Steve's World Blog » catalonia

Figueres Costa Brava Catalonia

needahand — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:03:58 +0000

A Spanish town in the Catalonia region of northern Spain, Figueres is mostly famous as the birthplace of Spanish artist Salvador Dali, and as such attracts thousands of holidaymakers and art fanatics, who visit to view a big museum which is dedicated to his work and called the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dali. Figueres is actually a sizeable town in its own right, and has a population of over 40,000 residents, the towns name is thought to derive from the Visigothic language. A popular day trip from many of the coastal resorts on the Costa Brava coastline, Figueres shold certainly be on your hot list of places to visit whilst in the area. It lies in the north-eastern section of Catalonia, and is just 40 kilometres from the provincial capital Girona, some close by coastal resorts include Roses, Empuriabrava, Cadaques, L’Escala and Llança, so if you are visiting any of these resorts, this could be a good idea for a day trip, especially if you are an art fan, in which case it will be a real treat. Pick a day when the weather is not so hot,then you can take your time and walk around Figueres in comfort, not missing a good beach day in the process.

Fira Palace Hotel Barcelona

needahand — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:56:09 +0000

Fira Palace Hotel Barcelona

An elegant hotel well located in the city of Barcelona, Spain, the Fira Palace Hotel is ideal for both leisure and business visitors to this great city. Offering two hundred and seventy six rooms, all both excellent facilities, the Fira Palace Hotel Barcelona could be your ideal accommodation. The hotel offers such fine facilities as an indoor swimming pool, health and fitness centre, sauna, gift shop, piano bar, two restaurants, patio garden, gymnasium, hair salon etc. Rooms in the Fira Palace Hotel are available from 77 euros per night (around £64), very reasonable for a city centre hotel in Barcelona. Located in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain, Barcelona is the countries second largest city, it is around 150km from the border with France and about 100kn from Girona. The city has a huge variety of attractions, whether you are looking for culture, entertainment of even a beach holiday, and a visit to Spain would not be complete without a visit to this amazing place. Barcelona Map.

Casamar and Terramar Hotels Llafranc

needahand — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:50:02 +0000

Terramar Hotel Llafranc

If you are planning a visit to the coastal resort of Llafranc, located between Calella de Palafrugell and Tamariu on the Costa Brava coastline of north-eastern Spain, you will perhaps need a hotel for your accommodation in the resort. While there are several hotels which you can choose from, two of the most popular, the Casamar Llafranc and the Terramar Hotel should provide all you need for a pleasant day in the area. The Casamar Llafranc is a small friendly hotel with just 20 rooms, ideal for a quiet holiday while providing all the facilities needed for a nice holiday. The three star Terramar Hotel has more rooms with 53, and has the benefit of being located right on the beach so you can enjoy the wonderful Llafranc weather and take in the rays, while staying close to your hotel and easy to pop back for meals. Llafranc is a tranquil resort, which has not yet been ruined by tourism, expect to meet plenty of Spanish nationals, as this is a favourite spot of theirs, while also bumping into various nationalities of those enlightened enough to visit this lovely resort. Rooms in the Casamar Hotel range from 140 euros per night, while the more affordable Terramar Hotel starts at just 52 euros per night. Llafranc Map.

BOOK CASAMAR LLAFRANC

BOOK TERRAMAR LLAFRANC

Hotel Playa Sol Cadaques Costa Brava

needahand — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:46:39 +0000

Hotel Playa Sol Cadaques

A popular located right on the seafront in Cadaques, the 3 Star Playa Sol Hotel could well be your first choice for accommodation in this Costa Brava resort, though there are other hotels such as the Octavia, La Tarongeta and the Hotel Blaumar to choose from. You may prefer the Playa Sol’s beachside location, being situated on a small bay right beside a nice sandy beach, and you may appreciate its being handy for Cadaques town centre which is only about five minutes stroll away, in any case you will be attracted to the Playa Sol hotel’s friendly family run atmosphere and fine facilities to make your stay in this resort a pleasure. In a somewhat isolated position, Cadaques is perfect for a peaceful holiday away from the bustling crowds of some of the better known and busier Costa Brava resorts further south, and while it is visited all year round, the weather in Cadaques can get a bit windy and wild during the winter, so summer holidays are definitely more popular than winter breaks. Cadaques is ideal for visiting the Cap de Creus National Park and is also great for hikers, who visit this beautiful area to enjoy the spectacular coastline of the Costa Brava. Also ideal for water sports, this is an especially popular area for windsurfers, scuba divers and kitesurfers. Other nearby areas include Portlligat and Roses. Cadaques Map.

