and <<good afternoon >>.People loved her,Eleanor was so tender,and she was always singing whileshe was running the broom.Over the years, however, within the fac-toryeverything was disappearing through the gray windows,

and shortly afterwards Eleanor should notbe able to tell where the crying desire or that irrepressiblefeeling of loneliness cameThe women said that what happenedto her was solved by marrying and hav-ing children.Eleanor, according to the wisepredicting womengrew up, married and had children.The major of her children was a girl,she was just fourteen and three hourswhen she started working.She was still wearing braidsand said: << Yes sir >> and <<good afternoon >>Miquel Martí i Pol

Lidia Cruset & Esther Escorihuela

INS PALAMÓS

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GIRONA 1.- THE HOUSES OVER THE ONYAR RIVER The view of the houses over the river Onyar from the bridges crossing the river is one of the most characteris-tic images of the city of Girona. These houses were built at the end of the middle Ages, backing onto the city walls which enclosed the old town and the borough of the Mercadal.

2.- RAMBLA DE LA LLIBERTATThis is one of the most popular streets and commercial areas of the city. It was used as a Marketplace in medieval times, and has become a traditional meeting point –place and promenade for the people of Girona.

3.- RAMPARTS WALKThe walk along the top of the city walls from Plaça Catalunya to the monastery of Sant Domènec offers an unusual view of the rooftops, buildings and courtyards of the old part of the city.

4.- CONVENT OF SANT DOMENEC/ UNI-VERSITY OF GIRONAFrom 13th- 17th century. The church , with a single nave, was one of the first Gothic buildings erected in Catalonia. It has undergone many adaptations along the time. It is now the Arts Faculty of the University of Girona.

5.- CATHEDRALIt is from 11th -18th century. At present the Cathedral is the result of different styles. In the Romanesque building ( consecrated in 1038) it still remain the cloister and the part of the tower. The nave has a width of 22,8 meters. The façade of the Cathedral is consid-ered the most beautiful baroque work of the Catalan architecture. Inside the Cathedral we can admire numerous Works of art: the silver altarpiece and baldachin ( 14th C.), Gothic sepulchers and baroque altarpieces. The Chapter Museum displays the famous Tapestry of the creation (11th C.), an illuminated manuscript called Beatus ( 10th C.)

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6.- THE JEWISH QUARTERFrom the 9th -15th centuries. In me-dieval times , the narrow streets of the area of la Força street were highly influential. It was the heart of the Jew-ish community. The life of the aljama revolved around the synagogue, which was located in different places over the years. Nowadays the Centre Bonastruch ça Porta displays elements of the old Jewish quarter.

7.- ARAB BATHSA Romanesque buildings from the 12th C. Resembling the Roman Thermal or public baths, with elements of Muslim origin. It has three rooms differentiated

by the temperature of the water of the baths, the cold water room being the most interesting for its rustic annular vault and its central dome resting on slender columns.

8.- FORMER COLLEGIATE OF SANT FELIUThis church, from 12th-16th C. is the most traditional one in Girona. It incor-porates various architectural styles: a Romanesque interior structure (13th) a Gothic nave ( 14th- 16yh C.) and a Baroque western façade ( 17thC). Inside the church we can admire the paleo – Christian sarcophagi (3rd-4th C.) imported from Italy, and Reclining Christ (1350), a masterpiece of the Catalan Gothic sculpture

9.- THE CHURCH OF SAINT NICOLAU

From the12th C. it is a Lombard Roman-esque church with a single nave and with tree apses and an octagonal dome. It displays a paleo- Christian funeral remaining from the 4th C.

Blanca Lloveras

INSTITUT

PALAMÓS

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The Dalí Theatre-Museum:The World’s largest surrealist object Inaugurated in 1974, the Dalí Theatre-Museum was built upon the remains of the former Figueres theatre. It contains the broadest range of works span-ning the artistic career of Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), from his earliest artistic experiences and his surrealist creations down to the works of the last years of his life.

