Costa Brava - a piece of paradise in Spain with extraordinarily beautiful nature and impressive beaches
The Costa Brava is the Mediterranean coastline in northeastern Catalonia, stretching 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 wondrous town of Cadaqués is steeped in the atmosphere of genius.
Photo: Map of the Costa Brava The name Costa Brava reveals the essence of this coastal line, which translates from Spanish as "wild / rocky / coast". Picturesque grandiose cliffs, cliffs, 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:
The 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 ICTE Q mark for excellent tourism (Lloret de Mar and Fenals).
The Costa Brava offers tremendous opportunities for diving - depths of up to 50 m, hollows and tunnels, fancy sponges and algae, octopuses, lobsters, eels and the most outlandish fish such as blue wrasse.
Photo: Costa Brava Another "strong point" of the Costa Brava is the extremely interesting cities along the entire length of the coast. Catalonia is a poignant mixture of rich history and culture, tradition and tourist comfort. This is a great opportunity to sunbathe and go on excursions to the most interesting cities in the world, for example, vibrant Barcelona or medieval Gerona.
The most visited resort towns are Lloret de Mar, Playa de Aro, Tossa de Mar and Blanes.
10 cases on the Costa Brava. Things to do:
Photo: Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodas Must-haves on the Costa Brava:
- Visit the "Dali triangle": graceful Cadaques, alluring Port Lligat and the birthplace of the genius Figares with the extraordinary museums of Salvador Dali.
- Head to one of the most beautiful natural parks of the Cap de Creus and the Sant Pere de Rodas Monastery.
- Dedicate a day to Barcelona to see the striking architecture of Gaudí.
- Take a walk in the ancient botanical gardens of Pigna de Rosa and Marimurtra in Blanes.
- Dance to the songs of Cuban fishermen in Calleia de Palafrugell.
- Visit the medieval señora Gerona.
- Taste fish from the catch of the morning in a restaurant overlooking the sea in Palamos.
- Take a walk along the hiking trails of Playa d'Aro, taking in the views of nature.
- Go diving or snorkelling at Cala Canellas Beach in Lloret de Mar.
- Rent a car and go for a day to the romantics of France.
- In each of the cities, a fiesta major is held annually - a holiday on the day of the patron saint of the city with fairs, performances, attractions and fireworks. In Tossa de Mar from June 28 to July 1, in Blanes on June 24-28, in Lloret de Mar on July 24-30.
Photo: Lloret de Mar Lloret de Mar is a resort that over the past centuries has grown from a fishing village to the tourist center of the Costa Brava. Its location is very convenient - 75 km from Barcelona, 29 km from Gerona, and only 90 km from France. Lloret de Mar is considered the epicenter of the get-togethers - people flock here to have fun at discos, nightclubs and bars.
The cultural program
Photo: Museum "Cat's House" Culturally, there are places to go, for example the private collection of the Cat's House Museum or the Maritime Museum on the waterfront. Finds from 250 BC are on display at the Verdaguer Cultural Center.
Active leisure
There are many water activities here - from catamaran, boats, "bananas" to diving with instructors or snorkelling (with snorkel). Play all kinds of beach sports on land, 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 alike will have a lot of fun at the Marineland and Water Park, 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 tops of trees.
Main beaches:
Lloret de Mar- the beach in the center right behind the hotel strip. There is coarse yellow sand here, the depth is growing rapidly. Very crowded during the season, the infrastructure is 5+.
Photo: Lloret de Mar Sa Caleta (Playa de S'Caleta)- a less crowded option with good sand, just over 100 m long. There are cabins and showers, but there is no cafe.
Photo: Sa Caleta Cala Canyelles- to be located 4 km from the center in a pleasant cove among the picturesque cliffs in the pine trees. 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 rocky ledge divides the beach into regular and nudist.
Photo: Sa Boadeya Santa Cristina (Playa de Santa Cristina)- 500 m beach, with white sand and peaceful water. Arriving here by boat or bus, you will escape 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 coves of Tortuga and Morisca, you can find the coveted seclusion and contemplation of nature.
According to tourists, it is not worth choosing the central beach of Lloret de Mar for recreation - although it is cleaned, with a huge number of people, it is possible to find garbage in the water or on the beach. Better to go to nearby Sa Caleta or Fenals.
sights
Photo: Gardens of St. Clotilde Landmarks 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 tycoon Narsis Plaja;
- The symbol of the city The Fisherman's Wife (Donna Marinera), gazing out into the sea, on the central beach;
- Ruins of the 11th century medieval castle of San Juan with an observation deck on the top of the mountain - you can get there on foot from Blanes;
- The amazing church of Sant Roma of the 16th century, which was reconstructed, adding elements of Art Nouveau;
- On the slope of a cliff near the beach of Sa Boadea, an oasis in the Renaissance style is hidden - the gardens of St. Clotilde with sculptures, alleys and waterfalls.
