Costa Brava - a paradise in Spain with unusually beautiful nature and impressive beaches
The Costa Brava is a Mediterranean coastline in the northeast of Catalonia that stretches for 162 km from Blanes to the French border. This is one of the most popular coasts of Spain, which, in addition to luxurious beaches with excellent infrastructure, can offer stunning nature, interesting museums and architecture. These places inspired the eccentric Salvador Dali – the marvelous town of Cadaques is covered with an atmosphere of genius.
Photo: Map of the Costa Brava The name Costa Brava reveals the essence of this coastline, which is translated from Spanish as "wild / rocky / coast". Picturesque grandiose cliffs, rocks, foothills in fragrant pines and firs will not let your eyes get bored.
You can see all the beauty of the coast in this video:
Beaches covered with golden sand or pebbles and the azure waters of the Mediterranean always receive the European Blue Flag. Some beaches have received the Q mark of the ICTE institute for their excellent tourism (Lloret de Mar and Fenals).
The Costa Brava offers great diving opportunities - depths up to 50 m, depressions and tunnels, bizarre sponges and algae, octopuses, lobsters, eels and the most outlandish fish such as the blue wrasse.
Photo: Costa Brava Another “horse” of the Costa Brava is exceptionally interesting cities along the entire length of the coast. Catalonia is a burning mixture of rich history and culture, traditions and tourist comfort. This is a great opportunity to sunbathe and go on excursions to the most interesting cities in the world, such as vibrant Barcelona or medieval Girona.
The most visited resort towns are Lloret de Mar, Playa de Aro, Tossa de Mar and Blanes.
10 things to do on the Costa Brava. Things to do:
Photo: Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodas What you must do on the Costa Brava:
- Visit the "Dali Triangle": graceful Cadaques, alluring Port Lligat and the birthplace of the genius Figares with unusual museums of Salvador Dali.
- Go to one of the most beautiful natural parks of Cap de Creus and the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodas.
- Dedicate a day for a trip to Barcelona to see the striking architecture of Gaudí.
- Take a walk in the ancient botanical gardens of Piña de Rosa and Marimurtra in Blanes.
- Dance to the songs of Cuban fishermen in Calella de Palafrugell.
- Visit the medieval lord Girona.
- Taste the fish from your morning catch at a restaurant overlooking the sea in Palamos.
- Walk along the hiking trails of Playa d'Aro, admiring the views of nature.
- Go diving or snorkeling at Cala Canellas beach in Lloret de Mar.
- Rent a car and go for a day in France covered with romance.
- In each of the cities, the Fiesta Major is held annually - a holiday on the day of the patron saint of the city with fairs, performances, attractions and fireworks. Tossa de Mar June 28-July 1, Blanes June 24-28, Lloret de Mar July 24-30.
Photo: Lloret de Mar Lloret de Mar is a resort that has grown over the past centuries from a fishing village to the tourist center of the Costa Brava. Its location is very good - 75 km from Barcelona, 29 km from Girona, and only 90 km from France. Lloret de Mar is considered the epicenter of parties - people come here to come off to the fullest in discos, nightclubs and bars.
The cultural program
Photo: Museum "Cat's House" In cultural terms, there are places to go, for example, the private collection of the Koshkin Dom Museum or the Maritime Museum on the embankment. Finds from 250 BC are exhibited at the Verdaguer Cultural Center.
Active leisure
There are many water activities here - from a catamaran, boats, "bananas" to diving with instructors or snorkeling (with a tube). On land, play all kinds of beach sports, ride horses, play tennis. There are great golf courses and bowling alleys.
You can see the beauty of the underwater world in this video:
Children and adults will have a lot of fun at the Marineland and Water Park water parks, located among pleasant greenery, as well as the Aqualeon mini-zoo and water park with a fur seal show and the opportunity to touch turtles and iguanas.
Beaches
Photo: Cala Canellas beach The beaches of Lloret de Mar, sheltered from the winds by mountains, are wide, clean and picturesque - beautiful bays, rocks of the most interesting shapes sticking out of the sea, green tree caps.
Main beaches:
Lloret de Mar- the beach is in the center right behind the strip of hotels. There is coarse yellow sand, the depth grows rapidly. In the season it is very crowded, the infrastructure is 5+.
Photo: Lloret de Mar Sa Caleta (Playa de S'Caleta)- a less crowded option with good sand a little over 100 m long. There are cabins and showers, but there is no cafe.
Photo: Sa Caleta Cala Canellas (Playa de Cala Canyelles)– located 4 km from the center in a pleasant bay among the picturesque rocks in the pines. It offers kayaks, water skiing and a diving station.
Photo: Cala Canellas Fenals (Playa de Fenals)- an excellent 700-meter beach in a cozy bay with shops and cafes, cut off by a rock from the central beach. The best option for families with children.
Photo: Fenals Sa Boadeya (Playa de S'Boadella)– a beautiful beach with rocks and pine trees. A stone ledge divides the beach into regular and nudist.
Photo: Sa Boadeia Santa Cristina (Playa de Santa Cristina)– 500 m beach with white sand and peaceful water. Getting here by boat or bus, you will escape from tourists and sunbathe among the locals.
Photo: Santa Cristina You can see how the beaches of Lloret de Mar look like in the video:
In the bays of Tortuga and Morisca, you can find the desired solitude and contemplate nature.
