COSTA BRAVA

The climate, quality of life, beautiful coves and wide range of services make the Costa Brava one of the most attractive tourist and residential destinations in the Mediterranean.

 

The beauty of the Costa Brava

 

Along the 240 km of coastline of the so-called Costa Brava, there are many picturesque villages; from medieval villages such as Pals and Peratallada, very close to each other, to Tossa de Mar with its beautiful ramparts.

 

There are towns with special charm, such as Empúries, an ancient Greek and Roman city of which the remains are directly facing the sea. Next to Empúries, to the south of the Bay of Roses, there is L'Escala, offering quality tourism for families, tranquillity and, not to be missed - its famous anchovies!

 

The former fishing villages of Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc or Begur still retain their original character, and feature some of the best beaches on the Costa Brava. Begur, crowned by a castle, has beautiful beaches such as Sa Riera, Aiguablava or Cala Fonda. In Llafranc it is highly recommended to visit the Sant Sebastià Lighthouse, located on top of a steep cliff over the sea.

 

Very much worth mentioning are three very charming villages in the Baix Empordà: S'Agaró, a town where architecture and nature are nicely balanced; Platja d'Aro, modernist and cosmopolitan, and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, full of history. They all have in common the most beautiful Camino de Ronda of the Costa Brava; bordering one of the most elegant and exclusive urbanizations in the area, created by Josep Ensesa i Gubert with designs by the famous modernist architect Rafael Masó i Valentí.

 

In many parts of the Costa Brava the "caminos de ronda" have been recovered, which were originally paths that ran close to the sea in order to control the coastline and borders to avoid fraud and smuggling. Today they represent one of the most attractive hiking trails in the province of Girona. They are interspersed with steps and viewpoints running along the coast from cosy S'Agaró to steep Cap de Creus, touching the most idyllic corners of the Costa Brava, with the part between Palamós and Calella de Palafrugell being the most spectacular and inaccessible.

 

Farther north, nestled in the Cap de Creus natural park, the small town of Cadaqués has attracted a great number of artists over the years, the most famous being Salvador Dalí. He lived and worked for a great part of his life in Port Lligat, which is very close, and his house there has been turned into a museum. In order to see more of this artist’s works however, one has to go to Figueras, where the Salvador Dalí Theatre-Museum, dedicated exclusively to the artist, is located.

 

Finally, there is the capital of the province, Girona, of which the most iconic image is that of the brightly coloured row of houses bordering the Onyar River, with the Cathedral and the church of Sant Feliu in the background.

 

Hereafter some interesting links of the area:

 

A passion for gastronomy and hospitality

 

The great variety of restaurants on the Costa Brava offers food for all kinds of tastes.

 

Ranging from worldwide renowned restaurants such as 'El Celler de Can Roca' and 'Sant Pau' by Carme Ruscalleda, both with three Michelin stars, or 'Les Cols' and 'Miramar' with two Michelin stars, to traditional Mediterranean cuisine such as 'Els Tinars', working with seasonal and local products, food lovers are spoilt for choice.

 

These are just a few brushstrokes of what the area has to offer, and it should also be mentioned that the food is often accompanied by settings of great charm and beauty, such as 'Can Roquet' or other restaurants, located in the main square of a town, in the narrow alley of a fishing village, on the seashore, next to a Romanesque church, etc.

 

This gastronomic offer is complemented by an excellent choice of accommodation that has been developed and perfected since the beginning of tourism in the area at the start of the 20th century.

 

Some of the highlights are the famous 'Hostal de la Gavina', opened in 1932, the 'Hotel Peralada Wine Spa & Golf', perfect for exploring the most important cultural and artistic heritage of the area, the 'Sallés Hotel & Spa Cala del Pi', the 'Mas de Torrent Hotel & Spa', and further north, overlooking the Bay of Roses, the 'Hotel Vistabella'; or the 'Hotel Alàbriga', recently opened, with beautiful views of the beach of Sant Pol.

Nature and sports

 

The Costa Brava has much more to offer than sun and beach; there is a lot to experience and explore, such as a great variety of sports to practice.

 

There are fantastic routes to go kayaking, to reach the immense coves not accessible from land; sail or windsurfing classes are offered, and there is also the option of renting any type of boat to cruise along the entire coastline - or even flying over the water by fly board.

 

Scuba diving is another popular sport, due to the beauty of the seabed of the Costa Brava. The Medes Islands are set within an important natural reserve that makes them a paradise for lovers of this sport. Also the Cap de Creus, Ses Negres in Begur or the Ullastres in Llafranc are sites highly valued by fans of this sport.

