Lleida is preparing for a rare solar eclipse on 12 August, the first in more than a century. The event will be visible across Catalonia, with parts of Ponent offering some of the best viewing conditions.
The eclipse is due to begin at 19:34 and end at sunset. Totality will be brief, with Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre expected to see the longest duration, at about one minute, while parts of Lleida, especially in Segrià and Les Garrigues, may see up to 25 seconds.
The Generalitat's Department of Research and Universities has set out guidance for choosing viewing spots. It says suitable towns should have at least 3,000 residents, the sun should still be visible at 20:30, and the eclipse should offer a clear period of totality.
On that basis, the recommended towns in Ponent include Lleida city, Alcarràs, Almacelles, Torrefarrera, Les Borges Blanques, Juneda, and parts of Alcoletge. Other towns listed as having good visibility include Albatàrrec, Torres de Segre, Puigverd de Lleida, Artesa de Lleida, Soses, Gimenells i Pla de la Font, Arbeca, and Torregrossa. More detail is available on the official maps from the Generalitat.
Lleida city and Les Borges Blanques have been named as official observation points in the province. Junts proposed on Tuesday that the Catalan government set aside €30,000 for selected observation towns to cover extra costs linked to hosting eclipse viewers.
For readers following local updates across Catalonia, see the latest news on News. Official guidance on the eclipse is available from the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional.