Two interesting inland towns of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain are Besalu and Olot, both worth a visit for their own merits Besalu and Olot are both within the comarca of Garrotxa and are in fact the former and present capitals of that district. Besalu, though only a small town with a population of just over 2,000, was formerly of great importance for the region and was controlled by a dynasty begun by Wilfred the Hairy for over 200 years. Settled by Romans, Visigoths, Franks and various other cultures Besalu has some very ancient buildings worth visiting, the landmark of the town is the eleventh century fortified bridge which crosses the River Fluvia at the entrance to the town, this unique bridge has a fortified gatehouse and a portcullis.Besalu became a Historic national Monument in 1966 and many of its buildings have been restored to their former glory. Olot, to the west of Besalu is the current capital of the Garotxa district and was very important for textile manufacture during the 18th and 19th centuries. The demands of the textile industry encouraged the forming of the Olot School of art, which was founded by a group of local artists whose work can be seen in the Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa. Both towns are well inland from the Costa Brava coastline and experience a considerably different climate from the coast, in fact Olot weather can be very cold during the winter with possibilities of snow and temperatures often verging on freezing, the Garrotxa region also experiences more rainfall with around forty inches per year. Catalonia Map.
August 26, 2009
Benissa, Teulada, Benitachell and Cumbre del Sol
Surrounding the northern Costa Blanca resort of Moraira there are a number of interesting little towns which are less well known than this more popular coastal town, these include the towns of Benissa, Teulada, Benitachell and Cumbre del Sol. Benissa is an interesting town with a history going back to the times of the Moors (the name is from the Arabic Banu-Issa), the old town is well preserved and has some important historic monuments. Equally old is Teulada, with its narrow winding streets and “Sea Doorway” an ancient part of the old medieval walls which protected the town. The small town of Benitachell is between Moraira and Javea and has a number of new developments surrounding it including the largest, Cumbre del Sol which also has its own small beach and enjoys wonderful panoramic sea views.
August 25, 2009
Benifallim Costa Blanca
Well worth a visit when travelling in the northern Costa Blanca, is the delightful little mountain village of Benifallim, located in the Sierra del Rontonar. Having less than two hundred inhabitants, Benifallim really is a tiny place, but its narrow streets and alleyways and charming white-washed houses take visitors back to the times of the Moors, when they battled for control of the village with the Christian forces. Benifallim can be accessed from the CV785. Benifallim Map.
August 24, 2009
Benicarlo Spain
A coastal town and resort situated between Peniscola and Vinaros, Benicarlo is on the “Orange Blossom Coast” (Costa del Azahar) in eastern Spain. Settled since the Bronze Age, Benicarlo was just a small hamlet when the Moors ruled the region in the 8th to 13th centuries, it was later surrounded by a fortified wall after the Christian reconquest. Present day Benicarlo survives economically on agriculture and manufacturing and also has a budding tourism industry, as this stretch of coast gains in popularity. Benicarlo celebrates a couple of interesting festivals during the year, the first one being the Artichoke Fair, which is held in January and celebrates one of the most important crops for the town, during August the festival in honour of Benicarlo’s patron saint, includes the “bous a la mar” (Bulls in the sea) event.
August 20, 2009
Benalmadena Costa del Sol
One of the finest holiday resorts on the Costa del Sol coastline of southern Spain, Benalmadena has a variety of tourist attractions including the Sealife Aquarium, the Selwo Marina and the famous Tivoli World Amusement Park at Arroyo de la Miel. Benalmadena has a history going back to the Arab occupation of Spain, and the name is thought to be derived from the Arabic “Ben-al-Madina” (“Children of the Mines”), referring to the iron ore mines which used to be important in the area. The coastal area of the town, known as Benalmadena Costa is the home of the marina, a popular area with visitors and the location of a variety of shops, bars and restaurants. The inland section is known as Benalmadena Pueblo, an attractive village with pretty white walled houses. Sit and watch the world go by in the charming Plaza de Espana, or visit the picturesque church of Santo Domingo. Benalmadena and this entire stretch of coast enjoys a wonderful climate (Costa del Sol means “Sun Coast”) and the weather in Benalmadena is perfect for family holidays at any time of year. Benalmadena is located between the popular resorts of Torremolinos and Fuengirola and can be accessed from the railway station at Arroyo de la Miel or by road from Malaga airport. If you are not driving you may need to book a Malaga airport transfer, to get you to your destination in Benalmadena, though if you are booking through a tour operator, this will probably already be laid on for you.
Towns of Alicante Province – Torrevieja and La Mata
Located to the south of Alicante on the southern Costa Blanca, surrounded by 2 huge salt lakes, the coastal towns of Torrevieja and La Mata are growing resorts with a huge range of facilities and some fabulous sandy beaches. Torrevieja has had some bad press in recent years but much of it has been an exaggeration and the town has continued to flourish despite this criticism. There has been an enormous amount of development in recent years and Torrevieja has grown from a small fishing village to a huge resort. It has been a popular location along with La Mata and the Orihuela Costa, for the purchasing of second holiday homes and a large number of Brits and other North European nationalities have chosen to buy holiday homes there, a large majority choosing to plump for a Torrevieja apartment as these are at the cheaper end of the market. La Mata is a very Spanish resort and attracts a huge number of Spanish tourists during the summer season. Again many Brits have chosen to buy property here and there is a growing ex-pat community. The beaches at La Mata are amongst the finest in the region.The wonderful weather is one of the main reasons for its popularity and Torrevieja and La Mata enjoy a unique micro-climate with over 300 days of sunshine every year. Torrevieja also has some fine beaches, especially to the south of the town and these can get very packed during the summer season. Golfers head to this area in large numbers, as there are some excellent golf courses within easy driving distance of both Torrevieja and La Mata, the closest are the 3 golf courses of the Orihuela Costa, and also nearby are La Finca and La Marquesa golf courses. Torrevieja has some excellent facilities including the water park Aquopolis, a bowling alley, a fine marina and an excellent new shopping centre. Behind both Torrevieja and La Mata lie the enormous salt lakes which have been important for the economy of both towns over the centuries, they now form part of a protected Natural Park which is important for wildlife.