Port Aventura Salou

needahand — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:27:33 +0000

A huge theme park, a Beach Club, and aquatic park and three hotels, together form the amazing Port Aventura Theme Park (PortAventura), one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Port Aventura is located in the seaside resort of Salou on the Costa Dorada coastline of Catalonia in Spain. Constructed as a joint project by Universal Studios, Anheuser-Busch and the Tussauds Group, Port Aventura later became known as “Universal’s Port Aventura”, as Universal Studios held a majority of the shares in the park. Now simply known as “PortAventura” the theme park is run by the banking group La Caixa. Despite all the other facilties, Port Aventura is best known as a theme park, located in a tropical setting, it has some pretty hair-raising rides, some of the most famous being the Furius Baco, the Hurakan Condor and the Dragon Khan rollercoaster with its 8 scary loops. The park is set out on various themes including the “Wild West”, “China”, “Mexico”, “Polynesia” and “Mediterrania”. Located in the popular seaside resort of Salou, the area benefits from a fine climate and Port Aventura weather can generally be expected to be sunny and dry most days between the months of May and October. Port Aventura can be easily reached by road, rail and plane, with Reus International Airport just 10 minutes drive away.

Port Aventura Map.

Miami Playa Costa Dorada

needahand — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:38:46 +0000

One of the lesser known but emerging coastal resorts on the Costa Dorada, Miami Playa has some excellent beaches in an area of attractive coastline with pretty bays and coves. Within easy reach of the resorts of Cambrils and Salou, and also the ancient city of Tarragona, Miami Playa is an ideal base for visiting the coastal regions and hinterland of the Costa Dorada.

Palafrugell Costa Brava

needahand — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:25:29 +0000

Despite its proximity to several popular Costa Brava seaside resorts, the town of Palafrugell seems little affected by the tourism on which the area depends. Formerly supported by the local cork industry Palafrugell suffered considerably after the largest factory (American owned) closed in the 1970’s. Palafrugell these days has a population of just over 21,000 and administers the coastal resorts of Tamariu, Calella and Llafranc. Worth a visit in Palafrugell is the old town centre, where you will find the Gothic church of Sant Marti, the weekly market, the Town Hall and the Cork Museum, which informs of the previously important cork manufacture. Historically Palafrugell was a fortified town as inhabitants of the coastal towns moved inland to escape attacks by Barbary pirates, little evidence remains of its ancient fortifications and modern day Palafrugell is a more peaceful place with a slow pace of life. These days holidaymakers arrive to enjoy the fine weather, the rugged coastline and the attractive beaches.

Palafrugell Map.

Torredembarra and La Mora

needahand — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:23:12 +0000

If you are planning a trip to the Costa Dorada region of Catalonia in Spain, and want to avoid the mass tourism resorts such as Cambrils and Salou you might consider a couple of small resorts to the north east of Tarragona. La Mora and Torredembarra are two charming unspoilt little coastal resorts with fine beaches and a quieter more laid back atmosphere. La Mora is situated on an attractive bay just eight kilometres from Tarragona, here you can view the Torre de la Mora. Torredembarra has a choice of three super beaches called La Paella, Playa del Barrio Maritimo, La Paella and Els Muntunyans, and is just twelve kilometres from Tarragona.

