Cunit
Encyclopedia
Cunit is a coastal town on the Golden Coast (Costa Daurada in Catalan
) in the Baix Penedès
region
part of the province of Tarragona in Catalonia
, Spain
.
and the province of Tarragona but is included in the third crown of the Urban Region of Barcelona. Bordered by Segur de Calafell (location of the municipality of Calafell
), in the same area, as well as Cubelles
in the district of Garraf
and Castellet i la Gornal
in the region of Alt Penedès
, both from the province of Barcelona.
This is a large and dispersed settlement. It is similar to neighbouring coastal settlements of the Baix Penedès which used to trade a great deal with punicobusitans traders. A relationship that no doubt had its own weight in the transformation of the habits and customs of the early settlers.
pirates and Turkey (1581), the Mas of Vilaseca remained populated. There are also references to a fishing settlement on the beach, documented in 1638 in 1670, residents from time immemorial were licensed to fish on Sundays and religious holidays, on payment of a stipend
of one tenth of the catch to the local parish.
From 1960, Cunit began to become a summer vacation centre for the Barcelona
Metropolitan Area. At the same time, it started to become a major residential area of the Golden Coast
(to the north) and Segur de Calafell (to the south) which caused a disruption of the morphodynamic equilibrium, the effect being a visible loss of the beaches. Since 1997 it has been receiving the award of blue flag
given by the Europe
an Foundation for Environmental Education
.
The concentration of large environmental infrastructure on the territory and the coast, as the future Cubelles marina , the existence of a combined cycle thermal plant, the location of a desalination plant has opened a debate that includes a beach protection enhancement project developed for the Spanish Coastal Authority following guidelines for littoral enhancement set by the Ministry of the Environment's coastal zone management plan. This long stretch of beach constitutes probably the most important asset of the Municipality of Cunit which relies on tourism as the main income source. The coastal front development combined with beach erosion in the eighties resulted in beach protection with detached breakwaters creating a series of pocket beaches. Despite to the strong armouring of the coast, erosion problems are still evident and critical at some points of the coast, as well as flooding. On the other hand, the existing structures represent also a hazardous condition for swimmers. As a result, a critical analysis of the existing structures has been overtaken, which together with detailed analysis of the coastal processes, have allowed to provide a new solution, replacing the hard structures with soft protection.
Currently awaiting to receive the report on the management of beaches commissioned the University of Cantabria to adopt a solution to the coastal areas of Cunit.
proposes to town for inclusion in the official lists of Site of Community Importance
for the maritime grasslands described as Posidonia oceanica
.
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
) in the Baix Penedès
Baix Penedès
Baix Penedès is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. The area has been settled since the times of the Iberians, with ancient ruins remaining in Banyeres at Can Canyís, in the capital el Vendrell at the village of Guàrdies and in Calafell at the villages of Toixoneres and la Ciutadella .- Municipalities...
region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
part of the province of Tarragona in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Location and site
It is located in the district of Baix PenedèsBaix Penedès
Baix Penedès is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. The area has been settled since the times of the Iberians, with ancient ruins remaining in Banyeres at Can Canyís, in the capital el Vendrell at the village of Guàrdies and in Calafell at the villages of Toixoneres and la Ciutadella .- Municipalities...
and the province of Tarragona but is included in the third crown of the Urban Region of Barcelona. Bordered by Segur de Calafell (location of the municipality of Calafell
Calafell
Calafell is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
), in the same area, as well as Cubelles
Cubelles
Cubelles is a town in Catalonia, in the province of Barcelona, Spain. It is situated in the comarca of Garraf.-Historia:Breu història CUBELLESEl 1274, Jaume el Conqueridor va atorgar grans privilegis a la zona de la vila, propera al castell...
in the district of Garraf
Garraf
Garraf is a comarca in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, northern Spain.It is named after the Garraf Massif.-Municipalities:*Canyelles - pop. 3,127*Cubelles - pop. 10,617*Olivella - pop. 2,179*Sant Pere de Ribes - pop. 26,108...