The Dalí Theatre-Museum has to be seen as a whole, as the great work of Salvador Dalí, for everything in it was conceived and designed by the artist in order to offer visitors a real experience of getting inside his captivating and unique world.

Origins and creation

The Dalí Theatre-Museum of Figueres offers a unique experience of being able to observe, live and enjoy the work and thought of a genius. As Dalí himself ex-plained: “It’s obvious that other worlds exist, that’s certain; but, as I’ve already said on many other occasions, these other worlds are inside ours, they reside in the earth and precisely at the centre of the dome of the Dalí Museum, which contains the new, unsuspected and hal-lucinatory world of Surrealism.”

Salvador Dalí decided, early in the 1960’s, to construct his museum inside the ruins of the old Municipal Theatre of Figueres. Currently, the Director of the Theatre-Museum is Dalí’s friend, col-laborator and fellow painter Antoni Pitxot i Soler, who is also a Trustee and the Second Vice-President.

The building of the Municipal Theatre of Figueres, was constructed between 1849 and 1850 but it was destroyed by a fire at the end of the Spanish Civil War in1939.

From that moment, the building was re-duced to its peripheral support structure. The ceiling of the auditorium had fallen down, of the boxes only the access corri-dors remained, and of the stage only the proscenium arch and the lateral store-rooms survived. The vestibule and the foyer were the only parts that remained more or less intact. Nevertheless, the basic structure of the theatre survived, presenting the town of Figueres with a phantasmagorical ruin.

In 1961 the mayor of Figueres proposed to Salvador Dalí the creation of a mu-seum dedicated to his work. The painter was captivated by the ghostly enchant-ment of the theatre, and, with the inten-tion of maintaining the structure of the building, chose it as the site of the future Dalí Theatre-Museum:

“Where, if not in my own town, should the most extravagant and solid of my work endure, where if not here? The Municipal Theatre, or what remained of it, struck me as very appropriate, and for three reasons: first, because I am an eminently theatrical painter; second, be-cause the theatre stands right opposite the church where I was baptized; and third, because it was precisely in the hall of the vestibule of the theatre where I gave my first exhibition of painting.”

The idea of bringing together his work in the old theatre of Figueres excited Dalí, and he dedicated himself to the task for over a decade, collaborating in it and designing the smallest details, until it became a reality with the official inau-guration of the Dalí Theatre-Museum on 28th September 1974. One of the most visible elements of the museum is the transparent grid structure in the form of a geodesic dome crowning the Build-ing. The dome has become not only the emblem of the Theatre-Museum but also a symbol for the town of Figueres itself.

The museum today

The different collections managed by the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation include all kinds of works of art: painting, drawing, sculpture, engraving, installation, holo-gram, stereoscopy, photography, etc., up to a quantity of some 4,000 pieces. Of these, some 1,500 are on show in the Dalí Theatre-Museum of Figueres.

Special mention must also be made of

the series of works created by the artist with the express aim of being exhibited permanently in the museum, works which range from paintings and sculp-tures to complex monumental installa-tions. Notable in this group are the Mae West room, the Palace of the Wind room, the Monument to Francesc Pujols and the Rainy Cadillac.

Although the work exhibited is basi-cally by Dalí, there are also works by other artists who Dalí wanted to include: Antoni Pitxot, Evarist Vallès, the private collection of Salvador Dalí with works by El Greco, Marià Fortuny, Modest Urgell, Ernest Meissonier, Marcel Duchamp, Gerard Dou, etc. Similarly, in different galleries of the Theatre-Museum, works can be found by Bouguereau, John de Andrea, Wolf Vostell, Meifrén and Ernst Fuchs, among others.

Since the death of Salvador Dalí, in 1989, one can also visit the crypt with his grave, situated in the centre of the museum; a space which was remodeled in 1997 in order to exhibit there a col-lection of gold jewellery designed by the artist.

The Dalí Theatre-Museum is just one piece of the Dalí trilogy tour. The Portl-ligat Museum-House, the place in which he usually lived and worked and the Púbol Castle when after Gala’s death in 1982, he took it up residence, are the ones to get the whole view of Dali’s life.

