Portray of the Destination
Lleida is the capital city of the Segrià region and the province under its name. It is the most
important population and economic inland center in Catalonia. Its economy is based on the
agricultural and food sector, as well as on all kinds of services. Commerce is a deeply rooted
tradition in the city that spreads its influence over Segrià and neighbouring regions. The newly
opened, high-quality cultural facilities, like the new University Campus, have given the city's
cultural life an extraordinary boost. Lleida is a culturally active modern city, well connected and
situated in a unique natural environment.
Lleida has the privilege of being provided with natural areas as important as La Mitjana
nature reserve -an ecosystem of great natural and ecological value-, the Segre River park and Camps
Elisis, in addition to the so-called “Huerta” (Orchard), the green belt that surrounds the city.
This natural heritage has made Lleida grow, following environmental and quality values within the
framework of a sustainable city. In addition to this, the unmistakable medieval atmosphere that
breathes from its monuments and streets, made Lleida become a vivid experience more than a tourist
route.
We would like to thank the “Turisme de Lleida” tourism board of Lleida for the text and
photographs provided. Visit:
www.turismedelleida.com
Geography
Lérida is in the Autonomous Region of Catalonia (SPAIN), located 155 kilometers to the west of
Barcelona city, with which it is connected by motorway, highway, train and bus. The city of Lérida,
capital of the Segrià region, is the main demographic, economic and cultural nucleus of inland
Catalonia. The city of Lérida stretches along a vast territory from the Pyrenees to the Ebro river,
with deep historical and linguistic bonds with the neighbouring region of Aragon.
The variety of landscapes (PrePyrenees and Pyrenees, the Lérida plain and the semi-arid area
of the southern regions) constitute an incomparable natural ensemble, where several and varied
excursions can be made, such as skiing, adventure sports, walking by the Segre riverside , admiring
the landscapes of dry regions, visiting singular lands like the Mitjana, Utxesa or Bajo Cinca humid
zones, or the large tabular formation of the Oligocene and Miocene ages, that practically occupies
all the south of the territory, and the alluvial deposits of the Segre and Ebro’s water course,
mainly.
Climate
The city of Lleida, with its continental climate, has steady seasonal temperatures, although there
is a big difference between them. Its average temperature range from 26 Cº in summer to 7 Cº in
winter.
When to go
Due to the varied tourist agenda of Lleida, to the recreational activities that offer their
cultural and natural spaces, and that summer and winter are really mild, it is a destination to
consider all the year round.
History
The Ilergetes were an Iberian tribe who settled in the middle of the 6th century BC. Their most
important leaders were Indibil and Mandoni, who defended the Ilergetes against the Carthaginians
and Romans. Once defeated, in the year 205, the city changed its name to Ilerda.
Roman chronicles describe a walled city with a stone bridge forming a municipality (founded
in the time of Emperor Augustus) with fertile orchards, which, at the end of the 3rd century, were
destroyed by barbarian Germanic tribes. Around the years 716-719, Lleida was settled by the
Saracens and the following four centuries of coexistence marked the character of the city. In
October 1149, the city surrendered to the troops of Ramon Berenguer IV and Ermengol VI of Urgell.
In 1150 the Charter “ad populandum” was granted to the city. In 1300 James II founded the popular
Estudi General, which was the only center of higher education in the territories of the Crown of
Aragon until the end of the 15th century.
Since 1382, the seat of the municipal government has been settled in the ancient palace of
the Sanaüjas, an important example of civil Romanesque art. From that time onwards, the building
has been called the Paeria Palace. The name Paeria is due to the privilege that James I granted in
1264, replacing the former Roman consulate for another way of municipal government called Paeria.
The 15th century was a proliferating period full of great architectural works that have lasted
until the present day. An example is the Hospital de Santa Maria, which houses the Ilerdense
Research Centre since its foundation in 1942.
The two following centuries were characterised by recession due to the wars and diseases
which ended with the “Guerra dels Segadors” -Reapers' War- (between 1640 and 1652). The city was
damaged and Philip V found Lleida in ruins. Finally, with the Nueva Planta decrees (1714), Lleida
lost its own jurisdiction, the Paeria municipal government system and its University. The Seu Vella
(the Old Cathedral), closed since 1797, became a military barracks.
