2002년 9월 스페인의 바르셀로나에 갔을 때 가이드로 나온 한국 여대생에게 물었다.

"지난 월드 컵 때 스페인이 한국한테 억울하게 졌다고 야단이었는데 혹시 봉변을 안 당했어요?"

"봉변요? 대접을 받았답니다. 스페인-한국戰을 할 때 여기 바로셀로나 사람들은 모두 한국을 응원했어요. 한국이 승부차기로 이기자 자기 일처럼 기뻐했답니다."

이번 남아공 월드컵에서 우승후보로 꼽히는 스페인 팀엔 FC 바르셀로나 팀 소속 선수가 여섯 명이다. 세계最高의 미드필더로 꼽히는 사비 에르난데스도 들어 있다. 이들이 과연 스페인 팀을 위하여 全力을 다할지 의문을 품는 사람들도 있다. FC 바르셀로나의 대표인 호안 라포르타씨는 "우리 팀은 全 세계에 팬을 갖고 있다. 우리는 세계의 팀이다. 우리는 일본 팀이고, 미국 팀이며, 아프리카 팀이다."라고 했다. 타임誌 기자가 "스페인 팀은 아닌가요?"라고 묻자 라포르타씨는 잠시 머뭇거리더니 "나는 스페인 대표팀에 대하연 아무 생각이 없어요. 우리 팀원 여섯 명이 거기서 뛰어도 나는 관심이 없습니다."라고 했다.

왜 바로셀로나 사람들은 스페인을 이렇게 싫어하는가? 이래 가지고 통일국가를 어떻게 유지하는가? 이런 의문에 대한 설명은 길다. 오랜 역사적 배경이 있기 때문이다.

바로셀로나를 州都로 하는 카타루니아 自治州는 마드리드를 수도로 하는 스페인에 속해 있지만 행정, 문화 등 여러 면에서 自治를 하고 있다. 특히 스페인어와 함께 가타루니아어를 같이 쓴다. 유럽에서는 自國語가 있으면 독립국을 만드는 경우가 많다. 同族은 종족 개념이 아니라 같은 말을 쓰는 이들의 집합체이다.

카타루니아 지방 사람들은 예술적, 문화적으로 뛰어난 이들이 많다. 건축가 가우디, 첼로의 카잘스, 聲樂의 호세 카레라스, 미술의 미로, 다리, 피카소, 그리고 최근 他界한 前 국제올림픽위원장 사마란치가 이곳 출신이다. 피카소는 출생은 말라가이지만 바르셀로나에서 미술을 공부하였고 그의 미술관이 이곳에 있다.

바르셀로나의 이름은 카르타고의 名將 한니발과 관련이 있다. 그의 아버지는 카르타고의 식민지였던 이곳을 다스리는 총독이었다. 한니발 家門을 '바르시' 집안이라고 했는데 그 말에서 바르셀로나란 이름이 나왔다고 한다.

바르셀로나 지방은 카타루니아라고 불리는데 中世 때 지금의 프랑스와 독일을 통일하였던 프랑크 왕국에 예속된 적이 있어 프랑스와 친근한 편이다.

987년 프랑스 왕에 대한 충성을 거부, 독립한 카타루니아 公國은, 12세기부터 王族끼리의 결혼으로 인접한 아라곤 王國과 연합국을 형성하였다. 바르셀로나 영주가 자동적으로 아라곤 왕국의 王이 되었다. 바르셀로나를 중심으로 한 아라곤-카탈루니아 연합국은 막강한 해군력을 건설, 지중해를 무대로 하여 번영하였다. 한때는 말타, 코르시카와 사르디니아(지금은 이탈리아 소속), 아테네를 영유하였다. 아라곤은 시실리와 남부 이탈리아에 걸친 '나폴리-시실리 왕국'을 정복하기도 하였다.