According to tourists, it is not worth choosing the central beach of Lloret de Mar for recreation - although it is cleaned, but with a huge number of people it is possible to find garbage in the water or on the beach. It is better to go to the nearest Sa Caleta or Fenals.
sights
Photo: Gardens of St. Clotilde Architectural monuments of Lloret de Mar:
- The castle on the beach (Castell d'en Plaja), flaunting in all the photos, is nothing more than a new building in 1935 - as the residence of the magnate Narsis Plaha;
- The symbol of the city Fisherman's Wife (Donna Marinera), peering into the sea, on the central beach;
- The ruins of the medieval castle of San Juan of the 11th century with an observation platform on top of the mountain - you can get there on foot from the city of Blanes;
- The church of Sant Roma of the 16th century is amazing, which was reconstructed, introducing elements of modernity;
- On the slope of a cliff near the beach of Sa Boadea, a renaissance oasis is hidden - the gardens of St. Clotilde with sculptures, alleys and waterfalls.
Photo: Tossa de Mar Tossa de Mar is an amazingly beautiful resort town that has made many artists take up the brush. At the beginning of the 20th century, wealthy Europeans came here to relax, and now it is a magnificent family resort. The coastline of Tossa de Mar is a marvelous kaleidoscope of cliffs with grottoes and miniature coves. Here is a real paradise for artists, divers and simple romantics.
The cultural program
When the beach gets tired and the brain wants food, go to the museums of Tossa de Mar, for example, the Museu Municipal Museum in the Villa Vella castle with works by the famous avant-garde artist Marc Chagall (the painting “Violinist”), as well as the finds of the Roman city. The second part of the Museu Municipal exposition is located in the old governor's house. The Historical Museum is located on the shore.
Active leisure
Photo: Boat trip One of the most exciting entertainments in Tossa de Mar is boat trips with a transparent bottom, during which you can admire the inhabitants of the waters. The rocky coast created all conditions for diving and snorkelling.
Beaches
Photo: Cala Giverola There are three main beaches in Tossa de Mar:
Mar Grand (Playa Gran)- a lively central beach near the cliff with the Vila Vella fortress.
Photo: Mar Grand Reig (Playa del Reig)- a more secluded place a little north along the bay.
Photo: Reig Mar Menuda- a pleasant beach at the end of Sant Ramon Peñafort Avenue on the other side of the bay.
Photo: Mar Menuda El Colodar- the beach, which is located right behind the castle.
Photo: El Kolodar Cala Giverola (Cala Giverola)- a magnificent bay with restaurants and bars, where boats ply until late (20 minutes).
Photo: Cala Giverola Tourist reviews say that although Grand Beach is good, pleasure boats with tourists interfere with the rest a little. All beaches are covered with good clean sand. For more wild places, you should go by boat - to secluded picturesque bays.
sights
Photo: Villa Vella Fortress The main attraction of Tossa de Mar is hard to miss - this is the beautiful fortress of Villa Vella (Villa Vella) 12 in the cape of Mont Guardi. Here it is interesting to wander along the meanders of the jagged fortress walls, contemplating the sea landscapes. Round towers, jagged parapets, mountain and sea give the fortress a fabulous look. On the cape, you can also visit the Far de Tossa castle with an interesting half-hour tour of the lighthouses.
You can see the unexplored beauty of Tossa de Mar on the video:
Wander around Tossa de Mar and you will find interesting sites such as the church of St. Vincent in the square and the ruins of a 4th century Roman villa. A walk along the embankment will bring no less finds - a statue of Minerva, Albatross and others.
Photo: Playa d'Aro Playa de Aro is a small but wonderful Mediterranean resort in the center of the Costa Brava. The city is buried in pine trees, a variety of shrubs, palm trees, olive and citrus groves, fragrant with a healing mixture of greenery and the sea. On some beaches, you can even hide in the shade of centuries-old pine trees. Playa d'Aro has everything for a comfortable stay: excellent hotels, perfectly clean beaches, plenty of water activities, nightclubs, shops and a modern water park.
Active leisure
Many establishments in Playa d'Aro have their own amusement park. There is a water park near the city, which can be easily reached in 35 minutes. Boat trips to the nearest resorts are popular - buzzing Lloret de Mar or charming Tossa de Mar, as well as Blanes.
Establishments of various formats work at night - from modern discos to authentic bars, where Spanish wine and flamenco work wonders.
Beaches
Photo: Cala Pedrosa The water on the banks of Playa de Aro warms up well only in July. The central beach of Grand Playa, 2 km long, 50 m wide, is traditionally crowded, but if you walk along the GRS-92 footpath, you will be rewarded with:
Rovira (Playa Rovira)) is a beautiful 200-meter beach surrounded by pine trees.
Photo: Rovira Sa Cova (Playa Sa Cova)- a tiny charming beach.
Cala Pedrosa- a secluded 20-meter beach for wild recreation without any infrastructure.
Photo: Cala Pedrosa sights
Photo: Benidormines Castle Not far from the tourist center (3 km) is the neat castle of Benidormines, dated 1041, which houses an exhibition hall. The second local monument of architecture is the Gothic Church of the Virgin Mary. If you wander around the town, you can see many pretty medieval houses.
You can see Playa d'Aro from above in this video:
Nearby is the amazing medieval Girona, where you can spend the whole day. The capital and crown of Catalonia, Barcelona with the stunning architecture of Gaudi, is also relatively close - 107 km, which can be overcome by car or bus.
