SPAIN
MAP OF SPAIN
is part of the region of Catalonia and Spain's Rugged or Wild Coast still has plenty to charm you. Tourists have been flocking to the Costa Brava for nearly 30 years now. This north-eastern area, stretching from Blanes, 60km north of Barcelona, to Port Bou, near the French border, can display some of the worst excesses of the package holiday. But choose your resort carefully and you can still feel you are in Spain, and not just Costa del Anywhere.
BEST RESORTS
Tossa de Mar the largest resort on the coast, is popular, yet still beautiful, with its 12th century walls and fairytale triple towers surrounding an old town of cobbled streets and whitewashed houses with windowboxes. There are three beaches the best being the Mar Mendua, although fine shingle the crescent shaped beach is good fun for children and adults. A wide choice of watersports is available at the Cala Llevado Beach The nightlife caters for every taste, from clubs to amusement arcades and restaurants and bars. It's main street glows at night with neon lights and most visitors enjoy relaxing in the tapas bars and resaurants.
Lloret de Mar this is one of Spain's busiest resorts. Young and lively Lloret caters for those who want an energetic nightlife. Lloret's own long main beachand neighbouring Fenals beach are both long swathes of coarse golden sand and shingle, shelving quite steeply into the clear sea. Behind the main beach is an impressive promenade. Wind surfing and sailing are popular sea sports and in town you can go bowling , go-karting and play minigolf. Lloret has a wide variety of shops, the best buys being locally made are lace and leather goods.
Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell and Tamariu are 'sister' resorts on a rocky part of the coastline, punctuated with sandy coves backed by pine trees. The beaches can get crowded but the whole area feels undeveloped-building is strictly controlled.
L'Escala is smaller and quieter than most places along this coast and caters for lots of local tourists. The beach is small, but there are lovely coves fronting the ruins of Ampurias a couple of kilometres away.
Cadaques is the trendiest town in the region. It has oodles of character, with whitewashed houses lining narrow, hilly streets, a harbour where you can watch fishermen hauling there catches and tiny pebble beaches.
Estartit is the best choice for a sandy beach based holiday, the pale golden sand shelves gently into the clear sea.A great variety of water sports are available in high season. Estartit is a flat resort that is ideal for people with mobility problems or families with buggies.
WHAT TO SEE
- Empuries (Ampurias)-this archeological site was an ancient greek trading station, founded in 550BC, and you can still see the astonishingly preserved remains of the town gate, market place and temples. You can also view ruins of the Roman city it later became - including two magnificent villas and an amphitheatre.
- Dali Museum, Figueres - the second most visited museum in Spain (after the Prado) and, when you visit, you'll see why. Some of the artist's most bizarre and facinating works are on display, including weird and wacky sculptures.
- Palafrugell - one of many well-preserved old towns in the region, at its liveliest during the morning market. Its streets are full of interesting shops and pavement cafés.
- Gerona - the beautiful ancient city with Roman walls, Arab baths, a Gothic cathedral and scores of pretty pastel-coloured houses which tumble down to a river. There's also an outdoor market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
- Barcelona - this is an easy day trip from most resorts. Tourists soak up the atmosphere in broad boulevards, try out the excellent restaurants around the leafy Ramblas area and gaze at some astonishing architecture - most famous is the Sagrada Familia church, the still unfinished masterpiece of the flamboyant Antonio Gaudi.
FOR THE CHILDREN
Port Aventura is a fabulous theme park and is Spain's answer to Disney. It is actually on the Costa Dorada, but can easily be done as a day trip.
SHOPPING
- La Bisbal, 12km northwest of Palafrugell, is famed for its ceramic and pottery ware.
- Pals, a fortified medieval village, about 8km inland north of Palafrugell, also has scores of smilar shops. Both towns have intreguing old quarters.
- Visit the duty-free haven of Andorra for some real holiday bargins with breathtaking views of the Pyrenees.
- Leather goods are excellent value and the quality tends to be high. Locally produced sherry or wine os also a popular souvenir.
EATING OUT
Costa Brava is where the British discovered sangria, a mixture of wine, lemonade, brandy and fruit,and you are not far away from the famous land of the Rioja.
- It is worth seeking out the local restaurants especially those serving fish.
- Sarsuela is a Catalonian seafood stew cooked in a spicy sauce and crema catalana is like a rich creme caramel.
- Eat authentic Catalan paella - it's made from seafood, sausages and spare ribs.
- If you are staying in Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell or Tamariu, try cremat, a speciality of the region made with rum, sugar, lemon peel, coffee grounds and sometimes with a cinnamon stick; it's served in an earthenware bowl and you have to set fire to it, then let it cool before drinking.
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