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.

Costa Brava Resorts – L’Escala

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. The region of course enjoys a wonderful climate especially during the summertime with L'Escala weather being warm and sunny generally between the months of May and October, the winters can be wetter and cooler. Map of L’Escala.

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.