Hundreds of thousands of marchers demonstrate during Catalan National Day in Barcelona Sept. 11, 2012, in an unprecedented show of mass support for autonomy from Madrid.ALBERT GEA/Reuters
Demonstrators from across the region, some urging full independence, others calling for more autonomy from Madrid, marched under the slogan “Catalonia, a new European state.”ALBERT GEA/Reuters
A marcher holds a placard during the demonstration on Tuesday. The huge volume of people overwhelmed the mobile phone network, which shut down for hours under the strain.GUSTAU NACARINO/Reuters
Catalan Regional President Artur Mas holds a Catalan flag during a ceremony at the regional parliament marking the conquest of Catalonia by Spain’s King Philip V in 1714 after a 13-month siege of Barcelona.GUSTAU NACARINO/Reuters
Balconies are decorated with Catalan pro-independence “Estelada” and European Union flags on Catalan National Day. The region accounts for 15 per cent of Spain’s population but 20 per cent of its economy.ALBERT GEA/Reuters
Marchers demonstrate in Barcelona. A poll by the regional government in July showed for the first time that more than half of Catalonia’s population favours independence.ALBERT GEA/Reuters
Demonstrators hold a huge Catalonian flag. Economists calculate Catalans pay at least €12-billion more in taxes per year to Madrid than they receive back for services like schools and hospitalsGUSTAU NACARINO/Reuters
A man carries a floral offering to be laid at the statue of Rafael Casanova, commander in chief of Catalonia and mayor of Barcelona until he was wounded Sept. 11, 1714.ALBERT GEA/Reuters
Members of a pro-Catalan independence platform hang a giant banner next to the “Estelada“ flag at the Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona.ALBERT GEA/Reuters
Marchers wave Catalonian nationalist flags. Although Catalonia’s unemployment is somewhat lower than Spain’s as a whole – 22 per cent instead of more than 24 per cent – the region has suffered badly due to the Spanish debt crisis.GUSTAU NACARINO/Reuters