Photo: Tossa de Mar Tossa de Mar is a stunningly beautiful resort town that has brought many artists to paint. 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 ordinary romantics.
The cultural program
When the beach gets bored and your brain is hungry, head to the museums of Tossa de Mar, such as the Museu Municipal in Villa Vella, featuring works by the famous avant-garde artist Marc Chagall (The Violinist), as well as finds from the Roman city. The second part of the Museu Municipal exhibition 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 activities in Tossa de Mar is boat trips with a transparent bottom, during which you can admire the inhabitants of the waters. The rocky coast has created all the conditions for diving and snorkeling.
Beaches
Photo: Cala Giverola There are three main beaches in Tossa de Mar:
Mar Grande (Playa Gran)- a lively central beach by the cliff with the Vila Vella fortress.
Photo: Mar-Grande 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'Ramón-Peñafort on the other side of the bay.
Photo: Mar Menuda El Colodar- the beach, which is located directly behind the castle.
Photo: El Kolodar Cala Giverola- a magnificent bay with restaurants and bars, where boats run until late (20 minutes).
Photo: Cala Giverola Reviews of tourists say that although the Grand Beach is good, pleasure boats with tourists interfere with the rest a little. All beaches are covered with good clean sand. For wilder places, it is worth going by boat - to secluded picturesque bays.
sights
Photo: Fortress Villa Vella The main attraction of Tossa de Mar is hard to miss - it is the beautiful fortress Villa Vella 12 in on the Cape of Mont Guardi. It is interesting to wander along the convolutions of the battlements of the fortress walls, contemplating the seascapes. Round towers, jagged parapets, mountain and sea give the fortress a fairytale look. On the cape, you can also visit the Far de Tossa castle with an interesting half-hour excursion about the lighthouses.
You can see the unexplored beauty of Tossa de Mar in the video:
Wander around Tossa de Mar and you will find interesting sites such as the church of Sant 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 Minevra, 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 pines, a variety of shrubs, palms, olive-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: beautiful hotels, perfectly clean beaches, plenty of water activities, nightclubs, shops and a modern water park.
Active leisure
Many places 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. Popular boat trips to nearby resorts - the buzzing Lloret de Mar or the charming Tossa de Mar, as well as Blanes.
At night, establishments of a wide variety of formats work - from modern discos to authentic bars, where Spanish wine and flamenco work wonders.
Beaches
Photo: Cala Pedrosa The water on the shores of Playa d'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:
Rovira (Playa Rovira) Is a beautiful 200-meter long beach surrounded by pine trees.
Photo: Rovira Sa-Cova (Playa Sa Cova)- a miniature 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 architectural monument is the Gothic Church of the Virgin Mary. If you wander around the town, you will see many pretty medieval houses.
You can see Playa d'Aro from above in this video:
Nearby is the amazing medieval Gerona, to which you can take a whole day. The capital and crown of Catalonia, Barcelona, with the stunning architecture of Gaudí 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 handicraft (trade in cork oak bark) and a fishing village. Now it is a resort with hotels for all tastes - 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 pine trees, but also in a special cork oak, from which wine corks are made.
Leisure
At Palamos, extraordinary entertainment awaits you. The city is an important fishing port and when the ships loaded with fish return to the shore (after lunch), an exciting fish auction begins.
Watch a great video about Palamos and its beauty:
And, of course, the local restaurants prepare the freshest fish prepared according to local traditions. Here they prefer not to mask 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)- clean wide sandy beach in the center of the resort. There are hotels behind, and it is crowded during the season.
Photo: Palamos Fosca (Playa de La Fosca)- a cozy place with sand, boulders, small rocks and age-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 Castel (Playa de Castell) Is a pristine shore that can be reached by heading north along the GRS-92 path.
Photo: Castel
Photo: Blanes Blanes is the sweetest ancient city near Barcelona with endless sea and beaches, a wonderful promenade, magnificent restaurants, the oldest botanical gardens and magnificent views. The city is divided into two parts by the lonely rock of Sa Palomera, projected into the sea: the southern part is a tourist paradise, the northern part is a residential area and a port.