In the 18th century, the city regained its image and size; during the reign of Charles III
the Catedral Nova (New Cathedral) was built. The new ideas of the Enlightenment gave rise to such
remarkable figures as Blondel and the baron of Maials. They changed the appearance of the city in
accordance with its role as the provincial capital and applied the new agricultural studies to
crops. At the beginning of the 19th century, Lleida suffered a new setback, the Napoleonic
invasion. Once again the city had to recover from the wars disasters, and in the second half of the
19th century, a new period began. The railway line reached the city in 1860; in 1864 the Camps
Elisis gardens were opened and in 1865 architect Josep Fontseré began to design the first modern
city layout.
The beginning of the 20th century brought the reassertion of the Catalan State, with the
Mancomunitat de Catalunya (Catalonia Community). The Spanish Civil War (1936 -1939) destroyed the
city again. Then, in 1940, with only 40,000 inhabitants, everyone's effort was needed to achieve
urban, commercial and demographic growth.
Traditions
Highlights of the broad schedule of popular traditions are the spectacular flower offering to the
patron Saint Anastasius (a Roman soldier born in Lleida, who was martyred in Badalona by order of
Diocletian in 303) and the battle of flowers held on the 11 May itself, in the morning and
afternoon respectively. Many floats parade along the Rambla de Ferran, whose occupants "fight" the
public with confetti and streamers. The constant presence of the city's emblematic dragon, Lo
Marraco, and the oldest pair of giants in Catalonia, Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra (built in 1840)
is another attraction.
Among the festivities, the Moors and Christians Festival, the performance by the Castellers
de Lleida and, at the end of the month, the Aplec del Caragol (Snail Jamboree), deserves a mention
since it has been considered as event of national cultural interest. The festival ends just as it
began, with a splendid firework display on the left bank of the Segre River.
The Lleida’s Carnivals (in February) are very important and date from the 16th century, but
they were not recovered until 1984 and they are so deeply ingrained that even surrounding
populations participate with their floats and groups.
The celebration of Saint Jaume’s pilgrimage and specially the Easter arouse a particular
fervour in the population. Coinciding with the San Miguel festivity (September 29th) and the
agrarian fair under the same name, the city of Lleida celebrates its Autumn Festivities.
Gastronomy
Lleida’s gastronomy has its own personality. It is mainly based on fruit, snails, barbecued meat,
sausages, casseroles and stews... Orchards provides vegetables for dishes whose main ingredients
are meat from the farm and, above all, pork. It should be highlighted that the regions of Lleida
are leaders in breeding and fattening this animal.
Lleida's wine (Guarantee of origin Costers del Segre) and olive oil (Guarantee of Origin Les
Garrigues) are worldwide recognised top-quality products. When talking about autumn cuisine we must
not forget the wild mushrooms from the Lleida regions: saffron milk caps, blue spot knights, grey
knights, field mushrooms... Among the desserts and the cakes it is worth to mention the "Cocas de
recapte", "panadons" (big pies) of spinach, raisins and pine nuts...and "Granados" almond sweets,
bearing the name of Lleida's famous musician.
Lleida is popular for its snail cookery. Snails can be cooked "a la llauna" (on metal plates,
accompanied with allioli or vinaigrette), with "samfaina" (green pepper and tomato sauce), "a la
brutesca" (on a stone tile with burning straw placed on top of them), "a la gormanta" (fried with
flour, salt and pepper)... The Aplec del Caracol (Snail Jamboree) culinary festival is the greatest
example of this native Lleida cuisine.
The word “Fruinar”, meaning to enjoy Lleida´s fruit cookery, has been created by the Tourism
Office of Lleida in order to promote the fruit, since it has been one of the products most
identified with the city of Lleida and its surrounding area. 39,000 hectares of apple, pear, peach,
cherry, apricot and plum trees produce more than 900 million kilos of orchard fruit under normal
weather conditions. One out of two apples and pears produced in Spain comes from Lleida, which,
with 700,000 tonnes, is the top Spanish producer of almost all varieties.
Basic Dictionary
YES: si. NO: no. HELLO: hola. GOOD BYE: adios. GOOD MORNING: buenos días. GOOD AFTERNOON: buenas
tardes. GOOD NIGHT: buenas noches. PLEASE: por favor. SORRY: lo siento. THANK YOU: gracias. DOCTOR:
médico. PHARMACY: farmacia. NUMBERS: 1: un. 2: dos. 3: tres. 4: cuatro. 5: cinco. 6: seis. 7:
siete. 8: ocho. 9: nueve. 10: diez. 11: once. 12: doce. 13: trece. 14: catorce. 15: quince. 16:
dieciséis. 17: diecisiete. 18: dieciocho. 19: diecinueve. 20: veinte. 21: veintiuno. 22: veintidós.
