It is currently a region in flux.
But, long before the referendum caused Catalonia to make the headlines, the northeastern Spanish spot enjoyed much simpler times – as a rare collection of stunning images have proved, this week.
Unearthed ahead of the much-publicised independence vote, which is set to happen on 1 October, a collection of postcards from the 1980s and beyond depict a more sedate era.
The twelve snapshots – which have been colourised for greater detail – illustrate the famous Spanish pastime of bull fighting in Barcelona, the region’s biggest city, and the majestic landscape of the Fachada de la Catedral between 1890 and 1906.
Another exposes the elaborate architecture of Arco de Triunfo y Palacio, while one shows tourists gathering in the Plaza de la Paz.
Barcelona is one of the four provinces of Catalonia; an autonomous community of Spain. The four provinces consist of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona.
Destination point: Tourists flock to Plaza de la Paz in Barcelona, many of whom travel by horse and cart
Iconic: The stunning Arco de Triunfo y Palacio de Justicia stands tall in Barcelona
A bygone era: The sparsely-populated beach in San Sebastion
Still life: A man works in the road near Principal gate, Fuentarrabia, in Spain’s popular Basque Country
Famous pastime: Crowds are entertained by a ferocious bull fight in Barcelona
Historic: Fachada de la Catedral (left) and Calle Mayor, Fuenterrabia, as they were back in the day
Timely: The images have been unearthed ahead of the much-publicised independence vote on 1 October
As it was: A snapshot of everyday life in Bilbao, the largest city in the province of Biscay and the Basque Country as a whole
Picturesque: Seamen gather at the harbor of San Sebastion in the 1890s
Sail away: A view from the Hendaye, Fuenterrabia, shows a collection of fishing boats and sea workers
Beach front: A woman, dressed in era-appropriate clothing, shelters from the sun under an umbrella