Jorfre Sebastian (INS PALAMOS)

From: http://www.salvador-dali.org

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Natural Park of Els Aiguamolls de l’EmpordàThe Natural Park of Els Aiguamolls de L’Empordà (The Marshes of L’Empordà) has an area of approximately 4,730 hectares, of which 825 hectares are a strict natural reserve. The Park is situated in the Alt Empordà region, and consists of the following municipalities, listed here in order of protected area: Castelló d’Empúries (57.4%), Sant Pere Pescador (12.8%), Palau-saverdera (10.2%), Peralada (8.9%), Pau (4.7%), Pedret i Marzà (2.6%), L’Escala (2.1%), Roses (1.1%) and L’Armentera (0.2%). The objective of the declaration of this area as a natural park is two-fold: on the one hand, to protect, improve and boost the natural systems, and on the other, to make conservation compatible with the area’s economicdevelopment.

AN AREA UNDER HEAVY HUMAN PRES-SUREThe region of L’Alt Empordà has approxi-mately 100,000 inhabitants. In some of the Park’s municipalities, the population can increase fourfold in summer. One example of the pressure from humans

are the Natural Park’s beaches, which in summer can be visited by some 23,000 people a day. Over 80% of the Park’s area is private property and within the Natural Park’s limits is the most importantresidential marina in Europe, Empuri-abrava, with 30km of navigable canals.

A SPACE OF COEXISTENCE BETWEEN WATER, EARTH, HUMANS AND NATUREA mosaic of ecosystems that are interde-pendent but also very different:

SeaOn the edges of the Natural Park is an area of relatively calm, sandy-bottomed marine waters. Thebay of Roses is sheltered even from strong north winds. Nevertheless, the east winds strike the coastaledge of the Park with force.

Coastal beaches and sandsThese are present around the whole coastline of the Park, and are the only remaining virgin beaches on the Costa Brava. In fact, the extended southern edge of territory included in the park, following the beach, is intended to pre-serve a fully representative example of this type of habitat.

Lagoons and salt-loving plant lifeThe salty coastal lagoons, known locally as llaunes, are located directly behind

the beach, between themouths of the rivers Muga and Fluvià. The vegetation surrounding the lagoons, consisting of low-growingplants adapted to the salinity of the soil, such as glasswort and rushes, is known in the area as salsura,which means preserved with salt.

Closes, peces and feixesIn L’Empordà, grassland meadows typi-cal of this region are known as closes (enclosed areas). They aresurrounded – enclosed – by drainage channels, edged with riparian trees (elm, ash, poplar, alder and others). They are situated in the beds of the old lakes, and therefore flood in times of heavy rain.Other fields and pastures of this type, long and narrow, enclosed by tamarisk bushes, are given the name of peces or feixes.

Freshwater lakes and marshesThese are the remains of the old lake at Castelló, and the most emblematic is the lake at Vilaüt. Its inlandlocation, far from the sea, means that the water is entirely fresh, and the veg-etation is especially adaptedto cope with immersion, flooding and high humidity, depending on the depth of the water. The Natural Park has pro-moted the recovery and creation of new lakes, such as the lake in Cortalet or the Europa lakes.

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Rivers, watercourses and irrigation chan-nelsBesides the Muga and Fluvià rivers, the Park’s two main rivers, in the marshes there is also an extensivenetwork of waterways and irrigation channels. The vegetation on their banks is of obvious botanical andfaunal interest. The Strict Reserve of the Isle of Caramany, covering 5.6 hectares, situated in the riverFluvià, has a riparian wood that is evolv-ing entirely naturally.

CropsThese occupy a high percentage of the Park’s area. From winter cereals (barley, wheat) and alfalfa, therehas been a shift towards maize, sor-ghum, sunflowers and fruit trees. The rice crop, recovered with thecreation of the Natural Park, is without doubt the best suited to the marshy nature of the land in the BaixEmpordà region.