Photo: Palamos Palamos is an ancient town founded more than 1.5 thousand years BC. e., for a long time it was a simple craft (cork oak bark trade) and fishing village. Now it is a resort with hotels for every taste - from designer apartments to modest hostels. The beaches of Palamos are covered with good sand, there are picturesque rocky coves. The city is rich not only in pines, but also in a special cork oak, from which wine corks are made.
Leisure
In Palamos you will find unusual entertainment. The city is a significant fishing port and when ships loaded with fish return to shore (after lunch), an exciting fish auction begins.
Watch a wonderful video about Palamos and its beauty:
And, of course, the local restaurants serve the freshest fish prepared according to local traditions. Here they prefer not to disguise the taste of fish under a hundred spices, but to preserve its own taste as much as possible.
Beaches
Photo: Palamos Local beaches are well equipped for recreation and water activities:
Palamos (Playa de Palamos)- a clean wide sandy beach in the center of the resort. Hotels rise behind, crowded in season.
Photo: Palamos Fosca (Playa de La Fosca)- a cozy place where there is sand, and boulders, and small rocks and centuries-old pines. For tourists there is a toilet, a shower, a cafe, a shop, and kayak rentals. The place is a paradise for kitesurfers.
Photo: Fosca Castell (Playa de Castell) is a pristine coast that can be reached by going north along the GRS-92 path.
Photo: Kastel
Photo: Blanes Blanes is the sweetest ancient city near Barcelona with an endless sea and beaches, a wonderful promenade, great restaurants, the oldest botanical gardens and magnificent views. The city is divided into two parts by the lone rock of Sa Palomera, protruding into the sea: the southern part is a tourist paradise, the northern part is a residential area and a port.
Leisure
Photo: Piña de Rosa Blanes has two amazing botanical gardens worth visiting. The first Pinya de Rosa (Jardín Pinya de Rosa, 1945) is the tropics on the outskirts of the city with a huge collection of succulents (7 thousand plants in total). Second Marimurtra (Jardín Botánico Marimurtra, 1921) is a picturesque garden of 4 hectares with Mediterranean, subtropical and temperate zones. It is pleasant to walk along its paths and cascades, admiring the rocks and listening to the surf.
In the grottoes of the coast there are a lot of jellyfish, marvelous fish - be sure to take flippers and a mask with you.
Beaches
Photo: Cala Bona In total, Blanes has 5 beaches that are separated by small coves:
Playa de Blanes- sandy beach at the beginning of the Costa Brava with excellent infrastructure.
Sa Abanell (Playa de S'Abanell)- wide and long (2.3 km) beach with a smooth entry into the sea. There is a kids club, toilets, showers, cafes and shops.
Photo: Sa Abanel Playa de Capellans- a less crowded beach at the foot of the monastery, a favorite place for divers.
Cala Bona– a pleasant beach that can be accessed through the Marimurtra garden.
Treumal- the smallest and most picturesque beach on the outskirts of Blanes.
The amazing beauty of Blanes can be seen in this video:
Tourists with children like the Sa Abanell beach - the red coarse sand of this beach is ideal for games and buildings. In addition, walking tours start from here, interesting performances take place.
sights
Winding through the historical quarters of Blanes is a pleasure - far from the mass resorts, Spain opens up in a different light. This is the beautiful Gothic temple of Santa Maria of the 14th century, the Gothic fountain and the colorful temple of Nuestra Señora de Esperanza of the 17th century in the center.
A wonderful place with gardens for relaxation is the monastery of the Capuchins of the Order of St. Anne right on the picturesque cape. Everyone should climb up to the observation deck of the high rock with the 1002 San Juan Castle.
Photo: Palafrugell Palafrugell is the commercial center of the coast, which in itself is not very interesting. But in its vicinity are some of the most charming and budget places of the Costa Brava:
Calella de Palafrugell- an authentic village with untouched nature, picturesque bays and numerous yachts and longboats, colorful boats and nets. And its snow-white houses give the image of the city the most romantic features. The Nights of Habaneras (the first Saturday of July) are also beautiful with songs in a Cuban way.
Tamariu (Tamariu)- a magnificent city-bay, surrounded by rocks in pine caps.
Lafranc (Llafranc)- a bohemian place and one of the best beaches in the country with 300 m of clean fine sand, a myriad of yachts, stunning views.
Photo: Lafranc Begur- an interesting village for lovers of pebble beaches.
Results along the Costa Brava
Lloret de Mar, which "buzzes" at night, is not suitable for a measured rest, but young people love it. From here it is convenient to get to Barcelona and Girona, if your goal is to combine the sea and travel. Tossa de Mar, on the other hand, has the perfect atmosphere to get away from the bustle of the city, Playa de Aro with a water park will appeal to children, and lovers of miniature resorts will appreciate Palamós. Blanes is recommended for those who like to walk through the picturesque gardens, which abound here.
In the vicinity of Palafrugell, you can find islands of happiness - Calella de Palafrugell, Tamariu, Lafranc and Begur. The beauty of these places is in their originality, remoteness from the mass earning money from tourists..
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Costa Brava or "Wild Coast" is considered one of the most popular resorts in Spain. There are incredibly beautiful places here. Resorts simply attract tourists with their magnificent sandy beaches. Costa Brava is a place for outdoor enthusiasts.
The Costa Brava got its second name "Wild Coast" due to the high cliffs in the sea, which formed cozy and beautiful bays. The famous coast of Catalonia is considered to be one of the most ancient autonomies of Spain. Therefore, the history of this place is very amazing and beautiful.