15세기 후반 이 아라곤 왕국의 페르디난도 왕과 마드리드 중심의 카스틸 왕국 이사벨라 여왕이 결혼, 카스틸-아라곤 연합왕국을 만든다. 이 왕국이 1492년, 콜롬부스가 아메리카 대륙을 발견한 그해, 그라나다에 남아 있던 이슬람 왕국을 멸망시키고 거의 800년에 걸친 기독교-이슬람 전쟁을 승리로 마감한다.

그 뒤 스페인은 카스틸 王國 중심으로 통일되기 시작한다. 아라곤의 페르디난도 王은 부인이 먼저 죽은 뒤 북쪽의 나바라 王國을 합병, 처음으로 스페인 통일王國을 건설한다. 통일된 스페인의 수도는 마드리드로 정해지고 아라곤은 쇠퇴하기 시작하였다. 이때부터 아라곤-카타루니아(바르셀로나) 사람들의 마드리드 중앙정부에 대한 反感이 강해졌다.
17세기 중반엔 프랑스 군대를 불러들여 독립을 꾀하기도 하였다. 18세기 초 스페인 王位 계승전쟁 때 카타루니아는 마드리드의 스페인 왕국에 맞섰다. 1714년 9월11일 스페인軍은 바르셀로나를 점령, 반란을 진압, 의회를 해산하였다. 카타루니아 지방은 지금도 이날을 국경일로 기념한다.

1930년대 후반, 스페인 內戰 때도 바르셀로나는 프랑코 군대에 저항하는 공화파의 마지막 거점이었다. 이 도시는 무정부주의자, 공산주의자, 트로츠키주의자 등 좌익들의 온상이었다. 나중엔 자기들끼리 죽이는 內紛을 일삼다가 自滅하였다.

공화파 지원군으로 참전하였던 영국 작가 조지 오웰은 '카타루니아에 敬意를 표함'이라는 제목의 手記를 써 좌익의 실체를 고발하였다. 오웰은 反스탈린 트로츠키주의자 단체에 소속되었는데, 스탈린의 지령을 받은 親蘇세력이 이들을 공격, 지도부를 집단처형하였다. 오웰 부부도 파리로 탈출, 귀국하였다. 이 경험에서 오웰은 나치 파쇼와 스탈린주의는 인간말살의 전체주의로서 결국 같은 이념이라는 先覺에 도달하였다. 오웰은 공산주의를 비판한 手記를 출판해주려는 편집자를 찾는 데 애를 먹었다. 오웰의 傳記 영화엔 좌익 눈치를 보면서 출판을 거절하는 편집자에게 이렇게 말하는 장면이 있다.

"자네는 진실보다 신념을 더 重視하는 인간인가?"

오웰은 바르셀로나의 체험을 딛고서 공산주의의 악마성을 그린 불후의 명작 '1984' '동물농장'을 쓰게 된다.


프랑코는 바르셀로나를 점령한 뒤 카타루니아 語의 사용을 금지시켰다. 1975년 프랑코가 죽은 뒤 새로운 헌법에 의하여 카타루니아 지방은 자치권을 회복하였다.

카타루니아 지방은 스페인에서 산업혁명을 가장 먼저 시작하여 富를 축적하였다. 이런 富와 지중해 문화의 전통이 결합되고 이곳 특유의 반골정신이 깃들면서 바르셀로나는 새로운 潮流의 문화와 예술을 만들어내는 요람이었다.

1992년 바르셀로나 올림픽은 이곳 출신 사마란치 위원장의 오랜 꿈이 결실된 것이다. 개막식에서 마드리드 출신 프라시도 도밍고와 바르셀로나 출신 호세 카레라스가 함께 노래를 부른 것은 스페인과 카타루니아 지방의 화합을 상징하는 공연이기도 하였다.

그럼에도 이번 월드컵에 출전한 스페인 팀 내의 바르셀로나 출신들이 새삼 주목을 받는 것은 1000년을 넘는 바르셀로나의 恨이 아직 완전히 해소되지 않았다는 이야기이다.