Rough landsSituated between the plain and the neighbouring Serra de Verdera mountain range, in the north east,these occupy slightly sloping ground. They are covered in non-irrigated crops (such as vines), scrubland and pastures, groves of cork oaks, Holm oaks and other types of oak, and also groves of

pines in some areas such as La Torre del Vent, the highest point in the Park.

Inhabited areasThe park has a good number of farms, manors and country houses scattered over the plain. They are often found integrated into the landscape and offer shelter to the wild flora and fauna.

HISTORICAL HERITAGEThe Aiguamolls de L’Empordà in the past occupied almost all the plain of the bay of Roses and the lower Ter valley. The Montgrí massif was set away from the waters, and when the Greeks settled here, they did so on an island between the former mouths of the rivers Flu-vià and Ter, where they later founded Empúries. The extensive marshland gradually disappeared, due mainly to the expansion of agriculture. The wide Castelló Lake, with its three islands, and the lakes of Siurana, Vilacolum, Riumors, Bellcaire, Ullastret and Pals are now also part of history.The construction of tourist facilities was another degradation factor. Extensive areas disappeared and were turned into housing developments. This would have continued were it not for the campaign that began in 1976 with the slogan “The last marshes of L’Empordà, under threat”, which aimed to raise public awareness of the importance of the lakes

and their value as a nature reserve.It was in 1983 that the Parliament of Catalonia finally passed the Law declar-ing the the Aiguamolls deL’Empordà a natural site of national interest and strict nature rseserve, later reclassified as a natural park.The Nature Reserve only includes the lakes of the Alt Empordà region; those of the Baix Empordà region are included in the PEIN (Plan for Areas of Natural Interest).

HUMAN ACTIVITYHuman activity in the Park is an im-portant force, due both to the tourist industry that it brings and tofarming activities. Since irrigation came into use here, the crops grown in the Park have changed. Cultivation was originally of winter crops, and this has changed to maize, sor-ghum, sunflowers and fruit trees, which are good wintering places for insectivo-rous birds and for thrushes, due to the abundance of fruit on the ground.The rice fields are undoubtedly the cultivated land that is most beneficial to water fowl. There are currently some 150 hectares of cultivated rice paddies, for the most part cultivated without pesticides, which are kept flooded even outside the growing season in order to encourage the presence of water fowl.

FAUNA

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The marshes are one of the natural ar-eas of Catalonia with the largest variety of animal species. Many birds use the marshes as a shelter and rest area, and there are over 300 species, many of them protected and of great beauty. The birds are the main faunal attraction of the Park. Up to now, 329 species of bird have been sighted, of which 82 species nest here on a regular basis. Species as-sociated with aquatic environments are the most representative and the most plentiful. Among the most numerous nesting birds we have the mallard (Anas platyrhyn-chos), the moorhen (Gallinula chloro-pus), the blue-headed wagtail (Motacilla flava) and the reed warbler (Acrocepha-lus scirpaceus). In lower numbers, there are also nests of the little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), the great bittern (Botaurus stellaris), the little bittern

(Ixobrychus minutus), the purple heron (Ardea purpurea), the gadwall (Anas strepera), the marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the coot (Fulica atra), the black-winged stilt (Himantopus himan-topus), the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), the kingfisher (Alcedo at-this), the roller (Coracias garrulus), the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor), the moustached warbler (Acro-cephalus melanopogon) and the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundina-ceus). The garganey (Anas querquedu-la), known locally as the roncaire (snor-ing duck), and the lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) - two of the Park’s most emblematic species -last reared young here in 1997 and 2001, respectively. The white stork (Ciconia ciconia), which had nested occasionally in the area, now has a population of some 40 pairs, thanks to the recovery project begun in 1987. The

purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), which had disappeared by the middle of last century, has also been reintroduced. From specimens released in 1989 and 1991, the population has recovered and currently stands at some 30-40 nesting pairs. During migration periods (February-June and July-October), thousands of birds use these marshes as a place of rest and feeding, especially during the Spring and when the north wind blows. During the second two weeks of April and the first days of May is when the largest number of species can be seen. Among the most representative migratory birds there are, among others, the squacco heron (Ar-deola ralloides), the glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus ), the flamingo (Phoenicopter-us ruber), the garganey (Anas querq-uedula), the osprey (Pandion haliaetus), the redfooted falcon (Falco vespertinus),