Leisure
Photo: Pigna de Rosa Blanes has two amazing botanical gardens worth visiting. The first Pinya de Rosa (Jardín Pinya de Rosa, 1945) - the tropics on the outskirts of the city with a huge collection of succulents (only 7 thousand plants). The second Marimurtra (Jardín Botánico Marimurtra, 1921) is a picturesque garden of 4 hectares with Mediterranean, subtropical and temperate zones. It's nice to walk along its paths and cascades, admiring the rocks and listening to the surf.
There are a lot of jellyfish and wonderful fish in the grottoes of the coast - be sure to take flippers and a mask with you.
Beaches
Photo: Cala Bona There are 5 beaches in Blanes, which 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)- a 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 spot for divers.
Cala Bona- a pleasant beach, which can be reached 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 love Sa Abanel beach - the coarse red sand of this beach is ideal for games and buildings. In addition, walking excursions start from here, interesting performances take place.
sights
It is a pleasure to wind through the historic quarters of Blanes - far from the mass resorts, Spain opens up in a different light. It is a beautiful 14th century Gothic Santa Maria temple, a Gothic fountain and a colorful 17th century Nuestra Señora de Esperanza temple in the center.
A wonderful place with gardens for relaxation - the Capuchin monastery of the Order of St. Anne right on the picturesque promontory. Everyone should climb the observation deck of the high cliff with the 1002 San Juan Castle.
Photo: Palafrugell Palafrugell is a coastal shopping center that is not very interesting in and of itself. 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 city the most romantic features. The Habaneras Nights (the first Saturday of July) with songs in the Cuban style are also beautiful.
Tamariu Is a magnificent bay town surrounded by pine-topped rocks.
Llafranc- a bohemian place and one of the best beaches in the country with clean fine sand 300 m away, myriads of yachts, stunning views.
Photo: Llafranc Begur- an interesting village for lovers of pebble beaches.
Results for 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 Gerona if your goal is to combine the sea and travel. In Tossa de Mar, on the other hand, there is an ideal 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 in the picturesque gardens, which are abundant here.
In the vicinity of Palafrugell, you can find islands of happiness - Caleia de Palafrugell, Tamariu, Llafranc and Begur. The beauty of these places is in their originality, remoteness from the massive money making on tourists.
How do we save up to 25% on hotels?
It's very simple - we use a special search engine RoomGuru for 70 services for booking hotels and apartments with the best price.Bonus for renting apartments 2100 rubles
Instead of hotels, you can book an apartment (1.5-2 times cheaper on average) on AirBnB.com, a very convenient worldwide and well-known apartment rental service with a bonus of 2100 rubles upon registrationPlaza Catalunya is a small but very picturesque square located in the central part of the Spanish resort of Blanes. The square is the starting point for the tourist exploration of Blanes, and from here you can easily reach the city beach.
Plaza Catalunya is considered the central square of Blanes, but this place cannot boast of its large size. The square is a small circle of green area, surrounded on all sides by a transport ring. In the center of the park there is an interesting flower bed, the flowers on which are planted in such a way that from a height the whole area looks like a big compass. In the middle of the flower bed there is a sculpture in the shape of a fishing boat.
Plaça Catalunya is the center of Blanes' tourist life - numerous sightseeing buses form and depart here, as well as an information center where you can get maps, brochures and inquire about popular tourist routes and city attractions.
Coordinates: 41.67202900,2.79035800
Pineda de Mar
The resort town of Pineda de Mar is conveniently located on the seashore. Nice clean beach. There are many shops and cafes in the town. The locals are very friendly.
What sights of the Costa Brava do you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate this or that place.
Gala Dali Castle in Pubol
The Medieval Castle in Pubol, dating from the 11th century, is a building with an adjoining church, a courtyard and a beautiful French-style garden. Over the centuries, the castle was rebuilt several times, presumably during the heyday of the baronate. This is roughly the end of the 14th century - the beginning of the 15th century. Gala Dali, Elena Ivanovna Dyakonova formalized the acquisition of the castle in an official way on June 1, 1970. Just two years earlier, Salvador Dali decided to finally fulfill the promise he made to his beloved woman back in the 30s. Namely - to give her a castle.
In 1968, construction work was underway to build a theater-museum, and, despite the high pace of construction, Dali ordered to find a castle, preferably not far from Port Lligat. Salvador Dali did not hesitate about the proposed castle in Pubol. With the passage of time, this castle became a kind of refuge for the Gala.