카타루니아州의 넓이는 강원도와 비슷한 3만2000 평방 킬로미터, 인구는 스페인의 약16%인 740만 명. 유네스코 문화유산이 가우디가 완성하지 못한 聖가족성당 등 5개이다.


*바르셀로나 출신의 유명인사들

Artists

Salvador DalíAristide Maillol (1861-1944), sculptor and painter
Ramon Casas i Carbó (1866?), artist
Joan Miró (1893-1983), artist
Charlie Rivel (1896-1983), clown
Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), surrealist artist
Antoni Tàpies (1923-), artist
Marcel Martí (1925-), sculptor
Fina Rifà (1939-), illustrator
Assumpta Serna (1957-), actress
Manel Esparbé i Gasca (born 1959), artist, founder of DOGtime program
[edit] Architects
Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1927), modernist architect and politician, designed the Palau de la Música Catalana
Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), modernist architect, designed Sagrada Família in Barcelona
Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1867 -1956), architect
Josep Lluís Sert (1902-1983), architect, cofounder of the GATCPAC group, professor at Harvard
Ricardo Bofill (1939-), architect
[edit] Businessmen
Facundo Bacardí (1814?), founder of Bacardi rum.
Joseph Oller (1839?), founder of Moulin Rouge cabaret.
[edit] Writers and poets
Ramon Muntaner (c. 1270-1336), soldier and writer of the 14th century
Àngel Guimerà, (1845-1924), writer
Jacint Verdaguer (1845-1902), poet
Narcís Oller (1846-1930), writer
Joan Maragall (1860-1911), writer and poet
Josep Carner (1884-1970), poet
Gaziel (1887-1964), journalist, writer and publisher
Carles Riba (1893-1959), poet
Josep Pla (1897-1981), writer
Mercè Rodoreda (1909-1983), writer
Miquel Martí i Pol (1929-2003), writer and poet
Pere Calders (1912-1994), writer
Salvador Espriu (1913-1985), writer and poet
Manuel de Pedrolo (1918-1990), writer
Joan Brossa (1919-1998), poet, playwright, plastic artist and graphic designer
Quim Monzó (1952-), writer
[edit] Musicians and singers

