Catalunya Area Information
Easy access by road, rail and air makes Catalunya an ideal destination for holidays, offering something for everyone; sporting facilities, cultural activities, fascinating places to visit and stunning beaches.
Barcelona, surely the most exciting, modern city in Europe, is easily reached from any of the properties we offer.
To the north of the region, the area known as the Alt Emporda sits below the foothills of the Pyrenees. Dense forests of cork and pine trees surround the picturesque village of Darnius, famous for its carefully restored stone houses.
Close by, the vast reservoir of Boadella offers water sports, whilst nearby, the medieval village of Capmany is famed for its excellent wines and respected restaurant.
Within a short drive are the beaches of Port de la Selva and Port de Llanca, whilst the Marine Natural Park of Cap de Creus lies just to the south with the imposing monastery of St Pere de Rodes perched on the mountain behind.
Heading south, the vast plains of the Baix Emporda are home to the stunning medieval villages of Ullastret, Cruilles, Torrent, Palau Sator, Peratallada, Pals, Fonteta and Ermedas.
The lively commercial town of La Bisbal is the centre of the ceramics trade and has a colourful market.
The market town of Palafrugell has three coastal bays within a few kilometres. Calella de Palafrugell, a pretty, whitewashed fishing village plays host to the festival of the 'havaneres' or sea shanties, during the early summer.
Stylish Llafranc has a perfectly formed bay with a tiny yacht harbour. Here you will find an array of traditional restaurants along the sea front serving an impressive range of tasty local cuisine.
Tamariu is the next beauty and, perhaps the most authentic, spot along the coast, with its narrow horseshoe bay and sandy beach surrounded by pine clad cliffs.
At night, the atmosphere is truly Mediterranean with fishermen preparing to put to sea at dusk in search of 'calamar' and sea bass and the sprinkling of restaurants come alive, prettily lit up and offering the freshest of fish from the day's catch. As darkness falls local artisans offer their wares below the light of burning gas lamps and amateur jugglers and would-be violinists visit from time to time, adding to the magic of the evening.
Picturesque Aigua Xelida has hidden coves and sits on a spectacularly indented coastline, whilst the other side of the pine clad hill reveals the stunning sandy bay and shimmering turquoise waters of Aigua Blava neatly tucked away out of sight, a secret waiting to be discovered.
Nearby, the hilltop castle town of Begur offers amazing panoramas and hidden alleyways and squares among the narrow streets of its old quarter.
Below, its headland drops breathtakingly to the tiny shoreline villages of Sa Riera and Sa Tuna and beyond to the Mediterranean.
The Catalan fishing harbour of Palamos proffers a maze of back streets with hidden tapas bars and some of the best fish restaurants in the area.
The wooded hillsides of Mont Ras offer superb facilities for mountain biking through the trees; alternatively the new 'Green Way' for cyclists and walkers links Palafrugell to Palamos via the picturesque country beach of Platja d'en Castell, backed by its protected nature reserve.
Just inland, the hamlet of Vall Llobrega lies quietly amidst vines and woodland and boasts two respected local restaurants.
Follow the back road through the wooded foothills of the Gavarres mountains via the hamlet of Romanya, famed for its two excellent restaurants.
Heading west towards Girona, the very local village of Santa Cristina d'Aro offers a mix of shops and restaurants and a varied range of sporting opportunities.
The countryside around the hamlets of Bell Lloc and St Miguel d'Aro is ideal for walking and cycling.
The Catalan capital, Barcelona, teems with life and atmosphere, unforgettable architecture, wonderful museums, a Gothic quarter, a thriving port, vibrant 'ramblas', the best in shopping, traditional bars and restaurants....and so much more. This colourful and exciting city is seemingly inexhaustible and easily traversed via its efficient public transport system.
Local Cuisine
Catalan cuisine encompasses flavours most of us all love - tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, onions, dried nuts and lots of dried herbs.
The Catalans are justifiably proud of their culinary skills and some typical dishes include chicken with prawns, quails with grapes, snails with tomato and chorizo or lobster with chocolate.
Most meals start with 'pa amb tomaquet', bread rubbed with tomato and garlic and then drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt. This is often topped with anchovies, red peppers or chorizo.
Local Fiestas
An important part of life in Catalunya, fiestas range from local village celebrations to large scale organised activities. Most villages acknowledge their patron saint's day with a 'feste'.
To herald the start of summer, the festivities of Sant Joan are held on the night of 23rd June, with the traditional dessert after dinner being 'coca' a type of sweet bread accompanied by a glass of cava. Informal fireworks are then enjoyed until the early hours.
On the National Day of Catalunya, 11th September, large scale celebrations take place all around the province, culminating in the dancing of 'sardanas' and fireworks into the night.
Climate
Catalunya has a Mediterranean type climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. While summers are hot and at times humid, in coastal areas the afternoon heat is usually tempered by sea breezes and the influence of the Pyrenees means temperatures are more comfortable than in the south of Spain.
Celebrating 100 years of the Costa Brava
It was in September 1908 that the writer and journalist, Ferran Aguilo, named the stretch of coastline from the mouth of the River Tordera to Portbou, the Costa Brava. This name has come to represent a land of diverse coastal and mountain landscapes with strong historical, artistic, musical, cultural and sporting backgrounds.
In celebration of this anniversary, a two-year programme of festivities has been put together, with events such as musical concerts, exhibitions and displays of the local gastronomy making this a particularly interesting time to visit. Please ask for further information and we will be happy to provide you with further details.
Getting there
Girona is served by the low cost carriers and is the closest airport to the majority of our houses in Catalunya, being just under an hour's drive from the Costa Brava.
Alternatively a range of scheduled airlines and low cost carriers offer flights to Barcelona, which is less than a 2 hour drive from our properties.
For those who prefer to drive, Catalunya is easily accessible by road.
View more details of travelling to Catalunya by road and ferry...
‘Low cost carriers’ operate services to Barcelona from many UK airports such as:
Jet2 Belfast and Leeds/Bradford
Fly Thomas Cook Birmingham
Thomsonfly Bournemouth, Coventry and Doncaster/Sheffield
easyJet Bristol, Gatwick, Liverpool, Luton, Newcastle and Stansted
bmibaby Manchester and Nottingham East Midlands.
View more details of flights and travel to Catalunya.
View holiday villas in Catalunya