30: treinta. 40: cuarenta. 50: cincuenta. 60: sesenta. 70: setenta. 80: ochenta. 90: noventa. 100:
cien. 1000: mil. DAYS OF THE WEEK: MONDAY: lunes. TUESDAY: martes. WEDNESDAY: miércoles. THURSDAY:
jueves. FRIDAY: viernes. SATURDAY: sábado. SUNDAY: domingo. COMMON WORDS: BIG/SMALL:
grande/pequeño. HOT/COLD: caliente/frío. OPEN/CLOSED: abierto/cerrado. GOOD/BAD: bueno/malo.
NEW/OLD: nuevo/viejo. PUSH/PULL: empujar/tirar. ENTRANCE/EXIT: entrada/salida. LADIES/GENTLEMEN:
señoras/señores. FAR/NEAR: lejos/cerca. LEFT/RIGHT: izquierda/derecha. TAXI: taxi. BUS: autobús.
MEALS: BREAKFAST: desayuno. LUNCH: comida. DINNER: cena. MENU: menú. WINES: vinos. DESSERT: postre.
THE BILL: la cuenta. COMMON SENTENCES: DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?: ¿Habla inglés?. I DON'T UNDERSTAND:
no entiendo. WHERE IS IT?: ¿donde está? HOW MUCH IS IT: ¿Cuánto es? WHAT TIME IS IT: ¿Qué hora es?
COULD YOU HELP ME: ¿Puede ayudarme?
Currency
Euros. There are 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euro bank notes. There are also 1 and 2 euro coins, together with 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent coins
Currency Exchange
1 EUR (Euro) = 1.20 U$D (United States Dollar), 1 EUR (Euro) = 0.66 GBP (Sterling Pound).
Prices
In comparison with other European Union countries, and perhaps due to its high tourist vocation,
Spain is one of the cheapest countries. Obviously, prices vary depending on the season, being
higher during the summer and lower in winter.
Useful Info
Official nameLleida
CountryKingdom of Spain
Time Zone+1 GMT
Official LanguageSpanish and Catalan
Surface area211.7 km²
Population130,000 inhabitants
Political RegimeConstitutional Monarchy
Public holidaysJanuary 1st : New Year. January 6th : Epiphany. May 1st : Labor Day. May 11st : San Anastasio's
Day. June 24th: San Juan's day. August 15th : Our Lady of Asunción. September 29th: San Miguel's
Day October 12th : National celebration of Spain. November 1st : All Saints Day. December 6th : Day
of the Spanish Constitution. December 8th : Day of the Immaculate Conception. December 25th :
Christmas. December 26th: San Esteban's Day.
ReligionLike all the rest of Spain, Lleida is mainly catholic and this is reflected, even, in the holiday
calendar of the city. Although this is so, plurality of options and freedom of worship exist.
Religion90 % Catholics, 8 % Muslim and 2 % Jews
Arrival / DepartureLleida is located in one of the most fertile and productive areas in Europe. By the Segre River,
halfway between the sea and the mountains and perfectly connected, it is on the route that connects
Spain with the rest of Europe and the Mediterranean. It boasts modern networks, headed by the
high-speed railway line (AVE) and the road network: the AP-2 motorways, which connects Lleida with
Barcelona and Zaragoza; the Occidental Axis, which leads to the Ebro delta, and the Transversal
axis bound to the Girona region. This position as a crossroads will be soon enhanced by the
construction of an airport in the neighbouring town of Alguaire and the Lleida-Huesca motorway.
SafetySecurity is a priority, as well as in all of Spain. In this territory the institutions count on
several services which aim is to make the coexistence easier and to help during emergencies.
LOCAL POLICE: 973 243 340 and 092.
General precautions to avoid theft must be taken such as travelling with just the amount of
necessary money and to watch purses and wallets around crowded areas.
VisaThe European Union tourists do not need visa to enter Spain. Neither those citizens of the United
States, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and the rest of the Latin American countries, though a return
ticket must be bought. Travelers from Australia, Anguilla, Bermuda, Canada, Cyprus, South Korea,
Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Montserrat, New
Zealand, Saint Helena, Singapore and Turk & Caicos do not either need visa provided that they
do not stay more than 90 days in Spain.
