comarca
A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...
in the
Penedès
Penedès () is a natural region, natural and historical region of Catalonia. It is located in the south of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain between the pre-coastal mountain range (''Serralada Pre-litoral'') and the Mediterranean Sea. ...
region, in
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
,
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
. The area has been settled since the times of the
Iberians
The Iberians (, from , ''Iberes'') were an ancient people settled in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian Peninsula, at least from the 6th century BC. They are described in Greek and Roman sources (among others, by Hecataeus of Mil ...
, with ancient ruins remaining in Banyeres at ''Can CanyÃs'', at the village of ''Guà rdies'' and in Calafell at the villages of ''Toixoneres'' and ''la Ciutadella'' ("The Citadel"). The capital is
El Vendrell
El Vendrell () is a town located in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, in the wine-growing region of Penedès. It is wedged between the Mediterranean and the coastal range. El Vendrell is the capital of the Baix Penedès ''comarca'' and a t ...
.
Municipalities
Castellers
Baix Penedès has one of the longest-lived traditions of castellers in Catalonia. (Castellers practice the traditional Catalan art/sport of making
human pyramid
A human pyramid is an acrobatics, acrobatic formation of three or more people in which two or more people support a tier of higher people, who in turn may support other, higher tiers of people. People above the bottom tier may kneel or stand on ...
s.) The comarcal capital, el Vendrell, has a monument dedicated to castellers.
The most important competitions of Castellers in the comarca occur each year as part of the August festival in honor of the
Virgin Mary
Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...
at Bisbal and on the fourth Sunday of August at L'Arboç, with castellers from all over Catalonia.
People from Baix Penedès
Among the most important historical figures from Baix Penedès are:
*
Àngel GuimerÃ
Àngel Guimerà i Jorge (; 6 May 1845 or 6 May 1847 or 1849 – 18 July 1924), usually known simply as Àngel Guimerà , was a Catalan Spanish playwright and poet. His work is known for bringing together under romantic aspects the main elemen ...
(1845–1924): writer. Guimerà was originally from the
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...
, but his mother was from el Vendrell, and he eventually settled there in his ancestral home, ''cal Guimerà ''.
*
Montserrat
Montserrat ( , ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is part of the Leeward Islands, the northern portion of the Lesser Antilles chain of the West Indies. Montserrat is about long and wide, wit ...
. Since 1978, there has been a monument to him in his home village of l'Arboç, where his ancestral home is on the main street.
*
(1892–1937) dissident Communist revolutionary in the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...