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the little crake (Porzana parva), the col-lared pratincole (Glareola pratincola), the marsh sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), the Adouin’s gull (Larus audouinii), the white-winged tern (Chlidonias leucop-terus) and the red-throated pipit (Anthus cervinus). The wader group deserves a special mention, as up to 32 different species are seen regularly, some of the most numerous being the littleringed plover (Charadrius dubius), the little stint (Calidris minuta), the ruff (Philo-machus pugnax), the common redshank (Tringa totanus) and the wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola). In winter these marsh-es, like the Bay of Roses, are visited by large numbers of birds coming from Northern and Central Europe. The duck group is one of the best-represented, with a monthly presence of some 15,000 specimens. The most abundant species

are the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), the common teal (Anas crecca) and the northern shoveler (Anas clypeata). The cormorant (Phala-crocorax carbo), the grey heron (Ardea cinerea), the coot (Fulica atra), the lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), the common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), the curlew (Numenius arquata), the black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), the European penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus) and the reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) are also abundant. Among the water fowl present in the Bay of Roses are the black-throated diver (Gavia arctica), the great crested grebe (Podiceps crista-tus), the Balearic shearwater (Puffi-nus mauretanicus), the sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis) and the razorbill (Alca torda). The fish that are most abundant in the

area are the carp (Cyprinus carpio), the thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus), the spotted flounder (Citharus macro-lepidotus), the pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomisgibbosus), the eel (Anguilla anguilla), etc. Important for their rarity is the presence of the fartet (Lebias ibera), a small fish native to the Iberian penin-sula, and the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). The population of reptiles and amphib-ians can be found all over the park, mainly in the freshwater areas. Among these are the painted frog (Discoglossus pictus) in some freshwater lakes, the marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus), the Mediterranean terrapin (Mauremys leprosa ), the psammodromus (Psam-modromus algirus and P. Hispanicus), the rare three-toed skink (Chalcides

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striatus) and the Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata). Four different species of snake, and the slow worm (Anguis fragilis) shelter on the riverbanks and in the riverside woods. The most typical mammal of the marsh-es, apart from the Southern water vole (Arvicola sapidus), is the otter (Lutra lutra), which until half a century ago was seen frequently and has been reintro-duced. In addition, there is the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), the polecat (Putorius putorius), in large numbers, the badger (Meles meles), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the common genet (Genetta genetta) and the fallow deer (Dama dama), reintroduced in 1987. Small mammals such as the vole, the mole, the shrew, the rat and the mouse are spread over the park. The rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is very abun-dant in certain parts of the park, unlike the hare (Lepus capensis). The wild boar (Sus scrofa) population has grown a great deal and this is now one of the species abundant in the Natural Park. Bats are seen frequently in the marshes (13 different species) and contribute to

the control of insects such as mosqui-toes.

VEGETATIONThe vegetation of the marshes has some special characteristics that make it very different from that of the surrounding areas. This is very noticeable in the ar-eas around the edges, where the water and the salinity have an important part to play. Rice crops are combined with pasture land, valuable for biological and scenic reasons.

The main types of vegetation we can see in the marsh areas are:

Saline soil vegetationIn these areas a number of very spe-cialised plants grow, usually of the succulent variety, such as the glasswort (Arthrocnemum) or the Mediterranean saltbush (Atriplex halimus), or rushes such as the marine rush (Juncus mari-timus) or the salt meadow corngrass (Spartina patens) and, in the months of May and June, we can enjoy a spectacu-lar show of seashore iris (Iris spuria).

Sand-growing vegetationThis is a type of vegetation that is highly adapted to this inhospitable environ-ment, such as the sand couch grass (Agropyron junceum), which grows right down to the sea, and the marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), which grows up in the dunes.