Tarragona Costa Dorada

needahand — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:35:53 +0000

One of Catalonia’s most historic cities, Tarragona is situated in the south of the province and is considered to be part of the coastline known as the Costa Dorada (Gold Coast). Established by the Romans as the city of Tarraco it became the main base for their conquest of the Iberian Peninsular. Tarragona’s city centre has a blend of Roman and medieval architecture and is without doubt one of the most attractive cities in Catalonia. While there is plenty to see and do in and around Tarragona, most visitors want to see the Roman remains, as they conjure up images of a time long past, while mystifying as to how these structures could have lasted so long. The main Roman structures are the amphitheatre and the magnificent aqueduct, together with the Castell de Pilato which now plays host to an interesting museum. It’s not all Roman in Tarragona however and the wonderful Tarragona cathedral displays a mix of Gothic and Romanesque styles, giving evidence of the time it took to complete the structure which was begun in the 12^th century, and finally finished in 1331. Don’t forget a trip into the old Jewish Quarter around the Plaça dels Angels and Carrer Talavera an area of narrow streets and archways with a unique feel and atmosphere, the Jews were expelled in 1492 but their legacy remains in the old city centre. Tarragona is a mostly industrial city but in its environs there are a number of fine seaside resorts and some excellent beaches to be enjoyed, as a break from city life head for Salou or Cambrils, two of the better known beach resorts. Ousands flock here in the summer time to enjoy the wonderful Tarragona weather and enjoy the beaches, nightlife and superb entertainment in such places as the Port Aventura theme park, one of the biggest and best in Europe. If you are flying directly to Tarragona you will no doubt arrive at Reus airport, Reus is a city just inland from Tarragona and is important for the production of wines and spirits. Tarragona Map.

Reus Costa Dorada

needahand — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:32:08 +0000

Best known as the birthplace of Antonio Gaudi, Spain’s most famous architect, the city of Reus is located 17 kilometres inland of the city of Tarragona. Situated in an area well known for the production of wine, Reus had an important textiles industry during the 18^th century, though its history goes back to the 13^th century. Most visitors know Reus solely through the name of its airport which is the primary arrival point for holidaymakers visiting the Costa Dorada seaside resorts of Salou, Cambrils and La Pineda, the airport is some three kilometres outside the city itself. Not exactly known as a place to visit, as it overshadowed by its older neighbour, Tarragona, worth a look is the San Pedro church and the El Museo Municipal Prim Rull. Just back from the Costa Dorada coastline Reus benefits from a typical temperate Mediterranean climate with Reus weather being much the same as the coastal resort with warm dry summers and mildish winters. Reus can be reached by road by way of the T-11 from Tarragona and also from the A-7 motorway. Reus Map.

Roses Costa Brava

needahand — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:00:35 +0000

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 8^th century BC. Within the walls of the later 16^th 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 2^nd century BC. Roses Spain became a fortified town during the 17^th 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.

Girona Catalonia

needahand — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:20:32 +0000

Girona Catalonia - Riverside Houses

A historic city in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain, Girona has a population of just under 100,000 and is the capital of the province of Girona which takes in many of the resorts of the popular Costa Brava coastline. Originally settled by the ancient Iberians, Girona was later called Gerunda by the Romans when they established a citadel there during their occupation of the Iberian Peninsular. Later occupied by the Visigoths and then the Moors, Girona was brought back to Christian control in the 11^th century. These days Girona is the arrival point for most visitors to the Costa Brava region being the location of the main airport for the region. The airport is actually located outside the city itself, so to visit the city you will need to take a taxi or bus and from here you can access the coastline north and south via bus or train. Girona enjoys a fine climate with the best weather being during the summer months (May to September), winters are cold with frost not unusual. Worth a visit in Girona are the old town, the coloured houses of the riverside, the ancient cathedral, the Collegiate Church of Sant Feliu and the Benedictine church of Sant Pere de Galligants. Girona is located beside the AP-7 motorway which links it with Barcelona to the south-west, and Figueres and France to the north. Girona Map.

Tossa de Mar Costa Brava

needahand — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:27:53 +0000

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.

Tossa de Mar Map.