The arrangement of the castle was by no means traditional. Abundant vegetation, painting, and even a somewhat excessive enthusiasm for sculpture, baroque elements. There is a lot of symbolism here that only the initiated can understand. All the same busts of Wagner, animals in the form of stone or plaster figures. Stuffed animals were also installed. The goal was to create a mysterious place full of mysteries and secrets, and the interior space was bound to be beautiful. The Dali couple were quite successful in achieving this goal - a striking example is the kitchen, where the music hall was equipped.
It should be noted that Salvador Dali himself personally took part in the decoration work, in the design of the garden and several rooms, as well as individual elements
Coordinates: 42.01542800,2.98264300
The Girona Film Museum is one of the most interesting and unusual museums in the world. It was opened in 1998 at the expense of the personal funds of the Catalan director Thomas Malol. The museum displays a huge amount of cinematographic equipment, original tapes, projectors and the best collection of posters. In total, it displays about 30,000 exhibits. Visiting the cinema museum, you can see the exclusive cartoon drums, the Lumer brothers' projector and much more.
It also contains a huge number of cartoons, films, posters and photographs depicting actors from different eras. The museum presents the entire history of cinema, which reflects an entire era in people's lives. The museum is not a commercial organization, but carries an informational and historical character.
Coordinates: 41.98369800,2.82230700
Girona lioness
The legendary Girona lioness still stands in Placa de Sant Felliu. Now with a rather worn butt for 9 centuries - after all, according to legend, this is where you need to capture your kiss.
Marimurtra Garden
Marimurtra Garden is a botanical garden, one of the best in Europe. The garden is divided into three parts: subtropical, Mediterranean and temperate zones.
The plants in the garden are planted in a way that shows their historical development in different parts of the world. More than 4 thousand plant species grow here, including 200 endangered species.
In the garden there is a gazebo with a pond with aquatic plants, benches from where you can admire cacti, palms, begonias, hydrangeas, fuchsias, jasmine, etc.
The garden is located on the cliffs, which offer gorgeous views of the Costa Brava. You can get to the garden by tourist buses with the sign “Bus botanic Marimurtra”, which leave from Blanes.
Coordinates: 41.67823300,2.80099900
Fenals Beach
Fenals is a beach known to all lovers of relaxation by the sea in Spain. The beach is almost always filled with vacationers who want to enjoy the gentle sun and velvet sea, but in comparison with neighboring beaches, it is less noisy.
Almost all Spanish city beaches are landscaped, and Fenals is no exception. Lifeguards are on duty on the beach, the shore is equipped with showers. You can rent a sunbed and an umbrella, however, for a fee.
The beach is covered with coarse sand, has a wide coastline, and is well protected from the winds by a small hill. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that in several tens of meters from the coast, the depth increases sharply.
Entertainment on Fenals is very diverse - bars, cafes, restaurants by the sea, water boats, a rental station where you can rent any equipment - from fins and masks to wetsuits, as well as an outdoor gym.
Coordinates: 41.69411700,2.83378800
Are you curious to know how well you know the attractions of the Costa Brava? ...
Arab Baths in Girona
At the end of the 12th century, according to written historical sources, a permit for the construction of baths was issued to Arnau de Liers. Thus, he was encouraged for his heroic participation in the conquest of the city of Lleida. Then, at the end of the XIII century, the city was attacked by French troops who broke into the city and destroyed many buildings, including the building of the baths. Over the next few centuries, they were repeatedly renovated and restored, the last of which was completed in 1929. The architect Rafael Maso was an active participant in the last restoration work.
Despite the great outward resemblance to medieval Arab buildings, the building of the baths in Gerona is just an imitation of Muslim baths and the baths have nothing to do with the Arabs. This is actually a Romanesque building.
Coordinates: 41.98833200,2.82568600
The most popular attractions in the Costa Brava with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places of the Costa Brava on our website.
Costa Brava is a Spanish tourist region in the north-east of Catalonia. It covers 162 km of the Mediterranean coast from Blanes to the French border. The current landscaped coastline cannot be called a “wild coast”. Much closer to reality is another translation of Costa Brava - "rocky coast".
Beach holidays in the Costa Brava
Compared to other Spanish holiday regions, the Costa Brava's climate is cooler. The swimming season here begins at the end of June, but there is no sweltering heat in July-August. Best known as resorts for cities Lloret de Mar, Blanes 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 lively sandy beach with a length of 1.5 km is a gentle descent into the water, which is quite rare for the beaches of the Costa Brava. Another city beach - Fenals, despite the Blue Flag, cannot boast of this. But there are significantly fewer people here than on Lloret de Mar.