The main cities of the Costa Brava:
Sights:
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia. The capital became known thanks to historical monuments of different times.
Girona - a city that was formed on the site of an ancient city, later began to be considered one of the important strategic centers. Here is the Cathedral and the Jewish quarter. The Cathedral can be considered the most beautiful monument. Extraordinary beauty of the altar behind the altarpiece of the fourteenth century. The cathedral is considered the widest in the world, its width reaches twenty-two meters and its height is thirty-five meters.
Medieval Besalu is one of the picturesque towns located on the Fluvia River. Getting here, there is a feeling that the time machine exists. And in a matter of minutes, the Middle Ages become real time. The most important attraction is the Romanesque bridge, erected in the eleventh century.
The town of Pals is a small town located in the north of the Costa Brava. The city is always full of tourists. Incredibly beautiful panoramas of truly beautiful nature, mountains, islands and nearby towns open up from the sites of the town.
Resorts of the Costa Brava and their attractions
Costa Bravo is hundreds of small resort towns. Cozy sandy beaches stretched for two hundred and fifteen kilometers. The most visited cities are Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Blanes.
Lloret de Mar - here is the most famous water park Water World, as well as the Marineland water park and the Aqualeon mini-zoo. Children and parents are overjoyed after visiting the zoo. During the day you can ride go-karts, horses. Sports enthusiasts can play tennis, bowling, golf or go diving. Every evening there are noisy events, discos, nightclubs and other programs. For lovers of historical sites, they can visit the relics of the Iberian region, which date back to 250 BC. Lloret de Mar is a place where young people have a rest, the motto of which is, "active holidays". The resort of Lloret de Mar is located in the south of the Costa Brava, seventy-eight kilometers from Barcelona and thirty kilometers from Girona. It is best to take a car after arrival. So you can admire all the beauties of these places.
Tossa de Mar is probably one of the most beautiful places in the Costa Brava. In the middle of the eighteenth century, corks were produced in this town, it was with these corks that the most expensive wines of the country were clogged. The resort began to develop in the fifties of the twentieth century. It was at this time that Pandora and the Flying Dutchman was filmed. Actress Ava Gardner just fell in love with a beautiful, real paradise. After that, a simple fishing town became very popular.
This resort is more family friendly. Unlike Lloret de Mar, it is considered a very calm place. Here is the city - the fortress of Villa Vella ("Old Village"). Which was erected in the twelfth century. The main task of the city was defense and protection from pirates. There are several very old churches here, which are visited by hundreds of tourists every year. Also for lovers of ancient and historically valuable places, you can visit the lighthouse - a museum and the ruins of an ancient Roman villa. These places are saturated with history and mysteries. Fans of water walks can take a ride on a ship with a transparent bottom. The beaches here are so beautiful that it’s simply a sin not to go diving or snorkeling. You can get to Tossa de Mar both through Barcelona and Girona using the services of a local taxi.
The next resort worth noting is Blanes. The resort is located in the southern part of the Costa Brava, sixty kilometers from Barcelona. Around the second century BC, the Romans lived here. From the twelfth to the fourteenth century, these lands belonged to the Spanish family of Blanes.
The city of Blanes is divided by a rock into southern and northern parts. It is in the southern part of the city that tourist hotels, bars, restaurants, and entertainment centers are located. This part is just the perfect place to relax. Nature amazes with its splendor and grace. In the northern part there is a port and residential areas.
The beaches of Balanes stretch for almost five kilometers, separated by bays. The pearl of the resort is the three-kilometer S'Abannel beach. Every year this beach is awarded with a blue flag. This award is given by a very well-known environmental organization.
Every summer there are festivals that reflect all the old traditions. Everyone who wishes can take part. The most popular are the festival of San Jordi on April 23, St. Juan's Night from June 23 to 24.
There is everything for lovers of a good holiday. On the coast there are changing cabins and showers. As well as bars, restaurants and entertainment complexes. The nearest airports are located in Girona and Barcelona. The flight from Moscow to Barcelona will take only four hours. You can get to any beach with the help of trains. Every day a bus runs to Girona.
Figueres is a city located in Catalonia, nineteen kilometers from the French border. It cannot be unequivocally said that this is the most beautiful city. But one thing is for sure, this is a city of true connoisseurs of art. Grandiose fairs have been held here for a long time. At first they were devoted to agriculture, then winemaking. Now the most popular fairs are considered to be the fair of collections of old toys and the new fair Salo dels nuvis, an exhibition of wedding dresses.
Figueres is famous for its museums. The first museum is located in house number two Emporda (Museu del Emporda), here you can see all the archaeological finds, as well as paintings by contemporary artists. House number ten houses the toy museum (Museu de Joguets). Today this museum is considered one of the best in all of Europe. At the very beginning, the museum featured the Josep María Joan Roca collection, which contained more than 3,600 works.
The city has a lot of narrow streets that lead to the famous squares. Every day a huge number of tourists gather here.
Conclusion, note for tourists
The Costa Brava is dominated by Mediterranean cuisine. These are all kinds of sea delicacies prepared in various ways. For lovers of meat dishes, you should visit the mountainous regions of the Costa Brava. In these places you will be offered to taste the meat of wild animals, as well as game under an unusual and tasty sauce.