Malgrat de Mar Catalonia

needahand — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:32:28 +0000

One of the popular coastal resorts of the southern Costa Brava, Malgrat de Mar is actually situated on a stretch of coast known as the Costa del Maresme. The town has a resident population of around 20,000 and a municipal district of 9.05 square kilometres. The modern resort is well known for its excellent sandy beaches (such as L’Astillero) which are backed by hotels and apartment complexes, there are a good choice of bars and restaurants which become very busy during the summer season when the climate is fine and sunny. The original village developed during the 13^th and 14^th centuries when it was known Vilanova de Palafolls, the original dwellings were erected on a hill called “Es Castell”, for many centuries Malgrat de Mar relied on fishing for its economic survival and this continued until the 1950’s and 1960’s when the explosion of tourism changed the face of the town forever, and the population grew from under 4,000 to its present level. In the old town there are still some well preserved older buildings showing evidence of its long history, the 16^th century church of Sant Nicolau is often referred to as the “Cathedral of the Coast” due to its large size. Malgrat de Mar is located between Blanes and Pineda de Mar and can be reached from the N-11 or the C-32 motorway.

Map.

History of Lloret de Mar Catalonia

needahand — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:59:12 +0000

One of the oldest established and best known coastal resorts along the Costa Brava in Spain, Lloret de Mar has the appearance of a modern holiday resort with some great family orientated facilities. The town however has a long and distinguished history with settlements recorded in the area since the times of the ancient Iberians way back in the third and fourth centuries BC. The Romans considered it important enough to establish a trading post in Lloret de Mar (although of course it was not called this at the time) during their time in the region, and much later a castle was built for the protection of its inhabitants, enabling them to live closer to the sea, a previously dangerous area due to pirate attacks. From about the early 11^th century it took on its present name of Lloret which is though to have come from the Latin for ‘place of laurels’. After Spanish exploits in the New World, Lloret de Mar became an important area for shipbuilding and trade, its sailors heading off for such places as Uruguay, Argentina and Cuba, bringing back many riches making the town wealthy and establishing its ‘Americanos’ as these travellers became known. The 20^th century saw the arrival of tourism in Lloret de Mar and it is this modern industry which predominates in the town today. The fine beaches, great weather and excellent facilities are what attract visitors to present day Lloret de Mar.

Salou and Cambrils Costa Dorada

needahand — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:10:37 +0000

Salou Costa Dorada

Two of the best loved resorts on the Costa Dorada coastline of Catalonia, Spain, Cambrils and Salou could not be more different. Salou, the typical Spanish holiday resort, aimed at package holidays and especially British tourists, Cambrils the traditional Spanish fishing town, retaining much of its old charm and attracting a larger number of Spanish nationals rather than International tourists. Cambrils has plenty of sand for the traditional beach style holiday, but is especially renowned for its seafood restaurants which are supplied by local fishermen who land their daily catch in the harbour much as they have done for many centuries. Cambrils has a long history, but has hung on to its traditions and not been spoilt by over-development, the old town still has narrow cobbled streets and the air of a Catalonian fishing village. Despite its modern look and feel, Salou too has a long history and was actually first settled by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago, it was also a Roman settlement as the Romans set out from nearby Tarragona to conquer the Iberian Peninsular, it grew as a tourist resort during the 1960’s and expanded with little regard to aesthetics, becoming a sprawling mess of apartment blocks and high-rise hotels. Salou is still popular however, with those seeking a particular style of holidays and being provided with everything they need in that regard – lots of entertainment, plenty of sandy beaches, amusements and sports activities, in fact there is so much to do that obtaining a car hire vehicle is advisable to get the most from your visit. Salou is the location of the large Port Aventura theme park, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Both resorts enjoy a wonderful climate which is of course one of the major draws for tourists, the weather in Salou and Cambrils is generally warm and sunny in the summer months and mild during the winter.

Map of Salou.

