It is not by chance that the symbol of the Costa Brava is called the rock Sa Palomera - a cliff protruding into the sea, similar in shape to the Latin letter V. nature and atmosphere. Stunningly beautiful views, coastal hills with olive and cedar groves, a mild Mediterranean climate, a long season (from late April to late September), cozy pebble beaches and a lively resort atmosphere - this is what tourists from all over the world find here year after year.
The history of the region is ancient and full of events. This is indicated by the many preserved or dilapidated fortresses, monasteries and castles. There are a lot of attractions here, so it will not be easy to decide what to see in the Costa Brava in the first place.
TOP 10 attractions of the Costa Brava
Girona
Girona
This ancient city is recognized as one of the most beautiful in all of Spain. Here you can wander enchanted along the narrow streets lined with ancient cobblestones and admire the magnificent historical buildings built many centuries ago. A walk along the well-preserved fortress walls of Girona, built during the time of the ancient Romans, will give vivid emotions. Among the main attractions of Girona are:
- Cathedral of the Virgin Mary with a Gothic altar from the 14th century;
- Monastery of San Domenic;
- Arab Baths, built in 1194;
- The Jewish quarter is the most picturesque area of the city.
Be sure to find an opportunity to drop by the Art Museum, most of which are from the Middle Ages. And the most beautiful photographs in Girona can be taken from one of the bridges over the Onyar River. Residential buildings on both banks, painted in the brightest colors, nestle tightly to each other and seem to hang over the water.
Figueres
Figueres
Figueres is a small and very pretty town, which can be walked around in half an hour. It is famous for the fact that Salvador Dali was born here. The main attraction of the city is the shocking castle-museum built by Dali on the site of the former city theater. It is here that the largest collection of works by the great Spaniard is located - about 1,500 works, including paintings, sculptures and installations. There is also a crypt with his ashes.
Another place in Figueres worth your attention is the Catalan Toy Museum, which has about 4,500 exhibits in its collection.
Be sure to take a stroll to San Ferrand Castle. It can be found on the outskirts of Figueres, just a 20-minute walk from the center. San Ferran is the largest European fortress of the 18th century. It was within its ancient walls that the shooting of the film "Perfume" based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Suskind took place.
And in the center of Figueres, next to the train station, you can find a monument dedicated to the Catalan wind "Tramontana".
Pubol and the ancient castle-museum of Gala Dali
Pubol
Another place associated with the name of Dali is the medieval village of Pubol. The main attraction here is the castle, built in 1017. Salvador Dali bought this castle in 1968 and presented it to his beloved wife Gala. The artist redesigned the garden around the castle in such a way that, despite its small size, it seems immense to visitors. Dali rebuilt the premises of the castle and filled them with surreal ideas and details.
The interiors of the castle are now preserved in the form in which they were under the owners. Here you can see valuable paintings that Dali presented to his beloved. The attic displays a collection of stunning Gala dresses by Cardin, Dior and Dali himself.
The castle became Gala's personal territory, her refuge. Here she lived her last years and was buried in a crypt.
Road with 365 bends
Dizzying serpentine about 22 km long, called "/>
The road connects two coastal towns: Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guixols. Each of them has something to see. And in the summertime, these resorts offer tourists a variety of entertainment and festivals.
Besalu Castle Town
Besalu
Besalu is considered by many to be the most unusual and beautiful city in all of Spain. It is difficult to single out any individual symbols of Besalu. He's a tourist attraction in and of itself.
The city covers an area of only 5 square kilometers and is organized as an ancient fortress in the mountains, to which picturesque residential houses have adhered over time. Besalu gives you a complete immersion in the Middle Ages, in the atmosphere of fairy tales and knightly legends! Guests of the city are bewitched by the majestic stone bridges over the gorge, towers and impregnable walls, ancient dark churches and intricate streets.
In the souvenir shops in Besalu you can find unique handicrafts: hand-made scarves and shawls, wooden and ceramic dishes, knives and jewelry.