ClothingClothing, which does not have very fixed rules, changes according to the climatic period, the place
or the circumstances. The Spanish usually do not over dress to attend to work or to share leisure
time with others; in general casual and comfortable clothes are used, without forgetting that
during the month of January, warm clothes are a must.
Electricity220V, 50 Hz. Sockets take two round plugs.
Radio and TelevisionThe city’s radio stations are:
FM Radio Stations: Cadena 100, Cadena 40 principales, Radios 1, 3, 4 and 5(Radio Nacional de
España), Radio Clásica, Onda Jovén, Europa FM, Cadena Dial, Cadena Cope and Onda Cero.
AM Radio Stations are: RNE-1, Cadena Cope, Radio 5 and Cadena Ser.
Lleida’s Local radio stations: Alpicat Radio, Catalunya Radio, Flaix FM Lleida, Ona Lleida,
Radio Lleida and Segre Radio.
TV National Channels are: Tele 5, TVE 2, TVE 1, Cuatro, Antena 3 and La Sexta.
Community TV channels: TV3 and Canal33 (www.tvcatalunya.com)
Lleida’s Local TV Channels: LLEIDA TV, it has current event programming with three editions.
It also has entertaining shows, tv-series and cartoons. (www.tvlleida.com); SEGRIÁ TELEVISIÓ:
all week news diffusion with informative videotext and MTV. (www.segriatv.com); La Manyana TV.
TelephoneThe dialling code for Spain is 34 and for Lleida is 973. For international calls first dial 00
followed by the country code and the telephone number. For calls within Spain the use of a special
code is not necessary.
The most important operators are Ono (www.ono.es); Movistar -Teléfonica Móviles
(www.movistar.tsm.es) and Vodafone (www.vodafone.es). Public phone booths are often found along the
streets. They operate on local currency coins or pre-paid calling cards that can be bought in
"locutorios" (establishment with several phone booths where you can call and pay in cash). In these
places, among other services, it is possible to send and receive faxes and to find computers with
Internet access.
Police973 225 067 and Mossos d'esquadra: 088
Ambulance061
Fire Brigade973 706 080
Tourist health care services112
Newspapers and MagazinesBesides receiving all the National Newspapers such as: Abc, El Mundo, El País, La Razón or La
Vanguardia, and the ones from Catalonia like “EL PERIODICO DE CATALUÑA” (www.elperiodico.com),
Lleida has local newspapers: SEGRE (www.diarisegre.com) and “LA MAÑANA” (www.lamanyana.es).
It also receives the following magazines: “Época”, “Semana”, “Interviú” and “Tiempo de Hoy”.
Postal ServiceThe post office system is efficient. Letters within Europe usually arrive after 3 to 5 days. A
certified postal shipment costs a minimum of 2.5 euros. There are two Post offices in Lleida, which
can be searched on the web-page: www.correos.es.
RAMBLA FERRAN,16. Telephone: +34 973228748
SEGOVIA, 6. Telephone: +34 973268260.
Schedules: from 8:30 to 20:30 on week days, Saturdays from 9:30 to 13:00. Closed on Sundays
and holidays. Customer service telephone: 902 197 197
Health Care ServicesHealth care centers in Lleida, as well as in the rest of Spain, offer permanent medical assistance
to all the inhabitants. This services ensure a direct and comfortable attention. 112 is an
operative and technological service that coordinates different organisms ensuring public security,
offering an integrated information and communication service and facilitating the attention to the
citizens in any emergency on a single phone number:112. The main clinics and hospitals are:
HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARI ARNAU DE VILANOVA, Av. Mayor Rovira Roure, 80 Telephone: +34
973248100
CLÍNICA DE PONENT. Av. Enric Prat de la Riba, 79-81, Telephone: +34 973232943
CLINICA MONTSERRAT M.L, S.A., Bisbe Towers, 13 . Telephone: +34 973266300
CLINICA NOSTRA SENYORA DEL PERPETU SOCORS, Bisbe Meseguer, 3 Telephone: +34 973266100
HOSPITAL DE SANTA MARIA,. Av. Alcanlde Rovira Roure, 44, Telephone: +34 973727222.