and Castellet i la Gornal
Castellet i la Gornal
Castellet i la Gornal is a municipality in the comarca of the Alt Penedès in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the valley of the Foix river at the point where it crosses the Coastal Range. The river is dammed to form the Foix reservoir. The ajuntament is in La Gornal...
in the region of Alt Penedès
Alt Penedès
Alt Penedès is a comarca in Catalonia, northern Spain. The capital is Vilafranca del Penedès.-Municipalities:*Avinyonet del Penedès - pop. 1334*Les Cabanyes - pop. 603*Castellet i la Gornal - pop. 1562*Castellví de la Marca - pop. 1497...
, both from the province of Barcelona.
History, culture and art
Cunit origins date back to prehistoric times, with archaeological remains found dating back to 3700 BC.First settlers
The first settlers are documented in a total of six well-documented sources.This is a large and dispersed settlement. It is similar to neighbouring coastal settlements of the Baix Penedès which used to trade a great deal with punicobusitans traders. A relationship that no doubt had its own weight in the transformation of the habits and customs of the early settlers.
Land
- http://cultura.gencat.net/invarque/llistaInvarque.asp?txnom=&cbComarca_1=12&conComarca_1=&cbComarca_2=+&conComMun_1=&cbPoblacio_1=430516&conPoblacio_1=&cbPoblacio_2=+&cbTipus_1=+&conTipus_1=&cbTipus_2=+&conTipus_2=&cbTipus_3=+&conTipus_3=&cbTipus_4=+&cbCrono_1=+&conCrono_1=&cbCrono_2=+&conCrono_2=&cbCrono_3=+&conCrono_3=&cbCrono_4=+&Proteccio=+&Cercar=CercarDepartament de Cultura i Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya]
- Fondo d'en Roig
Architectural heritage and Edificio Los Diamantes
Demographics
The 1590, although the town had been almost depopulated by the incursions of the SaracenSaracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
pirates and Turkey (1581), the Mas of Vilaseca remained populated. There are also references to a fishing settlement on the beach, documented in 1638 in 1670, residents from time immemorial were licensed to fish on Sundays and religious holidays, on payment of a stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
of one tenth of the catch to the local parish.
From 1960, Cunit began to become a summer vacation centre for the Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
Metropolitan Area. At the same time, it started to become a major residential area of the Golden Coast
Weather
Mediterranean climate provides mild winters and hot summers.Beaches
One of the main attractions of the town are the 2 and a half kilometers of sandy beaches in the form of golden beaches, protected by seven longitudinal breakwaters and four in the form of islands. These breakwaters had to be built in the early 1980s due to construction of the reservoir of Foix and the ports of CubellesCubelles
Cubelles is a town in Catalonia, in the province of Barcelona, Spain. It is situated in the comarca of Garraf.-Historia:Breu història CUBELLESEl 1274, Jaume el Conqueridor va atorgar grans privilegis a la zona de la vila, propera al castell...
(to the north) and Segur de Calafell (to the south) which caused a disruption of the morphodynamic equilibrium, the effect being a visible loss of the beaches. Since 1997 it has been receiving the award of blue flag
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
given by the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Foundation for Environmental Education
Foundation for Environmental Education
The Foundation for Environmental Education is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education...
.
Coast management
Currently awaiting to receive the report on the management of beaches commissioned the University of Cantabria to adopt a solution to the coastal areas of Cunit.
Seabed
World Wide Fund for NatureWorld Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
proposes to town for inclusion in the official lists of Site of Community Importance
Site of Community Importance
A Site of Community Importance is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of a natural habitat type or of a...
for the maritime grasslands described as Posidonia oceanica
Posidonia oceanica
Posidonia oceanica is a seagrass species that is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. It forms large underwater meadows that are an important part of the ecosystem. The fruit is free floating and known in Italy as 'the olive of the sea'...
.