The city 's main square,

Plaça de Catalunya is the center of the world for 7 million Catalan people.

It's a lively people scene throughout the day.

The square is decorated with statues honoring important Catalans.

Catalunya has its own distinct language, history and flag.

Which locals fly proudly next to Spain 's flags on government buildings.

And all alone from their apartments.

Catalunya has often been at odds with the central Spanish government in Madrid.

During the 1930s,

this area was one of the last pockets of resistance against the fascist dictator,

Francisco Franco.

When he finally took power he punished the region with four decades of repression.

During this period the people were forbidden to fly the Cataluynian flag.

Instead to show their national spirit they flew this.

The flag of the Barcelona soccer team.

Catalans consider themselves not part of a region, that's what Spain calls them,

but a nation without a state.

The Catalan language is irrevocably tied to the spirit and history of the Catalan people.

Sure, everyone speaks Spanish but these kids speak Catalan first.