A very old fishing town situated on the Gulf of Roses in Catalonia, Spain, Roses was originally founded as a trading settlement by the Greeks in the 8th century BC. Within the walls of the later 16th century citadel, the Ciutadella, there are still some remnants of this ancient civilisation together with artefacts from the later Roman settlement which began in the 2nd century BC. Roses Spain became a fortified town during the 17th century, a necessary step due to frequent pirate attacks, and these fortifications were truly tested by at least 4 sieges over the ensueing centuries, they were finally destroyed by the French in the early nineteenth century. Roses benefited greatly from the explosion of tourism during the 1960’s and 1970’s and became one of the prime holiday spots along this part of the Costa Brava coast. Roses is still a significant fishing port and has a lively marina with plenty of bars and restaurants where Roses nightlife is enjoyed by its many visitors. Roses, and the Gulf of Roses has plenty of stunning sandy beaches and some fine conditions for water sports, a great attraction for the area. Worth visiting are the Ciutadella, the church of Santa Maria, the Aiguamolls Natural Park, the Cap de Creus and the town of Figueres, birthplace of artist Salvador Dali. This are of Spain enjoys a super climate and Roses weather is ideal for holidays all year round but especially during the summer months when sunshine is the order of the day and rain rare. Roses Map.
April 16, 2010
April 9, 2010
Magaluf Majorca
Magaluf Majorca
One of the best known resorts on the holiday island of Majorca, Magaluf is a sun and fun resort that would not suit everyone. Mostly attractive to the younger generation, Magaluf boasts a wide range of entertainment with friendly bars, lively discos and nightclubs and a vibrant atmosphere. The resort does have some excellent sandy beaches which will suit those looking for a more relaxing holiday, and on the beaches visitors can make the most of the wonderful Magaluf weather, which is ideal for holidays during the summer season, and remains pleasant throughout the winter months. The nearby Pirates Show has, since its inception, attracted over 3 million visitors and continues to attract and entertain. Other attractions in Magaluf include water sports, horse riding, golf, aqua parks, go-kart racing and much, much more. Magaluf has an excellent range of hotels and some privately owned rental accommodation, so booking a Magaluf holiday should not be a problem. If you are looking for a non-stop sun and fun holiday, Magaluf might just be the place for you.
April 8, 2010
Punta Prima Costa Blanca
Punta Prima Promenade
One of the ever popular coastal resorts of the Orihuela Costa in Spain, Punta Prima is situated between Torrevieja and Playa Flamenca, just off the N-332 coastal road. A renowned area for holidays and relocation Punta Prima has an attractive stretch of coastline and some nice sandy beaches which visitors can enjoy. The picture accompanying this post is of the seafront promenade, approaching Punta Prima from the Playa Flamenca end. Punta Prima has a large commercial centre beside the roundabout on the main road and also has a strip of bars and restaurants along the N-332, stretching from the roundabout towards Playa Flamenca. The region benefits from fine weather conditions, being especially sunny and dry from May to September. An ideal spot for golfers there are some six courses within easy driving distance of the resort. Punta Prima is around 45 minutes drive from Alicante airport and 25 minutes from Murcia airport. Punta Prima Map.
April 6, 2010
Corralejo Fuerteventura
Corralejo Fuerteventura
The best known and largest of Fuerteventura’s resorts, Corralejo is situated on the northernmost tip of the island, the least populated of the main Canary Islands off the coast of North West Africa. This former fishing village has developed into a considerable holiday resort offering the main requirements needed for the typical package beach style holiday in the shape of sandy beaches, sunny weather, quality hotels and good facilities. Fuerteventura and Corralejo in particular certainly has beaches and these stretch for many miles in each direction and include a huge area of sand dunes which now form a Natural Park. The superb weather conditions allow visitors to travel here right through the year, with plenty of sunshine whatever month you arrive. From the main beach you can look across the turquoise blue ocean to the neighbouring island of Los Lobos another Natural Park which you can also visit. The best way to arrive in Corralejo, Fuerteventura is by way of the ferry from Playa Blanca on the island of Lanzarote, but you could also fly into the airport at Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura’s capital.
March 28, 2010
Tossa de Mar Costa Brava
Renowned for its rugged coastline Spain’s Costa Brava has some splendid coastal resorts which are very popular with holidaymakers. One of the most attractive of these seaside resorts is Tossa de Mar, a historic town which still has remnants of its ancient walled village (Vila Vella) and was originally a Roman town called Turissa some 2,000 years ago. Tossa de Mar was one of the pioneers of the Costa Brava tourist industry attracting such early visitors as painter Marc Chagall, who stayed there in the summer of 1934, he named Tossa his “blue paradise” and the town still proudly displays (in the Municipal Museum) the only Chagall painting known to exist in Spain. Renowned for its seafood, Tossa de Mar is a great place to taste some local dishes such as simitoba (fish in garlic sauce), the town has some top quality restaurants. While Tossa de Mar will attract its fair share of culture seekers, due to its long history, it is most popular with those seeking a traditional beach style holiday and its beaches, 2 having blue flag status, are perfect for this type of holiday, and also ideal for water sports enthusiasts with scuba diving and snorkelling being especially popular. Tossa de Mar has a decent choice of hotels including the Golden Bahia de Tossa, the San Eloy Tossa de Mar and the Hotel Diana. Tossa de Mar is situated on the GI-682 about 41 kilometres from Girona and its airport.
March 26, 2010
Cala Galdana Menorca
Cala Galdana Bay
One of the most popular and attractive coastal resorts on the island of Menorca, Cala Galdana is situated on the south coast in the municipal district of Ferreries. Standing around a beautiful horseshoe shaped bay Cala Galdana is probably the most photographed location on the island offering the chance for some delightful shots, worthy of a holiday brochure. With little history to speak of, Cala Galdana has mostly come to prominence with the growth of the tourism industry in Menorca, attracting those visitors who prefer a more laid back holiday away from the hustle and bustle of neighbouring Ibiza and Majorca. The beach is the place to head for in Cala Galdana and most visitors do just this, relaxing in the splendid weather conditions that the resort enjoys, particularly between the months of May and September. The beach is backed by an attractive promenade, a popular place for a stroll and also the location of a little craft market during the busy season, the beach has a good range of facilities and there are opportunities to try out some water sports. The main accommodation in Cala Galdana is hotels and aparthotels and the resort is listed with many of the major tour operators, the best known and only significant hotel is the Sol Gavilanes which overlooks the bay in a great location, if you book through a tour operator like Thomsons, this is no doubt where you will be staying, but you need not worry as this is an excellent hotel with all the facilities that you are likely to need for a great family holiday. Cala Galdana is around forty kilometres from Menorca’s airport at Mahon.