Average daily air temperature in the resort:
April - +19
July, August - +29
September - +26
October - +22
Average daily water temperature in the resort:
April - +15
July, August, September - +24
The modern Costa Brava is an excellent resort place, and once this area was filled with medieval cities. Having wondered what to see while staying on the Costa Brava, be sure that the picturesque echoes of those times still delight lovers of history and ancient architecture, and there are many museums and attractions on the coast. Lloret de Mar, for example, appeared back in 966, and there are many other such well-preserved ancient places. Therefore, Costa Brava attractions can boast a large number of exhibits dating back to the Paleolithic times. Wandering the streets of Girona, you can get a complete sense of immersion in the Middle Ages.
Many museums will tell you about medieval Spain, through which the Spanish people passed. Wars and uprisings, change of rulers and religions - the country's turbulent past made the national character independent and freedom-loving.
Traces of bygone eras are kept here everywhere. The Roman Empire captured the Iberian peninsula as a result of several wars. The Romans built many palaces, fortresses and other structures. Now only the ruins of the Roman Empire remain from these grandiose buildings, but even from them one can judge the power and greatness of the Romans in those days. The Dali Museum in Figueres is a popular place visited by hundreds of tourists and admirers of the artist's talent. The museum's opening hours are from 10:30 to 17:45 in winter and from 9 am to 8 pm in summer.
Here, on the Costa Brava, in the former fishing village of Cadaques, there is also an amazing maze-like house of Salvador Dali. Now artists, writers and other representatives of creative professions like to stop in this place. Everyone, without exception, is delighted with the Park - Museum Guel in Barcelona, created by Gaudí, as well as the charming natural parks-museums on the Costa Brava.
Lloret de Mar
Tourists coming to Spain are offered a lot of opportunities to have fun. The sights of the Costa Brava, which combine historical value and the opportunity to contemplate the picturesque Mediterranean landscapes, are especially attracted to the guests of the country.
San Juan Castle - the pride of Lloret de Mar
In 1949, the castle was included in the list of cultural heritage of Spain and today is the real pride of Lloret de Mar. The fortress is under the protection of the law, as an object of great historical value.
Sea Museum
One of the most popular and visited museums is considered to be the Lloret de Mar Museum of the Sea. And this is not surprising, because the coast of Spain has more than once been the starting point for many expeditions that opened up new horizons for people.
Costa Brava is a Spanish tourist region in the northeast of Catalonia. It occupies 162 km of the Mediterranean coast from Blanes to the French border. The current well-maintained coast cannot be called a “wild coast”. Much closer to reality is another translation of Costa Brava - "rocky coast".
Beach holidays in Costa Brava
Compared to other Spanish resort regions, the climate of the Costa Brava is cooler. The swimming season here begins at the end of June, but in July-August there is no sweltering heat. Cities are most famous as resorts Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar.
The capital of the tourist region of the Costa Brava is the city of Lloret de Mar. Lloret de Mar is the central beach of the resort of the same name. The peculiarity of this busy sandy beach with a length of 1.5 km is a gentle descent into the water, quite rare for the beaches of the Costa Brava. Another city beach - Fenals, despite the Blue Flag, cannot boast of this. But there are much fewer people here than on Lloret de Mar.
The largest beach in Blanes is Sa Abanell, 3 km long. For families with children, however, the Blue Flag sandy beach of Cala Sant Francesc is more suitable for the same reason of its gentle slope into the sea. There is another beach in Blanes - Santa Anna with a length of only 75 m. It is always not crowded, but it was chosen by Germans sunbathing topless.
In Tossa de Mar, the beach of the same name with the appropriate infrastructure is considered the main one. There are much fewer people on the beaches of Es Codolar and Mar Menuda, which can be recommended to those who do not like crowds and fuss.
There are many other noteworthy beaches on the Costa Brava, including those located outside the settlements, which are available to tourists - renters of cars.
Attractions Lloret de Mar
A beach holiday in one of the resorts of this region can be diversified by visiting the numerous historical and cultural attractions located in the region.
castle-fortress Castell de Sant Joan was built in the 11th century. The defensive structure was used for its intended purpose until the 18th century.
Castle of Sant Joan
The fortress stands on top of a cliff, so the ascent on foot is quite tiring. True, those who ascend are rewarded with a magnificent panorama of the city and the sea. However, you can also get there by car or bicycle.
From April to October, the castle is open from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 05:00 pm. But from November to March there are few tourists, and Sant Joan is open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. The ticket costs 3 EUR.
Sculpture Donna Marinera
In 1966, as part of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Lloret de Mar, a two-meter bronze Escultura de Donna Mariner.
Sculpture Donna Mariner (Escultura de Donna Mariner)
Sculpture by Ernesto Maragala depicts a woman accompanying her beloved on a voyage. Donna Marinera fell in love not only with tourists, but also with the inhabitants of the city, and became one of its symbols. The townspeople even assure that if you look in the same direction and touch the foot of the sculpture, then your wish will come true.
Address: Lloret de Mar, Carrer Josep Tarradellas i Joan, 5-7.
Church of San Roma
At the first glance at the built back in the XVI century. a certain dissonance between the elegant mosaic decor of the domes and the harsh wall with loopholes is striking.
Church of San Roma (Esglesia de Sant Roma)
The fact is that, in addition to the main function, the church often served as a refuge for local residents from pirate raids that were not uncommon in those days. It could only be entered by a drawbridge over a wide and deep ditch around the walls. They remained unchanged, and the church itself was rebuilt and reconstructed several times. The church was heavily damaged during the civil war.