 

The region is a true mecca for golfers, with some of the best golf courses in Europe and no less than 9 facilities open all year round, surrounded by diverse landscapes of great beauty; by the sea and in the mountains.

 

To explore the inland, there are fantastic excursions on horseback to enjoy the nature, or you can take riding lessons on the best Purebred Spanish horses (PRE). We can advise you on the most suitable centers to meet your needs.

 

Another option is to take 'El carrilet' by bicycle. It is an old narrow-gauge railway route, converted into a bicycle path, linking the coastal town of Sant Feliu de Guixols with the provincial capital, Girona. The trail, which is perfectly marked, extends off the main roads, which makes for a tranquil environment to enjoy and admire the surrounding landscape.

 

Other leisure possibilities include tennis, quad biking, paint ball and many more activities to enjoy during your free time.

Surroundings

 

Outside the province of Gerona, but within easy reach, there are also several extraordinary sites that deserve a visit.

 

Barcelona, one of the most visited European cities, cosmopolitan and maritime, holds a great urban, cultural, commercial, financial and tourist attraction.

 

With a wide range of museums, such as the MNAC, the Joan Miró Foundation and the Picasso Museum, as well as great works of architecture from all eras: from the Gothic quarter to the Ensanche, from the well-known Ramblas to the new neighbourhoods on the seafront created in the wake of the 1992 Olympics. Whether visiting monuments, such as the famous Sagrada Familia cathedral, the extraordinary Güell Park, or shopping either at the big brands or in quaint small boutiques, whether simply strolling around or enjoying the huge and varied culinary offer, Barcelona is definitely worth a visit.

 

Another highly recommended attraction is Montserrat, the iconic sanctuary located in a rocky massif that is traditionally considered the most important and significant mountain in Catalonia. The Benedictine monastery is dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat, whose image is popularly known as the "Moreneta" (the Dark One), for the enigmatic dark colour of her skin, which has given rise to different explanations and interpretations.

 

For an intense and exclusive shopping experience, we recommend stopping at La Roca Village, an 'outlet' universe with more than 100 top brands offering smart deals throughout the year.

 

Another option, which combines shopping with a complete change of scenery, is a trip to Andorra, located in the heart of the Pyrenees. This small non-EU country not only has a wide range of shops of all kinds with 'duty free' prices, but also offers a great variety of mountain sports, both in winter and summer.

Family time

 

The Costa Brava also has a lot of activities for the whole family to offer that will especially delight the children.

 

There are several water parks in the area, such as 'Aqua Brava' (Roses), 'Aquadiver' (Platja d'Aro) or 'Waterworld' (Lloret de Mar), as well as 'Marineland Catalunya', a combination of a water park and a maritime zoo with an impressive dolphinarium and a collection of exotic birds - an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

 

Other types of parks offer the possibility to have your own adventure in a forest with zip lines, hanging bridges, climbing walls, nets, lianas, balancing games, Tarzan jumps, and many other activities; with circuits of different heights and difficulties, adapted to all ages.

 

And a little further down south, already on the Costa Daurada, is one of the most famous theme parks in Europe: 'Port Aventura', where you can enjoy a huge variety of attractions and shows, with some of the highest and fastest rollercoasters in all of Europe.

See you later / Hasta pronto

 

Our aim with giving this information has been to capture the soul and offer a global vision of this unique and special area, selecting some of its main attractions and places that best summarize its essence. But more than this, we would like to invite you to come over and enjoy it, and to discover its many other secret treasures.

 

We at Villa Iberia shall be happy to inform, advise and guide you in this exciting discovery, so that you end up feeling at home on this wonderful Costa Brava.

SUSCRIBIR BOLETÍN

SUSCRIBIR BOLETÍN

SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe

Sell or rent your property!

Request a property

+
Subscribe
Subscribe
Subscribe

Subscribe newsletter

(+34) 972 81 63 38 - 696 954 193 

(+34) 972 81 63 38 - 696 954 193 - 656 618 314

(+34) 972 81 63 38 - 696 954 193 

Avenida Castell D'aro 40, 17250 Platja D'aro

Avenida Castell D’aro 40, 17250 Platja D’aro

+
ATTENTION: This website uses cookies. You can accept or refuse our cookies by clicking on the buttons below. A refusal will not limit your experience as a visitor. Find out more about the use of cookies by clicking on the "More Information" button below.

Accept
Reject
More information