The largest beach in Blanes is Sa Abanel with a length of 3 km. For families with children, however, the Blue Flag awarded sandy Cala Sant Francesc beach is more suitable for the same reason it has a gentle slope into the sea. There is another beach in Blanes - Santa Anna with a length of only 75 m. It is always sparsely crowded, but it was chosen by German women sunbathing topless.
In Tossa de Mar, the eponymous beach 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 for 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 accessible to tourists - car renters.
Attractions Lloret de Mar
A beach holiday in one of the resorts of this region can be diversified by visiting the region's many historical and cultural attractions.
Fortress-castle Castell de Sant Joan was built in the XI century. The defensive structure was used for its intended purpose until the 18th century.
Castle of Sant Joan (Castell de Sant Joan)
The fortress stands on the top of a cliff, so the ascent on foot is rather tiring. True, those who have risen 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 at 10-13 and 17-19. But from November to March there are few tourists, and Sant Joan is open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 14 hours. The ticket costs 3 EUR.
Sculpture by Donna Mariner
In 1966, as part of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Lloret de Mar, a two-meter bronze Escultura de donna mariner.
Sculpture by Donna Mariner (Escultura de Donna Mariner)
The sculpture by Ernesto Maragala depicts a woman accompanying her beloved to sail. Donna Mariner fell in love not only with tourists, but also with residents of the city, and became one of its symbols. The townspeople even assure that if you look in the same direction and touch the sculpture's foot, your wish will come true.
Address: Lloret de Mar, Carrer Josep Tarradellas i Joan, 5-7.
Church of San Roma
At first glance at the building built in the 16th century. a certain dissonance between the elegant mosaic decor of the domes and the severe wall with loopholes is striking.
Church of San Roma (Església de Sant Roma)
The fact is that, in addition to its main function, the church often served as a refuge for local residents from the frequent raids of pirates in those days. It could only be reached by a drawbridge over a wide and deep moat around the walls. They remained unchanged, but the church itself was rebuilt and reconstructed several times. The church suffered significant damage during the civil war.
Address: Placa de l'Esglesia, 2. The church can be reached 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 thousand m2 on a cliff in the prestigious area of the city of Fenals. The architect Nicolau Rubier y Tuduri was guided by the examples of the Florentine Renaissance parks. Observant tourists visiting Florence guess in the gardens borrowed elements of the Borghese and Medici villas and the Boboli gardens. Sculptures, fountains, ponds and grottoes are harmoniously integrated into the natural landscape.
Jardins de Santa Clotilde
The park is open every day, except Mondays, from 10 am to 8 pm during the high season, and until 5 pm during the low season. The entrance fee is 5 EUR.
At the entrance to the city from the direction of Blanes, in a pine forest, there is Gnomo park.
Gnomo Park
Of course, this park with fairy-tale characters is aimed primarily at children. For them there are carousels, slides, swings, trampolines, mini-pools, a zoo corner. Familiar home cartoons are shown on a huge screen. Schoolchildren and adults alike can take part in overcoming obstacles in the trees of the rope trails of another park - Arbre Aventura Park.
The Gnome Park from July to September 11 is open daily from 11:00. In June, there is a day off on Mondays, and during the rest of the year the park is open only on weekends. The ticket, depending on the attractions, costs 10.8 or 14.5 EUR. The cost of a ticket to the playground is 8.8 EUR, and to the trails of the rope park - from 6 to 23 EUR.
Along with humans, there are many cats in Lloret de Mar. They are full of dignity: there is a museum dedicated to them in the city. Casa de los gatos is located on the central promenade, near the church of San Roma. The museum was opened in 2002 by Vera Novosyolova, a Russian immigrant and lover of these independent and cute animals. On the three floors of the mansion, you can see more than six thousand images of cats - ceramic, wood, porcelain, silver. Paintings on the walls and household items are also of a profile.
Feline positions in the city are very strong. Every March the city hosts the Catalonia - Homeland of the Moon Cat festival, organized by the City Hall and the Cat Museum. The festive procession is led by the feline royal couple.
Casa de los gatos address: 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 amusements of various 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 (stretching inertial rubber rope for jumping). On the territory of the children's island there are shallow pools with low slides.