Address: Placa de l'Esglesia, 2. You can get to the church by city bus number C-35.
Jardins de Santa Clotilde named after the early deceased young wife of the Marquis Roviralta, the namesake of the saint. The gardens, founded in 1919, occupy 24,000 m2 on a cliff in the prestigious district of Fenals. The architect Nicolau Rubier y Tuduri was guided by examples of Florentine Renaissance parks. Observant tourists visiting Florence guess in the gardens the borrowed elements of the Borghese and Medici villas and the Boboli gardens. Sculptures, fountains, ponds and grottoes are harmoniously integrated into the natural landscape.
Gardens of Santa Clotilde
The park is open daily, except Mondays, from 10 am to 8 pm in high season and until 5 pm in low season. You have to pay 5 EUR for entry.
At the entrance to the city from Blanes, in a pine forest, there is Gnomo Park.
Gnomes Park (Gnomo Park)
Of course, this park with fairy-tale characters is aimed primarily at children. For them there are roundabouts, slides, swings, trampolines, mini-pools, a zoo corner. Familiar home cartoons are shown on a huge screen. Schoolchildren, as well as adults, can take part in overcoming the obstacles located on the trees of the rope trails of another park - Arbre Aventura Park.
Gnome Park from July to September 11 is open daily from 11 am. In June, there is a day off on Mondays, and the rest of the year, the park is open only on weekends. A ticket, depending on the attractions, costs 10.8 or 14.5 EUR. The ticket price for the playground is 8.8 EUR, and for the ropes course - from 6 to 23 EUR.
Along with people, many cats live in Lloret de Mar. They are filled with self-esteem: after all, the city has a museum dedicated to them. Casa de los gatos is located on the central promenade, near the Church of San Roma. The museum was opened in 2002 by a Russian immigrant and lover of these independent and cute animals, Vera Novosyolova. On three floors of the mansion, you can see more than six thousand images of cats - ceramic, wooden, porcelain, silver. Paintings on the walls and household items are also profile-oriented.
Cat positions in the city are very strong. Every year in March, the city hosts the festival "Catalonia - the birthplace of the Moon Cat", organized by the city hall and the Museum of Cats. The festive procession is led by the feline royal couple.
Address Casa de los gatos: Carrer Sant Albert, 10. Opening hours - daily from 10 am to 5 pm, ticket price -3 EUR.
Water World is a park of various water entertainments of different difficulty levels. Among the extreme ones are the 260-meter X-treme Mountain with steep turns and jumps, the Kamikaze descent and the 80-meter bungee jumping (a stretchable inertial rubber rope for jumping). On the territory of the children's island - small pools with low slides.
From the main resort towns of the Costa Brava, free buses run to the water park. They depart every half an hour from 9 am to 11 am and from 4 pm to 6 pm.
The water park is open in May-October from 10 am to 6 pm (in July - to 7 pm). Entrance ticket price - 33 EUR, for children from 80 to 120 cm tall - 19 EUR, below 80 cm - free of charge. You can also buy a family ticket for 85 EUR, or a combined ticket to Water World and Aquadiver in Playa de Aro - 95 EUR.
Cemetery sculptures
At first glance, the presence of such a specific object in the list of attractions is surprising. But the city cemetery next to the bus station could well be called a museum of modernist architecture. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. the inhabitants of Lloret de Mar who succeeded in America and returned back built not only villas for themselves, but also family crypts and mausoleums. Their orders were carried out by eminent masters, including the followers of Gaudi. Just like in a sculpture museum, the plate indicates the author and features of the work, and in three languages - Catalan, Spanish and English.
Objects related to Salvador Dali
The cultural attractions of the Costa Brava region are mainly associated with the life and work of the famous outrageous surrealist artist Salvador Dali.
The city of Figueres is the birthplace of one of the founders of surrealism, the artist Salvador Dali. In Figueros there is his museum, officially called the theatre-museum. Facade Teatro-Museo Dali looks more than original (matching the work and life of Dali): a medieval castle painted in bright red with dozens of huge chicken eggs on the roof. The walls are interspersed with bulges of bread. Extravagant and outrageous Dali fetishized bread and eggs.
Salvador Dali Museum (Teatro-Museo Dalí)
The artist took an active part in the creation of his museum. With the dilapidated building of the old city theater, he had childhood memories of his first exhibited works. However, the Madrid Department of Fine Arts agreed to finance the creation of the museum only on condition that the original paintings of the artist were transferred to it, which Dali refused for a long time. The artist also invested his own funds in the creation of the museum.
Fans of Dali's work can see more than four thousand works of art created by him in the exhibition. In addition to paintings, these are sculptures, photographs, engravings and even jewelry.
The most famous exhibit is the illusion painting “Naked Gala looking at the sea”. Dali's wife depicted on the canvas from a distance of 20 m turns into a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The photo below shows the famous room of Hollywood actress Mae West with eye paintings, a fireplace nose and sofa lips.
According to his will, Dali is buried in the crypt of the museum.
Address: Gala-Salvador Dalí Square, 5. The start of work, depending on the tourist season, varies from 9 to 10:30, and the end - from 18 to 20 hours. The cost of the entrance ticket is 14 EUR. Visitors are allowed in groups of up to 8 people every 10 minutes.
