Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

May 19, 2010

Miami Playa Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Spain — Tags: , , , , — needahand @ 8:38 am

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.

May 16, 2010

Torredembarra and La Mora

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 5:23 pm

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.

May 10, 2010

Tarragona Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,History,Spain — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 11:35 am

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 12th 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.

April 23, 2010

Reus Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 5:32 pm

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 18th century, though its history goes back to the 13th 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.

February 22, 2010

Salou and Cambrils Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Holidays,Spain — Tags: , , , , , , — needahand @ 4:10 pm
Salou Costa Dorada

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.

November 7, 2009

La Pineda Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Spain — Tags: , , , , , , — needahand @ 6:44 pm

Situated beside the resort of Salou to the south of Tarragona, the quieter resort of La Pineda is more popular with families, it has a superb sandy beach bordered by an attractive palm studded promenade. The coastal section of the town of Vila-Seca, La Pineda is a mostly made for tourism resort with a decent range of facilities. The biggest attraction in the area is the Port Aventura theme park, originally built and owned by Universal Studios, this huge theme park has a great selection of rides, a water park and a beach club. Together with Salou and Cambrils, La Pineda is one of the three big Costa Dorada seaside resorts and attracts large numbers of visitors, especially during the summer months when La Pineda weather is hot and sunny and rain is scarce. Perfect for a beach holiday, La Pineda is also a handy base for touring the city of Tarragona with its many Roman ruins. La Pineda Map.

July 29, 2009

Travel on the Costa Dorada Spain

Filed under: Costa Brava,Costa Dorada,Holidays,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , , , , — needahand @ 11:43 am

Less developed and generally less well known than the Costa Brava to the north, the Costa Dorada region of Spain takes in some 216 kilometres of coast and hinterland and boasts some wonderful sandy beaches and popular resorts. The Costa Dorada is not all about the seaside resorts, there are also some interesting inland cities and areas to explore and Costa Dorada travel should take in some of these places as well. Some of the interesting and historic cities include Tarragona, Reus, Falset, Valls and Xerta, there are around 40 cities in all in the region, pick out some of the more interesting for your visit. For instance in Xerta you can see the spectacular Moorish Weir which is over 1,000 years old, in Benifallit you can visit the fascinating caves, Tarragona, a beautiful old Roman city has an ancient city wall and also a Roman aqueduct and amphitheatre, further inland you can visit the picturesque River Ebro Valley or maybe go fishing in the river, it is famous for its huge catfish. Back to the coast and many choose the resort of Salou for their beach style holidays, this is not everyones taste, but it suits thousands each year. What is the best time to visit? Well this depends on what type of holiday you are seeking, in the summer time Costa Dorada weather can be very hot, although on the coast, sea breezes make it altogether more bearable, it is wetter and cooler in the winter months but mostly mild with temperatures ranging from 7-10 degrees Centigrade. If you wish to make the most of your trip and visit some of the fascinating places on offer you will need to check out the best Costa Dorada car hire deals, as having your own transport is essential for getting the best out of your holiday. For a holiday suiting a wide variety of tastes visit the Costa Dorada in Spain sometime soon.

Costa Dorada Map.

Learn more about the Costa Doradada here: http://www.needahandspanishproperties.com/costa-dorada.html

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