Free buses run from the main resort towns of the Costa Brava to the water park. They depart every half 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 - until 7 pm). The cost of the entrance ticket is EUR 33, for children from 80 to 120 cm tall - EUR 19, 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 d'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 can be called a museum of modernist architecture. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. the successful in America and returning residents of Lloret de Mar built not only villas for themselves, but also family crypts and mausoleums. Their orders were carried out by eminent masters, including the followers of Gaudí. Just like in a sculpture museum, the plaque indicates the author and features of the work, and in three languages - Catalan, Spanish and English.
Objects associated with Salvador Dali
The cultural attractions of the Costa Brava region are mainly associated with the life and work of the famous shocking surrealist artist Salvador Dali.
Figueres is the birthplace of one of the founders of surrealism, the artist Salvador Dali. In Figueros, its museum functions, officially called the theater-museum. Facade Teatro-Museo Dalí looks more than original (match the creativity and life of Dali): a medieval castle painted in bright red color with dozens of huge chicken eggs on the roof. The walls are interspersed with bumps 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 Office 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.
Admirers of Dali's creativity can see in the exhibition more than four thousand works of art created by him. In addition to paintings, these are sculptures, photographs, prints 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 Hollywood actress Mae West's room with paintings-eyes, 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 beginning of work, depending on the tourist season, ranges from 9 to 10:30, and the end - from 18 to 20 hours. Entrance fee is 14 EUR. Visitors are admitted 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 Bay of Port Lligat near the town of Cadaques. In the following decades, they gradually bought up unsightly neighboring buildings and turned them into a single multi-level surreal labyrinth house. It is easily identifiable by the huge egg on the roof.
The house-museum is not as shocking as the theater-museum in Figueros. There are numerous stuffed animals and birds, cicadas in the bedroom, a phallus-shaped pool and a couch 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 Theater Museum in Figueros, visitors enter every 10 minutes in groups of no more than 8 people. The entrance ticket price is 11 EUR.
Gala Dali Castle
Castell Gala-Dalí or - castle of the XI century. in the village of Púbol, Girona province. In 1968, Salvador Dali fulfilled his promise to his wife in his youth to donate the castle.
After the acquisition of the dilapidated castle, it was restored with the preservation, at the request of Dali, of some of the destroyed fragments. The architectural ensemble of the castle consists of a manor-palace, a functioning parish church and adjacent annexes. 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)
Interestingly, Gala, thanking her for the gift, set a strict condition for her husband to come to the castle only with her written permission. Oddly enough, the masochistic 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 Gala's luxurious 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 trompe l'oeil, 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 either side 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 in solitude 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.
Supervised by the Gala Salvador Dali Foundation, the castle is open to visitors from March 15 to December 31 every day, except Monday, from 10:30 to 20 hours. Ticket price - 8 EUR. The Flaca bus stop is 2 km from the castle.
Other attractions of the Costa Brava
Marineland located near the city of Blanes - the largest 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 both for families with children and for fans of extreme sports. They are provided with: sliding on an inflatable ring Boomerang, Tornado whirlpool, Kamikaze steep descent, Black Hole tunnel descent. For those who like to swim and sunbathe there are three swimming pools without slides, and for children and teenagers - moderate slopes and slides.
Aquapark "Marineland"
The dolphin show can be watched at 12:30 and 17 hours, and the sea lion show at 12 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. Like 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.
Vila Velha fortress
Medieval fortress Vila 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, there were 7 towers in the fortress. Later, instead of one of the towers, a lighthouse was erected, which has survived to this day. It has an observation deck. In the XV-XVI centuries. inside the fortress there were about a hundred dwelling 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 ever worked in Tossa de Mar. Among them are Marc Chagall (Celestial Violinist) and Claude Monet. Even the cannons have been preserved in the fortress.
Buses run from other Costa Brava resorts to Tossa de Mar. The town itself is very small, so finding the castle is easy. It can be visited free of charge. A fee of 3 EUR is charged for visiting the museum or lighthouse.
Jardín Botánica Marimutra on a mountain near Blanes was founded at the beginning of the XX century. German botanist Karl Faust. The name Mar i Murtra - “sea and myrtle” is too modest for the varied vegetation of the garden, which also contains palms, cacti, yuccas, hydrangeas, fuchsias, pines, bamboo and jasmine. In total, there are more than four thousand trees and shrubs in three climatic zones - tropical, Mediterranean and temperate.
