One-day trip near Barcelona: La Costa Brava

A few weeks ago in this same section we proposed to take a one-day trip to el Delta del Ebro, where you could walk around by bike and enjoy this place’s flora and fauna, so special and distinctive. Today we drive in the opposite direction, to the north of Catalonia, one of the most visited by tourists area during the summer for its excellent beaches and coastal villages: the Costa Brava, at about an hour and a half far from Barcelona. This coastal zone extends from the town of Blanes to the French border and includes the Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà regions, in Girona province. Its wild and rugged landscape that characterizes its 214 kilometers long lashed by the “tramuntana” (a strong wind from the north), gave to this coast, at the time, the name “brava”. If you are spending some time in Barcelona and you stay in any of the ShBarcelona rental apartments this summer, this information will be very useful for you!

The highlight of the Costa Brava are obviously the beaches and coves, known for the quality of its waters, belonging to traditional fishing villages where you can practice all kinds of water sports. Most of the beaches can be reached by car, but more hidden coves are only accessible by sea or walking for a while on coastal paths surrounded by dense vegetation. Because of the difficulties to reach the coves they hasn’t suffered the overcrowding impact and they are clean and wild. From north to south, the most recommended beaches and coves of the Costa Brava are those that are at Port de la Selva, Cadaqués (don’t miss the Cap de Creus Natural Park near this town, one of the most important natural areas in Catalonia, nor the painter Salvador Dalí former residence in Portlligat), L’Escala, L’Estartit (with the rich ecosystem of the nearby Medes Islands), Pals, Begur, Palamos, Platja d’Aro, Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar and Blanes (in which we find the famous Botanical Garden Marimurtra).

Along with the fabulous beaches, history and samples of it are spread out the Costa Brava, and they captivate the visitor and the local inhabitant. In Empúries town we found Roman and Greek sites which prove the presence of these civilizations since the sixth century BC. You can visit these historical remains and see the houses distribution where are still preserved mosaics, paintings and ornaments, sewers, and other structures of the settlement. You also have to walk around the Ullastret Iberian settlement and its walled enclosure, which has a special charm. In the Costa Brava interior, in the town of Figueres, don’t miss out on the spectacular Dali Museum, topped by gigantic eggs and decorated with bread pieces.

This part of Catalonia is also well known for hosting one of which was named best restaurant in the world, Ferran Adria’s El Bulli, located in Cala Montjoi (Cap de Creus). This Restaurant has been closed now for more than a year, but its spirit remains in this area gastronomy, which is enriched by quality products that come from their crops or fishing zones.