Dali House Museum
In the 30s of the last century, Dali and Gala (“swallow” - as he called his wife Elena Dyakonova) acquired a fishing house in the Port Lligat Bay near the town of Cadaqués. Over the following decades, they gradually bought up the unsightly neighboring buildings and turned them into a single multi-level surreal maze house. It is easily identified by the huge egg on the roof.
The house-museum is not as outrageous as the theater-museum in Figueros. There are numerous stuffed animals and birds, cages for cicadas in the bedroom, a pool in the shape of a phallus and a sofa in the shape of a woman's lips in the gazebo next to it.
In the summer, or rather, from June 15 to September 15, the house-museum can be visited at 9:30-21, in other months - at 10:30-18. One month a year, namely from January 11 to February 11, the museum is closed. Similar to the museum-theater in Figueros, visitors enter every 10 minutes in groups of no more than 8 people. The price of the entrance ticket is 11 EUR.
Gala Dali Castle
Castell Gala-Dalí or - the castle of the XI century. in the village of Púbol in the province of Girona. In 1968, Salvador Dali fulfilled the promise given to his wife in his youth to give the castle.
After acquiring a dilapidated castle, it was restored with the preservation, at the request of Dali, of some destroyed fragments. The architectural ensemble of the castle is made up of a manor-palace, a functioning parish church and adjacent outbuildings. The main facade of the castle has retained most of the architectural details in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. These are arches, windows, reliefs, portals.
Gala Dali Castle (Castell de Púbol)
It is interesting that Gala, having thanked for the gift, set a strict condition for her husband to come to the castle only with her written permission. Oddly enough, the masochistic-minded artist happily agreed. In general, the relationship between Dali and Gala was very peculiar ...
In the attic there is a permanent exhibition of hundreds of luxurious Gala outfits, not only from Pierre Cardin and Christian Dior, but also created by Dali himself.
The entire interior of the castle with wall paintings, pseudo-three-dimensional visual tricks, sculptures, antiques was created by Dali. One of the optical illusions depicted a seemingly very long alley with a statue installed at its end. In the Armorial Hall, Dali even provided a throne for Gala with sculptures of lions lying on both sides of it, but it was completed after her death. Sitting on it, Dali received visitors in the last years of his life.
In the last years of her life, Gala spent the summer months in the castle. In 1982 she died here and was buried in the crypt of the church. After that, Dali, who began to develop parkinsonism, lived alone in the castle for two years, but in 1984 he almost died in a fire. From the hospital, he moved to the theater-museum in Figuerosa, where he spent the rest of his days.
Curated by the Gala Salvador Dalí Foundation, the castle is open to visitors from March 15 to December 31, daily, except Monday, from 10:30 to 20:00. Ticket price - 8 EUR. The Flaca bus stop is 2 km from the castle.
Other sights of the Costa Brava
Marineland located near the town of Blanes - the largest in the tourist region of the Costa Brava. In addition to the water park itself, this is a marine zoo and a dolphinarium. The attractions of the water park are very diverse, and are designed for families with children, as well as for fans of extreme sports. For them, there are: sliding on the Boomerang inflatable circle, the Tornado whirlpool, the steep descent of Kamikaze, the descent through the Black Hole tunnel. For lovers of swimming and sunbathing - three pools without slides, and for children and teenagers - moderate slopes and slides.
Aquapark "Marineland" (Marineland)
The dolphin show can be watched at 12:30 and 17:00, and the sea lion show at 12:00 and 16:30. Penguins are fed at 10:45 am and other birds at 5 pm.
The water park is open during the warm season - from mid-May to September, at 10:30-17:30-19 hours. As well as to Water World, free buses run to the Marineland water park from the main resort towns of the Costa Brava. Tickets cost 26 EUR for an adult, 16 for children 5–10 years old, and 8 EUR for children 3–4 years old.
Fortress of Vila Velha
medieval fortress Villa Vella, towering on a cliff above the city of Tossa de Mar, was built in the XII century. to protect the city from pirates. Initially, the fortress had 7 towers. Later, instead of one of the towers, a lighthouse was built, which has survived to this day. It has an observation deck. In the XV-XVI centuries. inside the fortress there were about a hundred residential houses and a church. In some of them people still live, in others there are restaurants.
One of the three surviving towers houses a museum of works by artists who have ever worked in Tossa de Mar. Among them are Marc Chagall ("Heavenly Violinist") and Claude Monet. Even cannons were preserved in the fortress.
Buses run from other resorts on the Costa Brava to Tossa de Mar. The town itself is very small, so finding the castle is easy. It can be visited for free. A fee of 3 EUR is charged for visiting the museum or the lighthouse.
Jardin Botanica Marimutra on a mountain near Blanes was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. German botanist Karl Faust. The name Mar i Murtra - "sea and myrtle" is too modest for the diverse vegetation of the garden, which also grows palm trees, cacti, yucca, hydrangeas, fuchsias, pines, bamboo and jasmine. In total, more than four thousand trees and shrubs of three climatic zones are represented - tropical, Mediterranean and temperate.
Marimurtra Botanical Garden
Address in Blanes: Passeig de Carles Faust, 9. OPEN TOUR buses run from Plaça de Catalunya to the botanical garden, the schedule of which can be viewed on a pole next to the bus stop. Travel time is only 15 minutes. The botanical garden, depending on the time of year, opens at 9–10 am and closes at 5–20 pm. The entrance ticket costs 4 EUR.