Botanical Garden of Marimurtra (Jardín Botánica Marimutra)
Address in Blanes: Passeig de Carles Faust, 9. From Plaça de Catalunya to the botanical garden, the OPEN TOUR buses run, the timetable for which can be viewed on the post next to the stop. Travel time is only 15 minutes. The Botanical Garden, depending on the season, opens at 9-10 am and closes at 5-8 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 the cactus lover Don Fernando de Carat Riviera was implemented 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 some of the best in the world. The name of one of the prickly pear species (a variety of cactus) gave the name to the entire garden. It is often called cactus.
Pinya de Rosa Botanical Garden
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 am to 6 pm. The entrance fee is 4 EUR.
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 are declared a marine reserve. The underwater world around the islands is very beautiful and is considered a paradise for scuba divers.
Medes Islands
Ordinary tourists can also enjoy the beauty of the underwater world from L'Estartit Nautilus glass-bottom pleasure boats cruising to the islands.
And on the beaches of the islands they offer a variety of sea activities - a scooter, 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 attractions. This review does not include interesting objects of the city, which are devoted to a separate article on the site.
The coastal relief of the Costa Brava resort region is made up of inaccessible cliffs and cliffs overgrown with Pyrenean pines and firs, which, in turn, alternate with magnificent coves and bays with white sand beaches.
All beaches here, as well as throughout Spain, are municipal and free. Many beaches have a Blue Flag, including: Blanes and Sabanell in Blanes, Fenals, Lloret, Sa Boadella & St. Cristina in Lloret de Mar, Garbi and Gran de Calella in Calella, Gran de Todda & La Mar Menuda in Tossa de Mar, central beach of Malgrad de Mar and Pineda de Mar.
Rent of beach equipment (sun loungers and umbrellas) is paid separately. The swimming season lasts from mid-May to October.
Transport
Getting to Barcelona is not difficult, the express bus runs on the Tossa de Mar - Lloret de Mar - Barcelona route about 7 times a day and a ticket costs about 6 euros, and a taxi fare will be about 90 euros. Still, the main mode of transport on the coast is comfortable commuter trains. The railway runs along the coast from the town of Blanes to Barcelona and beyond. Trains leave every 30 minutes (traffic stops at night), the ticket price varies depending on the day of the week and is approximately 3 euros. From the town of Lloret de Mar you can get to the Blanes train station by bus, which also leaves every 30 minutes from the bus terminal. But there is also an alternative way to travel between neighboring resorts - these are pleasure boats that run between the cities of Blanes, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar several times a day. The price of a boat ticket is 3 - 8 euros one way, depending on the distance. Moving between the resorts of this coast by taxi will cost you about 6 - 20 euros. Prices are one way.
Things to do?
While relaxing in the resorts of the Costa Brava, you can successfully combine beach holidays with excursions. Moreover, there really is something to see. How, for example, not to visit Barcelona? Not to see the famous creation of Antoni Gaudí - the Sagrada Familia? The magnificent medieval city of Girona is located 145 km from Barcelona. Not far from this historical monument is the town of Figueres, where the theater-museum of Salvador Dali is located. Also, one cannot fail to visit the miracle of ancient architecture, the symbol of Catalonia - the Montserrat monastery, erected at an altitude of 721 m above sea level and surrounded by bizarre rocks. A full day excursion to the independent principality of Andorra - a duty-free zone - is a "deep immersion" in shopping. In the town of Waltordera, you can see a real medieval jousting tournament, as well as take part in a medieval festival with dancing and dinner. Not only children, but also the older generation will truly enjoy visiting the Marineland Dolphinarium, the Aqualeon mini-zoo, water parks, the largest of which is called Water World and is located near Lloret de Mar.
Resorts
Resorts Costa Barcelona and Costa Brava, which have long been known under the common name "Costa Brava", are located on the northern coast of Spain and deservedly enjoy the love of tourists from all over the world.
Vacationers are attracted by affordable prices, a wide range of entertainment for the whole family, developed infrastructure and proximity to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.
The Costa Barcelona (or Costa Maresme) coastline stretches from Barcelona to the resort town of Santa Susanna. Behind him begin the resorts of the Costa Brava - Blanes, Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar and Playa de Aro, each of which has its own unique look. Lloret de Mar is popular with young people who prefer active recreation and entertainment.
Beach lovers will appreciate the long beaches of Calella and Santa Susanna, their picturesque surroundings and seafood cuisine. Tossa de Mar, a natural gem of the region, is a quiet and relaxing family resort nestled in a cozy bay on the seashore. Here is the famous medieval fortified city Vila Vella ("Old Village"). The hospitable resorts of the Costa Brava will not leave indifferent those who cannot imagine life without shopping and leisurely dinners in local restaurants. A large selection of hotels for different tastes, gentle sea and bright sun, attractions located "literally at hand", you will find all these joys of life here on the coasts of Catalonia.