Lloret de Mar Costa Brava

needahand — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:52:44 +0000

The history of Lloret de Mar is forever linked to the sea, the Iberians settled in the areas of Montbarat and Puig de Castellet and established trade with the Greeks and Romans, and the Romans themselves founded a trading post in what is now Lloret. The name Lloret lo Redo first appears in 966 AD deriving from Lauretum (place of laurels). At the beginning of the 16^th century a new church was built in Catalan Gothic style and completed in 1522, the church served as a refuge from pirate attacks. With the discovery of the New World, many of Lloret’s sailors went to the Americas, resulting in a growing import and export trade with the colonies. After the collapse of Spain’s Empire, Lloret de Mar went into a period of decline and it was not until the increase in tourist activity in the 20^th century that the town recovered and became what it is today, a popular seaside resort along the Costa Brava coastline of Spain. Though the towns population is only around 30,000, this rises to over 200,000 during the busy summer season, when the weather is excellent, as many holidaymakers arrive to stay in the many hotels such as the Lloret de Mar Oasis and the Costa Encantada Aparthotel. Lloret de Mar has a vibrant nightlife scene and attracts the younger set especially Germans, Dutch and Belgians. Also attractive to visitors is the fine beach and excellent range of facilities. Map.

Towns of Catalonia Tortosa

needahand — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:23:30 +0000

One of the only towns of any significance in southern Catalonia, Tortosa boasts a 10^th century castle, some ancient fortified walls and a long history of conflict. Standing on the banks of the River Ebro, which has many times been the boundary between warring factions, Tortosa was originally established by the ancient Iberians who called it Dertosa, further changes were made by the Romans and even later by the Moors who held control of the town between the eighth and thirteenth centuries. The 10^th century mosque built by the Moors was flattened and replaced by a Gothic cathedral after the reconquest. Much damage was sustained by Tortosa during the Spanish Civil War, and little of the old town remains, casualties were high and are still remembered by the inhabitants. Today Tortosa is more peaceful and is a popular day trip location enjoying pleasant weather, near by is the River Ebro Natural Park a significant wetland area, amongst other things the River Ebro is famous for catfish fishing, with these tough fish reaching huge sizes in this area. Map of Tortosa.

Sitges Costa Dorada

needahand — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:52:22 +0000

Sitges Costa Dorada

One of the main coastal resorts used by the people of Barcelona, the town of Sitges is a jewel in an otherwise dreary stretch of coastline. Fashionable since the late nineteenth century when it became a haven for artists, Sitges grew in popularity during the 1960’s and has continued to thrive ever since. The arty heritage developed when a popular Catalonain artist named Santiago Rusiñol spent some time there, some of his Modernista work can be seen in the local art museums. Modern day tourists head to Sitges to enjoy the fine sandy beaches (of which there are around 17 in the area), the upmarket shops and the vibrant night life. The town is fairly expensive in comparison with others nearby, and has prices in line with the wealthy city of Barcelona and rooms in the town can be scarce during the busy season. The town is renowned for its Carnival and for its International Film Festival which is held every year in October/November. Sitges attracts a large number of gays and has exclusively gay and nudist beaches. The town enjoys a delightful climate and Sitges weather is as good as any resort in Catalonia, with sunshine being the order of the day from late May to October. Sitges is located just off the C-32 between Vilanova I la Geltru and Castelldefels. Map of Sitges.

L’Escala Costa Brava

needahand — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:45:15 +0000

A smallish but popular coastal resort on the Bay of Roses, L’Escala is one of the many attractive Costa Brava resorts of the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain. Having a resident population of just over 8,000, L’Escala has an ancient fishing port surrounded by the narrow streets of its old delightful old town. A historic area, the neighbouring Empuries (St Marti d’Empuries) boasts one of the oldest Greek settlements in Spain, also featuring later Roman parts giving evidence of their time on the Iberian Peninsular. Especially important for fishing and the salting of fish, L’Escala is well known for its anchovies and its sardines, and a number of its many fiestas are dedicated to this industry. As a tourist resort L’Escala has two distinct areas, the old town (favoured by Spanish tourists) and the newer area of Riells (favoured by International tourists). The town has a decent range of amenities and a couple of small beaches near the old town and a larger ‘blue flag’ beach in the Riells district. For nature lovers and culture seekers there are plenty of places to visit and for sports enthusiasts there is a wide choice of facilities. L’Escala Map.