Guide to Travel Around the Costa Brava’s Beach Resorts

Boasting some of the most attractive coastline in the whole of the Spain, the Costa Brava region is located in the extreme north-east of the country within the region of Catalonia. The Costa Brava borders France to the north, Aragon to the west and Valencia to the south and was one of the first regions of Spain to attract mass tourism as cheaper package holidays and flights took off during the 1960’s, from then on Costa Blanca travel was a popular option for those seeking a bit of guaranteed sunshine and a holiday abroad. Obviously the excellent summer time climate was one of the biggest draws for the region but the many beautiful Costa Brava beach resorts and the fine beaches which service them was an additional attraction. Amongst the best known resorts there are some real gems, and many have an interesting history along with their appeal as pure holiday resorts. Places such as Roses, Calella and Lloret de Mar are among the best known while inland towns such as Girona, Figueres and Palafrugell also have much to offer. Those wishing to get the most from a visit to the region should purchase a decent Costa Brava guide book, which will advice of the best and most interesting places to visit. Costa Brava Map.

Roses Spain a Jewel of the Costa Brava

A very old fishing town situated on the Gulf of Roses in Catalonia, Roses Spain was originally founded as a trading settlement by the Greeks in the 8th century BC. Within the walls of the later 16th 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 2nd century BC. Roses became a fortified town during the 17th 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, Cadaques and the town of Figueres, birthplace of artist Salvador Dali. This are of Spain enjoys a super climate and the weather in Roses is ideal for holidays all year round but especially during the summer months when sunshine is the order of the day and rain rare. You can view a location map of Roses here: Map of Roses.

Empuriabrava - Sun Sand and Sky-Diving

Begun in the 1960’s during an effort to reclaim swampland, the marina resort of Empuriabrava was built to resemble Miami and Venice by Miguel Arpa Battle. Claimed to be one of the world’s largest marinas it comprises in excess of 20 miles of navigable waterways, with canals providing boat access to privately owned luxury villas. With its fine beach and good facilities it now attracts holidaymakers seeking the sun and sand of the Catalonia coastline on which it at stands, they flock here to enjoy the wonderful Empuriabrava weather conditions which are especially attractive during the months of May to October. Many other visit Empuriabrava to enjoy the superb water sports facilities and conditions and windsurfing and kitesurfing are especially popular. Empuriabrava also boasts a fine sky diving school and numerous visitors go there to participate or learn this exciting extreme sport. This part of Costa Brava in Spain of course, receives millions of visitors each year and Empuriabrava has a wide range of attractions to draw them, its nightlife scene is also vibrant with discos such as Pasarella and Pacha to satisfy the younger generation. Altogether a fine resort for a summer holiday or a winter break, you will not be disappointed with a visit to the Costa Brava’s Empuriabrava which is located between Roses and Figueres around 60 km from Girona. Empuriabrava Map.

A Brief Guide to Figueres Costa Brava

Capital of the Alt Empordà district of Girona, on the Costa Brava, Spain, the market town of Figueres has a population of approximately 40,000, and is inextricably linked to the painter Salvador Dali who was born and died there (1904-1989). One of the most visited attractions in the town is the Teatre-Museu Dali, which was founded by the artist himself in 1974 and now boasts the largest collection of his work. Another famous son of Figueres was Narcis Monturiol i Estarriol, who is claimed to be the inventor of the submarine. Worth visiting in Figueres is the Toy Museum (Museu de Joguets), the Sant Ferran castle, the parish church of Sant Pere and the old Jewish Quarter. Figueres is situated just off the AP-7 (E-15) motorway between the provincial capital Girona and the French border, the closest airport is at Girona some forty kilometres away. Figueres Map.