Pinya de Rosa- a tropical botanical garden located between the cities of Blanes and Lloret de Mar. In the middle of the XX century. The idea of cactus lover Don Fernando de Carat Riviera was realized by the architect Raymond Durand. More than seven thousand species of tropical flora grow everywhere, and the collections of cacti, agave, scarlet, yucca and prickly pear are among the best in the world. The name of one of the types of prickly pear (a kind of cactus) gave the name to the whole garden. It is often called cactus.
Botanical Garden Pinya Rosa (Pinya de Rosa)
As well as to the Marimurtra garden, to the cactus garden, located 2 km from Blanes, OPEN TOUR tourist buses run from Plaça de Catalunya, which will take tourists in the same 15 minutes. The Pinya de Rosa garden can be visited from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You have to pay 4 EUR for the entrance.
Archipelago Illes Medes consists of six seemingly inconspicuous islands a mile off the coast of the small resort town of l'Estartit. However, their underwater flora and fauna are so diverse that the islands have been declared a marine reserve. The underwater world around the islands is very beautiful and is considered a paradise for diving enthusiasts.
Medes Islands
Ordinary tourists can also admire the beauty of the underwater world from the glass-bottom Nautilus pleasure boats plying to the islands from L'Estartit.
And on the beaches of the islands, they offer a variety of marine entertainment - scooters, the Fly Fish attraction (an inflatable mattress in the shape of a huge fish towed by a boat), surfing, renting a kayak or yacht.
Conclusion
As you can see, the tourist region of the Costa Brava is not deprived of sights. This review did not include interesting objects of the city, which are covered in a separate article on the site.
Nature gave these places amazing beauty - Dali himself was inspired by seascapes, and thousands of vacationers call this resort one of the best places in the Mediterranean. Three of the most famous tourist centers are located on the coast - Lloret de Mar, Blanes and Tossa de Mar.
The main occupation on the Costa Brava is a beach holiday. There are always a lot of young people here who prefer active entertainment, but if the soul does not lie in windsurfing and discos, go to the picturesque medieval castles or get acquainted with the work and life of Salvador Dali.
Sightseeing Costa Brava
In terms of cultural and historical coast is of considerable interest. Here, great attention is paid to the legacy of Salvador Dali: there is both an official museum (Figueres, Gala-Salvador Dali Square, 5) and the home of the great surrealist. It is located in Port Lligat, near the town of Cadaqués, where the artist was inspired by the amazing beauty of seascapes.
Be sure to go to Besala - a castle town that keeps the spirit of the early Middle Ages. Stone bridge, lowered gates, narrow streets and characteristic architectural style: you will get to know how the life of the townspeople was here 6-7 centuries ago. You can also get acquainted with the troubled past of these places by visiting the castle of Sant Joan, located on a high mountain. From the 11th to the 18th centuries, they kept the defense from enemies from the sea, and today there is an amazing view of the sea panorama and the Lloret de Mar resort spread below. Entrance prices - from 3 to 5 euros.
The Clotilde Gardens is another must-see attraction: the picturesque complex is spread out on a mountainside, and its main walking path smoothly descends to the sea. If you have time, stop by the Girona Cathedral built in 1312. He has a wonderful museum with rare exhibits from the early Middle Ages, for example, the "Creation of the World" tapestry (11th century).
Beach holidays on the Costa Brava in 2020
The best time for a beach holiday on the Costa Brava is from May to October. Natural beaches are mostly pebbly: all the sand was brought here in the 1960s, when the coastal resorts began to gain popularity.
Entry into the sea in these places is not too smooth. Going on vacation with children, check out our list of the best beaches in this resort area - this will help make your vacation comfortable and safe.
The best beaches of the resort
- Lloret de Mar, the beach of the resort town of the same name (1.5 km). It is popular not only because of its cleanliness and location, but also due to its gentle entry into the sea. There are a lot of tourists and expensive rental of umbrellas and sunbeds (in 2020 - 10 euros). But you can lie on towels for free.
- Fenals(Lloret de Mar). Awarded the EU Blue Flag, clean, with a sharp drop in depth. There are much fewer people: if you want a more or less calm environment - you are here.
- Sa Abanel(Blanes). Good for everyone, including the length - 3 km. The only drawback: in the summer months, the appearance of jellyfish is possible.
- Almadrava(Roses). One of the best and most picturesque beaches, which borders the Cape Creus National Park. Fine golden sand, natural protection from the winds, several cafes and boat rentals: everything you need for a good beach holiday.
- La Perola(Roses). One of the quietest beaches, ideal for families. There are almost no waves, but there is clean sand and crystal clear water. Awarded with the Blue Flag.
What to see and do on the Costa Brava
Holidays on the Costa Brava are very popular with young people. But for lovers of a more relaxing holiday, there will be something to do here. The main thing is to decide on a suitable resort: the benefit of 200 kilometers of coast can offer a good choice.
Must get to:
- Chocolate factory in Girona. A zoo works with her: a good opportunity to please the sweet tooth and see with your own eyes how the bars are made.
- Lake Banyoles. Lakes in Spain are a rarity: Banyoles, for example, is considered the second largest, although it has an area of only two kilometers. The forests on the coast are very picturesque, and the nearby La Carpa restaurant will delight you with fresh fish dishes.
- Empuriabrava area. In another way, this resort area is called "Spanish Venice": instead of streets, there are canals, and instead of cars, boats and boats. In general, if you have time - get out, you will not regret it.