Emporion
Emporion
A visit to the village of San Martí de Empurias will be interesting not only for lovers of archeology and ancient history. Tourists from different countries come here to see the ruins of the oldest city in the Iberian Peninsula.
Emporion was founded in the 6th century BC by the ancient Greeks, who were supplanted by the Romans several centuries later. So the place is really unique. Excavations of both Greek and Roman ruins are underway here.
Considering the age of Emporion, which lasted until the 16th century, the city is magnificently preserved. Visitors at the entrance receive a map, according to which you can find the remains of ancient temples, arches and sections with preserved mosaics. The walk around Emporion takes about 2 hours. If you arrive in the evening, you can be convinced that the ruins of Emporion look especially powerful and picturesque in the rays of sunset.
Dwarf Park
The children's entertainment town, located next to the resort of Lloret de Mar, never complains about the lack of visitors. The gnomes run the fun here. Scattered throughout, their figurines enchant guests and create a fabulous atmosphere.
Young tourists and their parents are offered excellent conditions for recreation and entertainment. The territory of the park is divided into sectors, each of which has its own attractions for toddlers and older children:
- rope park;
- huts in the crowns of trees;
- mini-karting;
- obstacle course with intricate labyrinths;
- aqua zone with pools, trampolines and slides.
In the evenings there is a disco club for the little ones. For adult visitors, the park has equipped picnic areas. You can play football or mini golf. Or go for adult rope trails.
The Gnomo Park has a large restaurant with several terraces. The menu is varied and the food is delicious. Here you can arrange a wonderful celebration in honor of the child's birthday.
Cadaques
Cadaques
This cozy fishing town on the seaside is often compared to Saint-Tropez. Cadaques is separated from the rest of Catalonia by mountains. There are no comfortable and cozy beaches here. But there is good diving here! And the local flavor, beautiful landscapes, silence and solitude have given inspiration to creative people, artists and poets for a long time. For example, Picasso, Garcia Lorca, Matisse, Dali have visited Cadaques in different years.
The city is beautiful with its striking contrasts: snow-white houses and green olive groves stand out against the bright blue sea.
From Cadaques, you should definitely go to Cape Creus. This is the easternmost tip of Spain, “the end of the earth,” as the Catalans say. Cape Creus is a nature reserve with volcanic unreal landscapes. The rocks here are corroded by the winds, and the bays look like the craters of the moon. And a lone beacon rises above it all.
Saint Clotilde Gardens
On a steep cliff with a magnificent sea panorama, there is a magnificent architectural and park ensemble created in the style of the Italian Renaissance - the gardens of Saint Clotilde.
The gardens are designed as terraces that are connected by various staircases, fountains and ponds and gently slope down to the sea, to the main landing. In the labyrinths of greenery, you can wander for hours, looking at sculptures and marble statues, gazebos and grottoes, open galleries among cypresses and cedars.
The gardens of Santa Clotilde are considered by many to be the most beautiful in the Costa Brava. They are distinguished by perfect grooming, everything here is thought out and arranged just flawlessly. At the same time, you will not see workers and employees at all. This place is ideal for romantic photo shoots and picnics. On weekends, excursions are organized in the park.
Pigna de Rosa Botanical Garden
Pigna de Rosa Botanical Garden
The only botanical garden in Spain where only cacti grow. The exotic collection of Pigna de Rosa was collected all over the planet. This is a real cactus paradise. There are more than 7000 species of them here. This is the best collection in Europe, spread over an area of 50 hectares.
The garden was founded in 1945. Its founder, Don Fernando Riviere de Caralt, an engineer by training and a passionate lover of cacti, very professionally and competently created all the necessary conditions for the life of cacti and succulents. He designed the artificial landscape, cliffs and terraces in such a way as to highlight the unique beauty of the garden for visitors.
The variety of the cactus world is amazing! Giants and short ones, elongated and flat, round and branched, with sharp thorns and in a fluffy cloud. The name and description of each plant can be read on the plate next to it. It's time to bloom here almost all year round. A little tip: do not touch the cacti with your hands, even the fluffiest ones can hurt. And do not try to pinch off a sprout for yourself, this is punishable by a severe fine.
