- Museums
- Bays and beaches
- Architectural landmarks
- Gardens and parks
Lloret de Mar is a cozy resort located on the Spanish Costa Brava in the province of Girona. Several decades ago, this place was an ordinary fishing village. However, the local authorities managed to carry out a project on this territory to create a comfortable recreation area. Today Lloret de Mar is considered a tourist destination, where visitors will always find where to go.
Museums
Despite its small size, the city has managed to preserve the local flavor and culture. There are two thematic museums in Lloret de Mar, which you should definitely go to. The first one can be found on the territory of the old center. The museum is called De Mar and is dedicated to the history of the city, closely related to navigation.
The main exhibition consists of antiquities from different eras, including boats, diving equipment, ancient maps, unique instruments, etc. In total, the museum has 5 halls: "Doors of the Ocean", "Beaches", "Sailing Ships", "Children of the Sea", "Mediterranean Sea". Each of them is a rich collection of valuable exhibits.
A visit to the museum will be especially interesting for children, as a special excursion program has been developed for them around the captain's cabin and the ship's cockpit. At the entrance, everyone is given detailed information sheets in different languages, including Russian.
The second museum was opened in 2002 and differs from others with its exposition. The name of the museum is "House of Cats" and everything that is in it is associated with the life of cats. The museum is located in the building of a miniature mansion, which gives this place additional authenticity.
The 6 halls house figurines, sculptures, paintings, bells, mosaics, dishes, toys and other household items depicting cats. All exhibits (over 6 thousand) were carefully collected by employees from all over the world from private collections. Some of the pottery dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. After an entertaining excursion, you can purchase souvenirs on the ground floor in a specialized shop.
The open-air museum Montbarbat invites those wishing to plunge into the distant past. Montbarbat is the largest settlement of the Iberians who lived in this region in 3-4 centuries BC. Today, the remains of ancient dwellings, places of sacrifices, sanctuaries have been preserved. To learn more about the Iberian culture, a miniature project of this settlement was recreated for tourists. It can be seen directly in the museum in a separate building. An excursion around Montbarbat is carried out by an experienced guide, as on some sections of the path there are dangerous places that require climbing training. In any case, a walk through the ancient city will bring extremely positive emotions.
Bays and beaches
Lloret de Mar's trademark is its magnificent beaches and picturesque coves. The main purpose with which tourists come to this town is to enjoy a beach holiday. This can be done by arriving at one of the official beaches.
- Santa Cristina is the oldest and one of the most famous recreation areas. Here locals gather to swim and sunbathe. The beach is free, so it attracts many. A gentle entrance to the water, a sandy bottom, a green area are the obvious advantages of Santa Cristina. The downside is the lack of a developed infrastructure. It is easy to get to the beach by taxi or bus # 2.
- Lloret belongs to the category of municipal beaches. The beach area is large enough to accommodate about 350 people. On Lloret you can not only have a great rest, but also see historical sights that are within walking distance. The beach has a high level of security, as lifeguards are on duty around the clock.
- Sa Boadella is a wild beach located 150 meters from Santa Cristina. If you go to Sa Boadella, do not forget to bring your holiday essentials with you. There are no sun loungers, changing cabins or showers on the beach. However, soft drinks and snacks are sold. The beach is valued primarily for its calm atmosphere and the possibility of a secluded pastime.
- Fenals Bay is located on the right side of Lloret Beach. The beach is famous among the residents of the city. Young people and older people often come here. The advantages of Fenals are beautiful views and picturesque landscapes. The covering of Fenals consists of small multi-colored pebbles. It is not recommended to relax with children on this beach, since a sharp depth begins after a couple of meters from the coast.
Architectural landmarks
Despite the fact that Lloret de Mar is focused on beach tourism, the city has preserved a number of landmarks iconic for Spanish culture. It should be noted that most of the historical buildings are churches and cathedrals.
