Costa Brava

The Costa Brava is located to the north of Barcelona, and stretches for more than 200 km from Blanes to Portbou. It is renowned for the diverse landscape of its beaches and coves, the quality of its waters, its excellent cuisine and centuries-old cultural legacy.

Until the first tourists came here, the coastal villages on the Costa Brava made a living from fishing. A charm which can still be felt in the watchtowers which warned the villages, with their narrow streets and whitewashed houses, of approaching pirates, the villages with their narrow streets and whitewashed houses, the fishing boats and traditonal dishes, such as the seafood stew, suquet... In summer the villages are bursting with life and full of cultural activities, and a whole host of festivals liven up the warm, balmy nights.

The Costa Brava is a wonderful biodiversity hotspot. A number of nature reserves have been created to protect it: cap de Creus; the marshlands of the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà; the medes islands, a diver's paradise; the cliffs and coves of Ses Negres in Begur; and botanical gardens, such as Pinya de Rosa and Mar i Murtra (Blanes), and Cap Roig (Calella de Palafrugell). But it was not until the early 20th century that its beauty began to captivate intellectuals and artists. One of them, Salvador Dalí, made his home in Port Lligat, next to Cadaqués, where you can visit his house and museum. Catalan romanesque art originated in the nearby benedictine monastery of St. Pere de Rodes in the 9th century.