The beaches of Spain are famous all over the world: 566 of them are marked blue flag , which is awarded only if the water quality is excellent, and the beach itself meets all the criteria for environmental friendliness (separate waste collection, safe approach, adaptation for people with disabilities, and so on).
You can travel along the coast for more than one day, exploring the bays, but if at some point you get tired of sunbathing and swimming, there are many interesting cities, places and attractions on the Costa Brava that will definitely be no less impressive than the beaches. We have prepared a list of places with stories that can be a great part of your vacation.
Empuriabrava
- How to get there: car rental from 50 € / ≈ 3600 rub. € / ≈ 73,000 rubles. By Estacio Nord bus to Cadaques along the way, you can ask to stop at Empuriabrava. Price - 24.95€ (≈ 1820 rubles). Travel time is 1.5 hours. By train from the station Estacio Nord to Figueros from 16 € (≈ 1150 rubles), then a bus (route 12) is located opposite the station, the price is 5 € (≈ 365 rubles). Travel time is 2.5 hours.
The most popular characteristic of this city is ... In fact, the resemblance to the Italian sister begins and ends on the canals: there are no crowds of tourists, carnivals and gondoliers telling romantic stories on boat trips to lovers. However, it is this tranquility that attracts travelers.
The first thing that catches your eye is that it is very beautiful here! You can rent a boat for walking along the canals, but keep in mind that all boats are limited in speed and crawl like turtles, so feel free to choose the cheapest option from the proposed - 40€ (≈ 3000 rubles) per hour for four quite good.
The second point smoothly follows from the first: given that you can take a boat without a driving license, you must understand that the speed will be really turtle and you will not be able to arrange a perky race, but to take a leisurely ride through the canals, looking at houses and yachts, is quite.
If you love not only water, but also the air (in terms of the sky), then next to the city there is a smallprivate airport where you can jump with a parachute. The cheapest option will cost from 32€ (≈ 2500 rubles), tandem with video, photo, T-shirt and private jet - 620 € (≈ 45 200 rubles).
Where to stay
Where to stay
Dali wanted visitors to leave with the feeling that they were having a theatrical dream. And it's true: after the museum, you can feel a certain surrealism of the entire surrounding world. Although even before visiting, it is safe to say that there will be something unusual inside: the outside of the house is decorated with giant eggs and loaves of bread. By the way, bread, according to Dali himself, was one of his fetishes in art.
Tickets can be bought at website by choosing the day and time of your visit (when buying online, the price is slightly lower - 14€ (≈ 1000 rubles) instead of 15 € (≈ 1100 rubles). Opening hours can be checked at site.
Where to stay
Blanes
- How to get there: car rental from 50 € / ≈ 3600 rub. per day with insurance and a deposit - 1000€ / ≈ 73,000 rubles. Train R1 from stations Plaza Catalunya, Arc de Triomphe, price 6.30€ (≈ 460 rubles) one way. Travel time is 1.5 hours.
Resort town famous not only for its long (more than 4 kilometers) and clean beaches (the most famous arePlaya de Blanes and S'Abanel ), but also one of the best botanical gardens in Europe - Marimutra ... It is divided into three zones: the subtropics, the temperate zone and the Mediterranean. This includes plants brought from China, Japan, Mexico, African countries, North and South America, and the Canary Islands.
The peculiarity of the garden, which puts it at the top of the ratings, is its location: cliffs and sea views make it truly unique.
Marimutra was founded in 1920, that is, in 2020 it will turn 100 years old! At the same time, the collection of plants is also impressive: more than 4,000 species, of which several hundred are very rare and endangered. By the way, the garden has been awarded the status of a cultural heritage of Catalonia.
Opening hours - from 9:00 to 20:00.
Entrance fee - 7€ (≈ 500 rubles).
Where to stay
Where to stay
Where to stay
From 6090 rub. per night.
From 14 390 rub. per night.
Begur
How to get there: car rental from 50€ / ≈ 3600 RUB per day with insurance and a deposit - 1000€ / ≈ 73,000 rubles. By bus Estacio Nord , tickets - from 19.85 € (≈ 1450 rubles) one way. Travel time is 2.5 hours.
There are several legends associated with one of the quietest and most romantic towns on the Costa Brava. The first is about the flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya, who came to Begur in the 60s and was so captivated by the beauty of the city that she stayed here to live. Now in her house
