Catalunya

Stylish and elegant, Llafranc is a delightful place to spend a family holiday, with its perfectly formed horseshoe bay of golden sand, and good selection of shops and restaurants. The graceful tree-lined promenade and attractive marina give it a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, yet it still retains its Catalan atmosphere, and evidence of its origins as a Roman settlement can still be seen.

This picturesque fishing village has to be one of the prettiest that we have seen along this stunning stretch of the Costa Brava coastline.  Behind its sandy beaches, atmospheric squares and vaulted streets are home to a mouth-watering selection of typical restaurants and along the shoreline a scenic coastal footpath leads the way to the next, equally stunning bay of Llafranc.  

The tiny hamlet of Saus sits in a delightfully rural corner of Catalunya, with views of the Pyrenees in the background and surrounded by undulating countryside.

Narrow cobbled streets wind their way through the village in between buildings of solid stone, some of which have been lovingly restored. Although there are no restaurants within the village, in the summer months a mobile pizzeria comes in the evenings at weekends and is a very popular visitor!

The delightful medieval town of Pals, considered to be one of the most beautiful on the Costa Brava, enjoys far-reaching views of the surrounding countryside and out to sea, with the famous Medes Islands in the near distance. Wander around the narrow cobbled streets and marvel at the ancient houses and stone watchtowers. A sprinkling of cafes and restaurants can be discovered in hidden corners, ideal for some refreshment after you have climbed to the top of the tower and drunk in the fantastic views!

Cruilles is a charming hamlet where it is a pleasure to wander around the tiny streets admiring some of the beautifully restored houses and the handsome Romanesque monastery, and to stop for a refreshing drink in the local bar.

Also worth a visit are the beautiful nearby medieval villages of Monells, Peratallada, Palau Sator and Pals which have been beautifully restored over the years. Known as the 'golden triangle', here you will discover renowned restaurants offering very good value ‘Menu del día’ of locally sourced seasonal produce.

The workaday medieval farming village of Ullastret hosts a wonderful collection of lovingly restored medieval buildings. Of particular note is the Romanesque church of Sant Pere and the original 15^th century prison. The stunning gothic portico of La Llotja opens out to the village square where we find a bar, handful of restaurants and the tiny artisan farm selling local cheeses and the typical speciality ‘Recuit’. Just outside the village on the hill of Sant Andreu are the impressive remains of an Iberian settlement dating back to the 5^th century (although only discovered in 1948), with a small archaeological museum housed in the chapel of Sant Andreu. 

Santi Marti d’Empuries is an enchanting medieval coastal village that simply oozes charm. Narrow cobbled streets wend their way past a handful of family-run restaurants down to the original Greek harbour wall where a magnificent stretch of fine golden sand leads to the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Empuries.

Of the trio of Palafrugell's coastal villages, Tamariu is the smallest and perhaps the most authentic spot along the coast, with its narrow horseshoe bay and sandy beach surrounded by pine-clad cliffs. Tamariu takes its name from the Tamarindus trees that at one time grew in abundance along the La Riera that leads down to the beach. Today they can be seen planted along the promenade.

Vall-Llòbrega has the advantage of being essentially rural in an area of meadows and vineyards yet only a short drive from the delightful, virgin beach of Platja del Castell. It nestles at the bottom of Les Gavarres mountains, a wonderful starting point for exploring the wooded hillside on foot. The village boasts a renowned and popular restaurant, offering excellent value traditional Catalan cuisine and is greatly favoured by the locals!

La Pera and Púbol are two neighbouring hamlets tucked away in the gently undulating pastures of this delightful part of El Baix Empordà. The medieval village of La Pera has a shop and a good restaurant offering local fare and Púbol houses the castle which Dalí bought for his wife, Gala, and where she is now buried. The castle is now a museum, displaying Gala’s clothes and other personal memorabilia. The drive through the country lanes to reach these villages is a real pleasure, passing by fields of sunflowers and corn, with the wooded hills in the background.

An interesting town jam-packed with shops selling local pottery and antiques, La Bisbal is well worth a visit. Famous, above all, as home to the Catalan ceramics industry, there is a Terracotta museum which gives a fascinating insight into how the surrounding clay-rich soil brought prosperity to the area. The main street is lined with shops selling colourful wares and this links via the medieval bridge over the river Daró to Les Voltes, a row of tall 18^th-century houses, under whose arches are some excellent cafes and cake shops offering the local speciality; ‘Bisbalenc’ - a pastry filled with a fine pumpkin jam and topped with pine nuts. 

The hilltop town of Begur offers amazing panoramas and hidden alleyways and squares among the narrow streets of its old quarter. Feudal lords, coral divers, pirates, fishermen and young adventurers sailing to the Indies all played their part in creating this fascinating historic town. Built beneath the imposing 11^th century castle, Begur was subjected to constant pirate attacks which hastened the construction of tall stone defence towers, many of which can be seen today as one meanders along the narrow winding lanes lined with chic boutiques, excellent restaurants and tapas bars.

Torroella de Montgri is situated just inland but was once a port on the river Ter. A delightful ‘Rambla’ forms the main street where families gather to sit in the shade of the trees and mingle. A famous music festival is held each summer. The Castle of Montgri, which sits on the hillside and overlooks the town, can be reached on foot.

Palafrugell is an ancient town whose origins can be traced back as far as the 5th & 6th centuries, when it was known by the name of 'Palau-Frugell' (loosely translated as 'protected house'). The lack of safety along the coast led the population to move inland and Palafrugell began to take on the aspect of a medieval walled village. This can still be discerned today by simply walking from the main square, Plaça Nova, up the stone steps to the left of the bar Can Moragas into the narrow lanes which lead to Palafrugell’s 15^th century church of San Martí.

The Cork-Oak or 'quercus suber' has been  growing in the region for centuries, and Palafrugell has had an association with cork stretching back to the time of the Roman Empire, when it was first cut for making shoes. Whenever you open a bottle of wine or champagne it is very likely that the cork was made in Palafrugell.

The village of Calonge grew up around the castle that takes its name, Castell de Calonge. It dates back to the 13th century and was originally constructed as the fortified western defence of the Royal Port of Palamós. Like most of the villages that nestle in the foothills of the Gavarra Mountains, Calonge relied heavily on the natural resources the forests afforded it: charcoal burning, cork, olives and vines but it also had the sea. Calonge could be described as a village - “mar i muntanya” - a backcloth of lush, green wooded mountains contrasting with the long majestic beach of Sant Antoni and turquoise waters that lap the beautiful hidden coves of El Paller, Can Cristus and Cala Cap Roig.

The hidden cove and small marina of Cala Canyelles lie just south of the stunning corniche that runs from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Tossa de Mar. Pine trees cling to the cliffs that run down to the water's edge and the crystal clear waters are popular for both divers and snorkellers alike. From the sandy beach it is possible to hire a kayak and explore this rugged coastline from the best vantage point: the sea.

Aigua Blava, along with the nearby little coves of Sa Riera an Sa Tuna, are delightful coastal gems tucked away beneath a backcloth of pine-clad hills. Aigua Blava, as its name ‘Blue Water’ indicates, is a beautiful picturesque cove with clear blue water and fine golden sand. On the southern side of the Cap de Begur, it is surrounded by lush vegetation and offers glorious sea views. Steps up from the beach lead onto the ‘cami de ronda’ pathway, which winds its way along the coastline.