Cathedral of St. Christina is the most famous chapel in the city. Archaeologists date the first mention of it to the end of the 14th century. A folk legend is associated with the construction of the building. According to her, many centuries ago a young shepherd found a sculpture of Saint Christina. He brought it to the church, but in the morning the sculpture was in the same place. After this mysterious event, the city authorities decided to build a chapel. It is surprising that money for the construction was collected from all over the town. Every family, even a poor family, has contributed to the creation of this architectural masterpiece
Today, inside the cathedral, there are two paintings by an unknown Tuscan artist depicting the death of the Saint. Also of interest is the magnificent altar made of white Italian marble and miniature ship models.
At the end of July, the residents of Lloret de Mar celebrate Saint Cristina's Day. During this period, everyone goes to the temple, brings sweets with them and asks the saint to protect their home from grief and troubles.
The Church of San Roma is a 16th century art object built in the Gothic style. Initially, the building was located on the coast. In the 16th century, Lloret de Mar was often attacked by pirates, so the cathedral's function was not only religious, but also protective. For this, a defensive wall was built around the temple, and it was possible to get inside only through a massive drawbridge
In 1914, under the leadership of the famous Catalan architect Bonaventura Conill y Montobio, the church began to be reconstructed. The aim of the project was to add features of Byzantine architecture and modernist elements to the appearance of the building. The result was an eclectic structure that lasted until 1936. Unfortunately, this year most of the church was destroyed during the civil war. Only the chapel del Sant ssim has survived to this day.
- Castle Castell d'en Plaja is the main attraction of the coast and its decoration. The building began to be erected in 1940. As conceived by the architects, it was to become a key cultural object of the city, attracting tourists. To this end, the craftsmen created a historical castle in the medieval style, and installed lighting equipment around it. Castell d'en Plaja looks especially beautiful in the evening when its features are framed by light illumination. Tourists are offered daily guided tours of the castle and observation deck.
- The sculpture of a fisherwoman has become a landmark of the city. Previously, in Lloret de Mar, most of the population was made up of fishermen, who earned money for a living through hard work. They often went to sea and did not return. Therefore, the wives of the fishermen decided to erect a monument on the embankment to a girl who is waiting for her fisherman from the sea.
Gardens and parks
Interesting gardens and parks can be found in Lloret de Mar. Vast territories allow designing entertainment and natural objects of different directions.
A water park "Water World" was built in the city for the children's audience. It is a paradise for children and their parents. It is better to purchase a ticket to the park in advance on the Internet. So it will cost 5 euros less. "Water World" - a world of attractions for every age and taste. In the children's area, you can swim in the pools and play water polo, while adults are offered more serious entertainment.
If you drive away from Lloret de Mar, you can get into an equally amazing park of dwarfs. Everything in it is stylized under the life of small mythical characters. Everywhere you will see figurines of gnomes, their dwellings and even the place where they keep their treasures. Popular attractions among visitors include bowling, go-karting, golf, and horseback riding.
Another iconic landmark of the city is located on a cliff within the city limits and is called the Gardens of Saint Clotilde. The creation of the gardens is connected with the romantic story of how the young architect Nicolau Rubia began to erect the gardens in 1920 in memory of the wife of the Marquis Roviralta, who died early.
The gardens' area of 24 square kilometers is impressive. On their territory, the architect brought to life a large-scale project in the Renaissance style. Free space, multi-tiered terraces, streams and ponds, sculptural decoration, grottoes, fountains, austere landscape - all this delights visitors. In 1995, the Catalan authorities included the gardens of Santa Clotilde in the list of specially protected Spanish sites and named them a national treasure.
Lovers of exoticism should go to the Pigna de Rosa Garden, which is located 10 kilometers from the city. The garden appeared in 1945, when an ordinary engineer bought about 47 hectares of land in the area and began to create his unusual creation. The main attention in the garden was paid to the collection of tropical cacti, which were brought here from all over the world. In the future, the collection was replenished and expanded to this day. The pride of the garden staff is prickly pears, which number more than 600 species.