AirportThis city does not have an airport, but it is under construction. This airport will be located in
Alguaire and will receive passengers and cargo, as well as commercial flights and aviation. The
beginning of the construction is prepared for the year 2006. The nearest airports are those of
Tarragona and Barcelona.
Reus Airoport (Tarragona) Motorway Reus/Tarragona, REUS (Tarragona) Telephone: +34 977 77 98
00 - 977 77 98 12. Barcelona Airport, Edificio Bloque Técnico, 08820 El Prat de Llobregat, Number
of terminals: 3. Telephone : +34 93 298 3838, fax : +34 93 298 3737. The airport is located in El
Prat de Llobregat, 14 km southwest to the urban center. For further information contact:
www.aena.es.
Public TransportLleida has a total of 16 bus services that perfectly connect the different city zones. The taxi is
another possible option: Radio Taxi (Telephone: +34 973 20 30 50 - 973 24 90 90), Radio-Tele Taxi
(Telephone: +34 973 24 90 90), Taxi Lleida (Telephone: +34 973 23 99 00).
This city also offers the visitor a different way to live it during summer months. A tour on
a tourist double-decker, with an uncovered top, to watch and discover Lleida. Throughout an
interesting historic, cultural and leisure ride, you can visit the city and its places accompanied
by a tour guide. The tourist bus is the easiest and most attractive way to know Lleida.
During the rest of the year, from each one of the bus stops, four tourist routes designed to
visit the most interesting places in the city can be taken.
To get more information about these routes visit the web site: www.turismedelleida.com
RailwayLleida is part of the national railway network that allows a fluid communication with the rest of
the region and the whole territory. The Lleida-Pirineos station is located in: Pl. Ramon Berenguer
IV, s/n with Connection to the Pobla de Segur (Pyrenees Tourist Train).
Renfe: reserves and information: +34 902 24 02 02 www.renfe.es
Lleida is a member of the AVE cities, which is an association that gathers the main cities “
united” by the high speed train.
BusLleida´s 16 bus lines are administered by Autobuses de Lleida SA. belonging to the Sarbus Grup
(Telephone: +34 973 272 999, www.autobusoslleida.com)
The Bus-station of Lleida is located in Saracibar, 2. Telephone: 34 973 268 500.
Alsina Graells, located on the bus-station, is another interurban bus company. Telephone: +34
973 271 470 (www.alsinagraells.com). It offers the AVE high speed train link schedules. The Eix Bus
makes the Lleida - Tàrrega - Cervera - Manresa - Vic – Girona journey, from 06:15 to 19:15 daily.
Telephone: +34 973 271 470.
CarThe AP-2 motorway, connects with the city of Barcelona and Zaragoza; the Occidental axis, which
leads to the Ebro delta, and the Transversal axis bound to the Girona region. From the city, a road
network easily connects it with the rest of the territory: the A-230 road, leads to the Valle de
Arán or the Valle de Boí, or the C-1313, that crosses the inland regions up to the Seu de Urgell
and Andorra.
Car RentalsIn order to rent a car, it is a requirement to be over 23 years old and to have a driving license.
Some agencies also require to be over 25 years old in order to rent special vehicles, compact or
luxury cars. Every car rental agency demands a prepaid fare and a deposit. VISA, American Express
and Master-Card cards are accepted. Car rental offices:
HERTZ: c/ Roger de Llúria, 18. Tel. 973228200
EUROPCAR: Estació de RENFE. Tel. 973240054
NATIONAL ATESA: Av. Garrigues,. 40-42 Telephone. +34 973212428.
AVIS LLOGUER DE COTXES:C/Roger de Llúria, 16.Telephone: +34 973260640.
CATALUNYA RENT-CAR 2003: C/Roger de Llúria, 38 Telephone : +34 902364955.
CONRADO: Av Prat de la Riba, 40, Telephone. +34 973232518.
MAUTO RENTACAR: Ctra. Barcelona km 464, Telephone: +34 902330500
ShipLleida is an inland city from Catalonia that cannot be accessed by boat.
Destination Tourism Office in Spain Spanish embassy in the destination Taking pictures See climatewww.worldweather.org
Currency converterwww.xe.com/ucc
A dinner20 - 30 €.
A coffee1 €
The Bus0.85 €
The taxi1.10 € initial fare, 1.44 € (night rate), 1.65 (public holidays).
The trainIt depends on the distance.