Marsh plants on the riverbanks, and in irrigation channels and flooded mead-ows.The sedimentation of the Fluvià and Muga rivers is crossed by a collection of drainage channels, which have their own specific vegetation, dominated by the reed beds and similar communities. The plants most characteristic of this habitat are the common reed (Phrag-mites australis), the bulrush (Typha angustifolia and T. latifolia), the common club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris), the yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), the water plantain (Alisma plantagoaquatica), the marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) and the purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicar-ia), among many others. At certain times of the year, the mead-

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ows are flooded with freshwater, and in this vegetation, also used as pasture for cows and horses, we can find sedges (Carex riparia and C. otrubae) and com-mon spikerushes (Eleocharis palustris). On the edges of the rivers or the irriga-tion channels grow the riparian woods. These are a mixture ofwillow (Salix alba), white poplar (Populus alba), Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra), alder (Alnus glutinosa), elm (Ulmus minor), narrowleaf ash (Fraxinus angus-tifolia) and French tamarisk (Tamarix gallica).

Waterlogged and lakeland vegetation of the lakes and waterwaysThe sight of the water florid with floating plants such as the brackish water crow-foot (Ranunculus baudotii) or underwa-ter plants (Zannichellia, Potamogeton, Najas, Chara…), together with the tiny common duckweed (Lemna minor) or the delicate starwort (Callitriche) that cover the still water, is a curious and pretty sight to see.The Natural Park of Els Aiguamolls de L’Empordà is surrounded by other areas

of historical, artistic ornatural interest, abundant on the Costa Brava and in regions such as Alt Em-pordà and Baix Empordà. Hereis an outline of some of the most popu-lar.

Castelló d’EmpúriesA municipality situated at the mouth of the river Muga, in the Bay of Roses. This is a predominantly mediaeval village. The gothic church of Saint Mary with its parochial museum, Court and mediaeval prison is highly recommended, as is the La Farinera Ecomuseum.

RosesRoses is worth visiting for its Citadel and the megalithic route from there, which leads to the Creu d’enCobertella dolmen, the largest megalithic monument.

Sant Pere PescadorThe Reserva de Mig de Dos Rius (Be-tween Two Rivers Reserve) is situated here, as is the mouth of the Fluvià river and Caramany Island.

Pau and Palau-saverderaMegalithic routes.

PeraladaThis palace castle, a veritable mosaic of architectural styles, is to be found sur-rounded by a fascinatinglandscape of vineyards. It is worth high-lighting the Convent del Carme and the Cloister of Sant Domènec.

L’Escala - EmpúriesThe remains of the Greek colony of Em-porion and of the Roman city are found at Empúries. These arevaluable pieces of evidence of the pres-ence of the classical cultures in the Medi-terranean. Also near thisarea is the hamlet of Cinc Claus (Five Keys).

FigueresAn important transport nucleus and the birthplace of Dalí. Of significant impor-tance are the Dali Theatre-Museum, the museums of Toys, of Tech-nology and of the L’Empordà region, and the Castle of Sant Ferran.

aiguamolls de l`empordà[ ]

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Peratallada

The town Peratallada is situated in the hilly area of the Gavarres, in the plain area of Baix Empodà and on the left of the Grossa stream. The village has been declared a historic-artistic and cultural heritage of national interest and it is one of the most important centers of Catalo-nia regarding the medieval architecture. In an extraordinary appeal and beauty it retains its old feudal aspect with narrow winding streets, with numerous inlets and outlets and which highlights the fortified castle. It preserves its tower keep, and palace (XII-XIV) , the walls (XII-XIII) and the Church of St. Stephen (Romance of the early thirteenth cen-tury). It also emphasizes the wide moat that surrounds the town, dug into the rock. The population is all based on the sandstone, worked in various ways.

The name

The name Petra Cut or scissa is docu-mented from the tenth century. Later, the name appears with a few modifica-tions referred either to the people or to different celebrities from the Peratallada

lineage, which eventually became one of the most important in the Baix Empordà area.

