Abraham Orriols: a country told at street level

If you turn on the television and hear a voice that, with a mixture of emotion and rigor, explains what's happening in the Pyrenees, in the West, or in some small town in the country... it's very likely you're listening to Abraham Orriols. A journalist by vocation and territory, he is one of those people who has made Catalonia not only his work setting but also a map full of memories and personal ties, a true example of Authentic Catalonia.

At femturisme.cat, we wanted to talk to him to find out what his connection is with the region, what makes his eyes light up when he talks about his home, and what places he recommends we discover.

With his microphone always ready and his gaze curious, Abraham opens the doors of his country to us, town by town and emotion by emotion.

A country that is told with the heart and traveled with open eyes

What is your favorite spot in Catalonia?

My favorite place in Catalonia is my home. It's Berga. It's Berguedà. It's Queralt, Figuerassa, Rasos de Peguera. There are many places that are part of who I am: my childhood, my present... and certainly my future. In Berga, I have the people I love, and that leaves no doubt: my home is my favorite spot.

Berga, in the heart of the Pre-Pyrenees, is synonymous with mountains, traditions, and deep ties. From Queralt to the Rasos trails, every corner exudes history and nature.

Is there any place in Catalonia that brings back fond memories?

There are many. But one that has left a special mark on me is Bruguera, a small village in Ribes de Freser, in Ripollès. Marina Vilalta, the oldest shepherdess in Catalonia, lives there. I had the privilege of meeting her to write her book, A Life in the Mountains. I fell in love with Bruguera and its people. I go there often: to talk with Marina, see her sheep, eat at the Moliner hostel, or climb Taga. Every time I go, I come back happy.

Bruguera is a small treasure in the eastern Pyrenees, surrounded by peaks and rural life. You'll find pure nature and the charm of rural life, with Marina as a living testament to a world that endures.

What Catalan experience or tradition do you think everyone should experience at least once?

The answer is easy for a Berguedá like me: La Patum. It's much more than a party. It's excitement, it's fire, it's feeling the town beat.

But Catalonia is full of festivals that are a must-see. From the Fia Faia in Alt Berguedà, to the Aplec del Caracol in Lleida, the Carnivals of Vilanova and Solsona, or Les Santes in Mataró. My recommendation is clear: don't miss a single festival. Experience them, share them, and let their energy carry you away.

The Patum of Berga is celebrated coinciding with Corpus Christi, usually in June. Declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, it combines fire, music, and festive figures in a popular festival with centuries of history.

If you had to recommend just one thing to someone visiting Catalonia for the first time, what would it be?

They should flee the big cities. There are so many possibilities in Barcelona—because yes, the Sagrada Família and the Picasso Museum are very interesting—but they should seek out small towns. They should try our cuisine, speak Catalan, understand our humor. They should stop when they start seeing stone, and discover the real Catalonia. This is what truly makes this country special.

What corner of Catalonia have you still wanted to discover?

The truth? The Delta. I've only been there briefly, and I'm just passing through. I'd like to get to know the rice fields, the villages, and their way of life better. There are also areas like Rivert, near Salàs de Pallars, or the Vall Fosca, which I think is a still-unexplored paradise. It's a pending task: to better explore the entire area around Pobleta de Bellveí.

The Ebro Delta is a wetland located in southern Catalonia, in the Baix Ebre region, famous for its rice fields, lagoons, and migratory birds. The Vall Fosca, in Pallars Jussà, is a Pyrenean valley that provides access to the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park.

From which part of Catalonia have you broadcast the most?

Thanks to my work at TV3, I've been able to travel a lot, and that's a blessing. But if I have to single out one area, it's the Lleida branch of TV3. I've covered news from Pallars Jussà and Sobirà, the Aran Valley, Alta Ribagorça... to Segarra, Urgell, and Les Garrigues. I've been able to get to know this region better, report on it, and experience it, and I'm deeply grateful.

After this conversation, it's clear that Abraham Orriols is much more than a voice in the news: he's a man in love with the country who walks, asks questions, and listens. With each broadcast, he brings us a little closer to the real Catalonia, the true Catalonia, the everyday Catalonia.

His perspective—faithful to the territory and filled with curiosity—reminds us that the most powerful stories don't always happen in big cities. They happen in Bruguera, in Berga, in the Vall Fosca, or at any festival where people simply come together and celebrate who they are.

And if you ever see him with a microphone in his hand, pay attention: he might be telling you a story that, without knowing it, is also a little bit yours.