Montserrat CaballéFerran Sor (1778-1839), composer
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), musician
Enric Granados (1867-1916), musician
Pau Casals (1876-1973), cellist
Robert Gerhard (1896-1970), composer
Xavier Cugat (1900-1990), musician
Victòria dels Àngels (1923-2005), soprano
Montserrat Caballé (1933-), soprano
Tete Montoliu (1933-1997), jazz pianist
Jordi Savall (1941-), musician
Josep Carreras (1946-), tenor
Joan Manuel Serrat (1943-), singer and author
Pascal Comelade (1955-), musician
Sandrine Erdely-Sayo (1968-), pianist, composer
Maria Gay (1879-1943), mezzo-soprano
Frederic Mompou (1893-1987), composer
Lluís Llach (1948-), singer and composer
[edit] Fashion Models
Andrés Segura (1978- ), Fashion Model
Judit Mascó, Fashion Model
[edit] Politicians and leaders
Jaume I Rei d'Aragó, (1208?), king of Aragon and count of Barcelona
Pere III of Aragó (1239-1285), king of Aragon and count of Barcelona
Rafael Casanova i Comes (1660-1743), lawyer and Conseller en Cap of the Consell de Cent of Barcelona.
Josep Moragues i Mas (1669-1715), Catalan patriot, led the insurgence against the Bourbonic troops after the War of the Spanish Succession until his death.
Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira (1716-1784), soldier, governor of Baja California and Alta California, explorer and founder of San Diego and Monterey.
Pere Fages i Beleta (1734?), soldier, explorer, and the second Spanish military Governor of New California from 1770 to 1774, and Governor of the Californias from 1782 to 1791.
[edit] Modern politicians
Estanislao Figueras (1819-1882), first president of the First Spanish Republic
Francesc Pi i Margall (1824-1901), second president of the First Spanish Republic
Valentí Almirall (1841-1904), politician, author of "Lo catalanisme", founder of the first daily periodical in Catalan language: "El diari català"
Francesc Macià i Llussà, (1859-1933), soldier, politician and 122nd President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Josep Irla i Bosch (1874-1958), politician, 124th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Francesc Cambó (1876-1947), politician
Enric Prat de la Riba (1879-1917), politician
Lluís Companys i Jover (1882-1940), politician, 123rd President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Andreu Nin (1892-1937), heterodox communist politician
Federica Montseny (1905-1994), anarchist politician
José Figueres Ferrer (1906-1990), politician, President of Costa Rica in three occasions
Ramon Mercader (1914 - 1978), murderer of Leon Trotsky
Jordi Pujol i Soley (1930-), politician, 126th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Pasqual Maragall i Mira (1941-), politician, 127th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Josep Borrell (1947-), former President of the European Parliament
[edit] Sports
Manuel Estiarte (1961-), former waterpolo player
[edit] Tennis
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1971-), former tennis player
Sergi Bruguera (1971-), former tennis player, won 1993 and 1994 French Open
Àlex Corretja (1974-), former tennis player
Albert Costa (1975-) former tennis player, won the 2002 French Open
[edit] Motor racing
Alfonso "Sito" Pons (1959-), former world champion GP motorcycle racer, owner of MotoGP race team
Jordi Tarrés (1966-), motorcycle trial rider, 7 times World Champions & known as the greatest rider ever.
Àlex Crivillé (1970-), former GP motorcycle racer, 1999 500cc GP World Champion
Pedro Martínez de la Rosa (1971-), F1 driver
Nani Roma (1972-), rally racing motorcycle rider and rally raid driver, winner of 2004 Dakar Rally
Sete Gibernau (1972-), former GP motorcycle racer
Emilio Alzamora (1973-) motorcycle racer, 1999 125cc GP World Champion
Marc Gené (1974-), former F1 driver
Marc Coma (1976-), rally raid motorcycle racer, winner of 2006 and 2009 Dakar Rally
Adam Raga (1982-), motorcycle trial rider
Dani Pedrosa (1985-), GP motorcycle racer, 125 and 250cc world champion
[edit] Football

Xavi HernándezRicardo Zamora (1901?), former goalkeeper for Barça, Espanyol and others
Josep Samitier (1902?), former midfielder Barça and others
Antoni Ramallets (1924–), former Barça goalkeeper (retired)
Estanislau Basora (1926–), retired Barça striker
Carles Reixach (1977–), retired Barça striker
Raul Tamudo (1977–), Espanyol striker
Josep Guardiola (1971–), current Barça coach and retired midfielder
Carles Puyol (1978–), Barça defender
Joan Capdevila (1978–), Villareal defender
Fernando Navarro (1982–), Sevilla defender
Víctor Valdés (1982–), Barça goalkeeper
Xavi Hernández (1980–), Barça midfielder
Gerard Piqué (1987–), Barça defender
Cesc Fàbregas (1987–), Arsenal midfielder and captain
Bojan Krkić (1990–), Barça striker
[edit] Basketball
Pau Gasol (1980–), ACB basketball player, formerly for Barça and currently in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers
Raúl López (1980–), former NBA basketball player for Utah Jazz and currently playing for Real Madrid Baloncesto
Juan Carlos Navarro (1980– ), NBA basketball player for Memphis Grizzlies and ACB for Barça
Marc Gasol (1985–) ACB basketball player for Barça and CB Girona and NBA for Memphis Grizzlies, younger brother of Pau
[edit] Scientists and engineers
François Arago (1786-1853), scientist
Ildefons Cerdà (1815-1876), urban planner
Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol (1819-1885), inventor of the submarine
Josep Comas Solá1868-1937), astronomer, discoverer of the asteroid named 'Barcelona'
Ignacio Barraquer (Barcelona 1884 - 1965), ophthalmologist known for his contributions to the advancement of cataract surgery
Esteban Terradas i Illa (1883-1950), mathematician, scientist and engineer
Pere Bosch-Gimpera (1891-1974), anthropologist, archaeologist and prehistorian
Josep Trueta (1897-1977), doctor, professor of orthopedy at Oxford
Jose Barraquer (1916-1998), the father of modern refractive surgery and son of Ignacio Barraquer. Invented the cryolathe and microkeratome and developed many surgical procedures.
Ramon Margalef (1919 - 2004), pioneer and outstanding researcher in limnology, marine biology, and ecology.
Jordi Sabater Pi (1922–), primatologist
Joan Oró (1923?), biologist
Valentin Fuster (1943-), doctor, director of the Cardiologie Institute in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York.
Eudald Carbonell (1953-), archaeologist, anthropologist and paleonthologist
Jaume Cañellas Galindo (1965-), doctor, psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Ignacio Cirac (1965-), physicist, best known for his contributions to quantum information science.
Manel Esteller (1968-), doctor, specialized in the study of cancer.
[edit] Others
Saint Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275), Roman Catholic saint & Dominican
Saint Joseph Oriol (1650?)
Junipero Serra (1713-1784), Roman Catholic saint & Jesuit missionary
Josep Sadoc Alemany (1814-1888), first Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, California[1]
Joseph Joffre (1852-1931), French soldier, born in Ribesaltes (Roussillon)
Pompeu Fabra (1868-1948), grammarian
Rosa Sensat (1873-1961), early Doctor of Pedagogy
Alexandre Deulofeu (1903-1977), historian
Joan Gili (1907-1998), antiquarian book-seller, publisher and translator.
Joan Pujol (alias Garbo) (1912-1988), double agent who played a mayor role in the Invasion of Normandy during World War II
Vicente Ferrer Moncho(1920-2009) Catholic hero/humanitarian
Juan Antonio Samaranch (1920-2010), president of the IOC from 1980 to 2001
Cassià Maria Just (1926-2008), Benedictine abbot, one of the people in the Spanish Catholic Church who opposed Francisco Franco.[2]
Salvador Puig i Antich (1948?), Catalan anarchist, executed during Franco's regime
Carme Ruscalleda (1952-), chef
Xavier Sala-i-Martin (1963-), economist
Jaume Marxuach i Flaquer (1906-1966), lawyer and writer
Ferran Adrià (1962–), chef
Judit Mascó (1969-), Model
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London, England (CNN) It will be an image burned forever into Spain's national consciousness: the sight of captain Iker Casillas in tears after La Roja banished decades of World Cup failure by winning their first title on Sunday night.

At a time when the Spanish economy is in crisis, with the highest unemployment rates in Europe, the country needed a good news story.

Spanish flags were flown from balconies across the country as millions took to the streets in joyous, anarchic scenes. In South Africa, players such as Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta kissed their badges, newly minted with a single star above their left breasts to honor their achievements.

Even before the final, patriotism coursed through the team. "We dedicate this victory to Spain," gushed Xavi, Barcelona's playmaker, after the semifinal win against Germany.

The next day El Pais declared: "Not since the Spanish civil war have there been so many flags in the streets." Such has been the ubiquity of Spain's flag it has been dubbed "The Red Effect" in honor of the national team's exploits.

First World Cup crown for Spain



Video: CNN's 2010 World Cup highlights

Video: Protest for independence in Spain

Video: Spain fans celebrate World Cup win On the face of it, such nationalistic, flag-waving sentiments are to be expected in the aftermath of a World Cup win. But in Spain a country where unique regional identities from the Catalans to the Basques to the Galicians have in the past taken precedence outpourings of national pride have been controversial and, paradoxically, divisive.