The castle-palace

It is in medieval times when we have the earliest writings on the town. Some documents from the tenth century men-tion the names of Petra Cut and Petra Scissa. Peratllada Castle, around which remained the sheltered population, was the center of the barony belonging to that Peratallada lineage documented since the eleventh century. It seems that the castle existed in 1065, but some ar-chitectural structures seem to show that there was a core strength from before. The town is fortified nicely at the top of a huge natural sandstone plinth rock, cut artificially to give verticality. The rocky knoll rises 4 or 5 meters above the sur-rounding terrain. At the top there is the big castle, withits characteristic tower Keep and the magnificent palace, facing east and overlooking the Castle Square. The wall surrounding the master tower fits irregu-

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larly and reaches the hill of considerable height. We can also see the remains of battlements that give a great attrac-tion and mysticism to the construction. The high keep, the hallmark of the town is rectangular, the square is topped by battlements and it had a door lintel and a wooden intermediate floor. It was built with rows of squared stones.

The walls

Peratallada was one of the best fortified towns in Catalonia. The defensive sys-tem was composed of three enclosures wall. The main campus had the castle in the center and the other two were large eaves or advanced northward and east. The three walls with high towers and paintings were protected by deep valleys carved into the rock. This moat ignored chronology and also arguably has some points which are visible today with a depth of 7 to 8 meters. In a drawing from the Service of Cataloging Monu-ments of the Province of Barcelona we find an ideal reconstruction of the walls. We find the population divided into three

sectors, each of which has its own fortifi-cation. All three are closed, according to this hypothesis and totally disconnected one from the other. They are completely encircled and each one with its own walls, towers and valleys.They only communicate through some hypothetical bridges located around the rampart.The sectors with less damage are the walls from the north and northwest. They belong in the larger fragments to the northern precinct and, in part, to the grounds surrounding the main castle-palace. In the far north of the town there is an extensive stretch parallel to the road, with high walls and rectangular towers, which open the Portal of the Vir-gin, the only well-preserved one in the walls. If you want to get there you must pass a bridge over the valley and at that place you have a spectacular view and also the best preserved part.

The medieval village

Peratallada has preserved its rural

character while maintaining fidelity to its architectural and urban origins. It can be said that it has not expanded beyond the perimeter walls. The town still retains its medieval urban layout. The square, with its particular porches and also a plot of narrow alleys where you can find a set of interesting architecture. The Walls of the oldest houses still remain the characteristics of the sixteenth century. The traditional house Peratallada usually coated with low stone vaults, and cellars used for storage, while the upper floor is dedicated to a living space. There may be another kind of floor, an attic or a barn or a wide yard – at the back side.

The Gastronomic and commercial offer In addition to its historical and archi-tectural attractions, the town is known for its large range of craft and especial cuisine. The streets of the center are full of numerous and suggestive restau-rants from all kinds, offering the perfect complement to a visit to the village.

peratallada[ ]

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“Water: the life of my river”PALAMÓS (6 – 11 MAI 2013)

The third meeting of the project “My river. My life “took place in Palamós, Girona province, autonomous commu-nity of Catalonia in the northeastern of Spain. Pedagogical high school’s team from Buzau was represented by the fol-lowing teachers: Mr. Coman Constantin – director, Cristina Maican -deputy direc-tor, Mariana Dobre-teachers and Viorica Raicu – project coordinator. Welcome meeting took place at the Public Institute of Palamós, starring Mr. Josep Blasco, who is European Coordi-nator of the project. For all participants was a great pleasure to discover on the intended of the project, materials pro-duced by teachers and students from the schools involved in the project. After organising the first Confer-ence we participated at the first confer-

ence from the program, with the theme “What European programms give us as teachers”, presented by Merce Travé, programs consultant in the Ministry of education of Catalunya. So we had the opportunity to find many similarities be-tween European programmes and those that we develop in our country. The schedule of the day continued with a presentation on “Social networks and School” moderated by police officer Marta Pon. Were submitted to differ-ent situations and actions of prevention against the dangers to which we expose on social networks, very similar to what is done in our country. The next appointment consisted in the meeting with the Mayor of the city .She wanted to welcome us and to provide the town of Palamós as a city

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with a great opening towards Europe, by continuing involvement in European projects, but also apperance of tradi-tional fishing port-town by inviting us to the Fisherman’s Museum for various activities: exhibitions of photographs and fishing tools,a documentary film of the marine faunaa and gastronomy workshop. The next day schdule was just as interesting: a trip to the place from which springs the river Ter in the Pyr-enees mountains, with stops in several medieval villages for which the River was over time not only a source of water, but also a natural barrier against foreign invasions: Besalú and Ripoll, Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Setcases, Spain. Wednesday, we returned at work in the Institute of Palamos with the

,,Educational systems “ conference, followed by a workshop with the theme “ Similarities and differences between the educational systems “. For a more detailed comparison, we visited the school and we talked with students and teachers, we visited the classroom and laboratories. So we discovered that there is a close collaboration with cultural and economical institutions from the com-munity, in particular with Palamós Hospi-tal, which organizes training courses and practical activities for students. Changing the topic registry, proj-ect’s participants, were invited to visit the city from a different perspective, as a favorite destination for the famous novelist Truman Capote and his friends from Holywood. If the first trip was to follow up

the importance of the river Ter for resi-dents of Girona followed the road head-ing to the spring, on Friday we went in opposite direction to the effusion: Figueres, Rosas, Empuriabrava, Natural Park Aiguamolls, where we delighted our eyes with the variety of landscapes, plants and birds. During the working meetings with the coordinators of each schools have been established activities to be achived the objectives of the project already established. As each meeting, the week spent in Palamós was an tremendous experience at an international level, but also a rich resource of information about culture and civilization.

Team of Buzău- Romania

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LICEUL CU PROGRAM SPORTIV”PETRACHE TRISCU”CRAIOVA- ROMANIA“Water: THE LIFE OF MY RIVER…MY LIFE”PALAMOS 6 – 11 MAI 2013

The third multilateral Comenius project meeting of Petrache Triscu Highschool was held since 6 to 11 May 2013 in Spain, Palamos.Within this mobility only teachers took part, the pupils not being involved.The next teachers were present from the project team: Adriana Gherghe-coordinator,Danut Anghel, Catalin Bran-dusoiu and Maria Dumitru.The first day activities were done in school. The welcome wishes were greeted by the headmaster of the school and the international coordinator Josep Blasco.According to the schedule, the first conference „What European programs give us, as teachers” was followed by a debate of the local police on the theme “Social networks and school” in which there were presented. actions against the risks the children have on the dif-ferent social networks. The dialogues underlined the fact that these problems are everywhere and all of us should be involved in preventing these dangersThe city hall of Palamos was our next shelter. A young and friendly woman welcomed us in a fancy room with the portraits of the Spanish kings, wall pictures, the history of the city as an European city, touristic and fishing point.The next shelter was at the Museum of the Fisher then at the Fish Stock and at the market the day being ended with a

traditional fish dish.The route toward the places where Ter river starts, passes through some im-portant cities Besalu, Ripoll, Girona but also through medieval villages: Figueres, Rosas, Empuriabrava, a small Venice of Catalans are unforgettable. For a total protection of the vegetation and Wilderness the protection fences were electrified. Thursday was a team work day with conferences and workshops. The educational system of each country was presented there were conversations, comparisons and the conclusions will be presented in the no 3 of the project magazine. (http://myrivermylife.wix.com/myriv-

ermylife)In the afternoon we visited some favor-ite places of the novel writer Truman Capote that loved these sightsThe next visits were established and the materials to be done for the objectives of the projects. The friday was dedicated to the river and in the evening the diplo-mas were awarded.The visit in Palamos was a succesfull one the Spanish colleagues being great hosts and we had a European experience sent to the pupils and colleagues in school

The project team from Craiova-RomaniaAdriana Gherghe-coordinator,

Danut Anghel, Catalin Brandusoiu Mihaela Berindeie

Maria Dumitru.