The flag is seen by many, especially the Catalans and the Basques, as a totem to the Franco era. Even the country's national anthem has been shorn of its lyrics, so not to reopen the old wounds left behind from the 1936-39 Spanish civil war and General Franco's subsequent dictatorship.


In fact, Spain's football failure has been put down to the tensions between regional and national loyalties, suggesting that not everyone was pulling in the same direction.

There is even a Catalan national football team, coached by the iconic Dutchman and former Barcelona star Johan Cruyff. Last December they beat Argentina 4-2 in a friendly with a team that featured Xavi, Puyol, Gerard Pique and Joan Capdevila, all of whom started on Sunday night.

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Yet seven months later a Spain team led by Casillas, Real Madrid's Castilian captain, and powered by the Catalan brilliance of Barcelona's midfield, captured the biggest prize in the game.

"When Iniesta scored the winning goal, you could hear the reaction all over the city," explained Carolina Abellan, a reporter for the Spanish TV channel Cuatro who was in Madrid for the final. "The cheers were incredible and I saw lots of people crying."

The Spanish team is a metaphor for what Spain can aspire to be

Spanish newspaper ABC

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Many of this morning's newspapers in Spain have hinted that the victory could herald a new dawn for the country, where a sense of national identity might now take precedence over regional concerns. As ABC noted: "The Spanish team is a metaphor for what Spain can aspire to be."

Even Marca, the pro-Real Madrid newspaper, had time to praise the old enemy. "Iniesta [of Barcelona] took us up into heaven...We suffered, but it was worth it."

The transformative power of football, either by promoting national unity or through sparking a long-dormant national pride, can be overstated. But the sport, especially World Cup finals, has been known to have huge political significance.

The best example is the 1954 World Cup final the so-called "Miracle of Berne" where West Germany, a team of amateur footballers beat Hungary, then the best team in the world.

It came at a pivotal moment in German history, at a time when the country was still haunted by its complicity in the Nazi atrocities of the Second World War. It was here, argues the German historian Joachim Fest, that the modern Germany was born.

"It was a kind of liberation for the Germans from all the things that weighed down upon them after the Second World War," he explained. "July 4, 1954 is in certain aspects the founding day of the German Republic."

So is this truly a new dawn for Spain and its fractious regions? Not everyone has jumped on the bandwagon.

The complexity of the country's identity was highlighted just 24 hours before the World Cup final, when more than a million Catalans marched on Barcelona to protest government moves to curtail the region's autonomy. In comparison, an estimated 75,000 people took to Barcelona's streets to watch the final.

"In Spain, we have a problem with national identity," Abellan told CNN. "In some places in Spain, the Basque Country and Catalonia, above all others, it's extremely difficult to see a Spanish flag or a national team game without there being problems.

"But in this World Cup, there were more Spanish flags than ever in places like Bilbao or Barcelona. Many of the players on the national team are Basque, like Xabi Alonso, or Catalan, like Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, and they were the first ones to stand up and talk of Spain."

Only time will tell whether the ghosts of Spain's past are really put to rest. But there could be a far more immediate and much-needed impact from Andres Iniesta's extra-time strike.

World Cup final minute-by-minute

A Dutch academic study before the last tournament in Germany discovered that World Cup-winning countries have enjoyed positive economic growth following all but two finals, thanks to a mixture of increased confidence and heightened prestige.

According to Ruben van Leeuwen and Charles Kalshoven's 2006 study "Soccernomics," that bounce can be worth an extra 0.7 percent of GDP.

With the country's economy teetering on the verge of its own Greek-style debt crisis, and with unemployment hitting 42.9 percent among 16 to 24-year-olds, Spain's World Cup victory could not have come at a better time.

But as the tears and the joy from Johannesburg to Madrid to Barcelona prove, La Roja's legacy could mean much, much more.

"Well, that can only be answered in time," cautioned Abellan. "But, for the moment, we've seen thousands of people celebrating the Spanish victory in places like Bilbao or Barcelona, and that was never the case before."