Costa Brava Travel Guide, Catalonia, Spain

The Costa Brava is the Girona coast that begins at the rock of Sa Palomera (Blanes) and ends at the border with France, in the municipality of Portbou; its length is more than 200 km. It is bordered on the north by the Roussillon Red Coast, which is its geographical continuation; and to the south, with the Costa del Maresme. It includes the coast of three counties: La Selva, Baix Empordà and Alt Empordà.

The Costa Brava, means: “Wild Coast”, is located in Catalonia and is the northeasternmost section of the Catalan Mediterranean coast. The Costa Brava begins on the French side of the Cote Vermeille south of Portbou and stretches over 220 km to Blanes. There the coast extends as the Costa del Maresme to the northeastern edge of the metropolitan area of Barcelonaaway. On the Costa Brava, rocky bays that are difficult to access alternate with sandy and stony beaches. The hinterland is characterized by very varied natural landscapes and a large number of medieval towns. The combination of these elements makes the Costa Brava a tourist destination with a wide range of different offers.

Given that the Costa Brava was threatened for centuries by pirates and other invaders, along its route we find numerous enclaves and defensive constructions that are located at important strategic points. An example of the above is the medieval castle that rises crowning the city of Blanes, the Castle of Sant Joan. There are also numerous medieval towns that still preserve the old layout of their streets, stone houses and other historical elements, good examples of which are Besalú or Peratallada. Small hidden coves proliferate throughout the coastline of the Costa Brava. Even in Lloret de Mar – a town rather famous for its nightclubs, its bustle and the constant influx of young people looking to go out – we can also find beautiful natural beaches a short distance from the urban center.

Until the advent of the tourism economy, many of the towns in the coastal region were small fishing villages with whitewashed houses and narrow streets. Its inhabitants, its traditions and the natural beauty of the region aroused the interest of artists and writers such as Marc Chagall, Picasso, Rusiñol and Dalí. Currently, the area still preserves much of this essence that characterized it before the change that the arrival of tourism brought about.

Culture tourism
Cultural experiences await you at every turn, starting with the historical legacy of the area: Palaeolithic and Neolithic settlements, remains of Iberian villages, Greek and Roman ruins, exceptional mediaeval heritage (with the noteworthy presence of Romanesque art and an outstanding and well-preserved Jewish legacy), and major modernist works. Do not forget to explore the work of Salvador Dalí and other illustrious painters, such as those of the Olot school. As for popular culture, there is so much to discover, with ancient festivals and traditions that are deeply ingrained in the people of this region.

The promotion and stimulation of the Club de Cultura i Identitat (Culture and Identity Club) enjoy the support of various public bodies from around the counties of Girona. Given the history, heritage and essence ingrained in our land, the private sector and the business world support the cultural resources that surround them, and specialise in them through themed activities.

Museums and art venues: Each museum is a unique experience. The great cultural wealth of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees can be seen in a whole series of museums devoted to a wide variety of disciplines, periods and styles.
Heritage and monuments: In the counties of Girona you can trace the history of humanity all the way back to the Palaeolithic. Following the footsteps of civilisations such as the Iberians, Greeks and Romans is an exciting experience.
Crafts and ancient professions: Traditional arts and crafts constitute one of the main cultural and historical attractions of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees. From a touristic, educational, intimate point of view, we want to offer.
The memorial sites: Exile, the uncertain path which opens before those who are forced to leave their own country, entails a traumatic and painful rupture. Imre Kertész says that.
Events and festivals: Unique venues, including historical monuments and botanical gardens. Renowned international artists. And a setting and climate in which you will want to linger. If you really want to explore the culture of a town, don’t restrict yourself to the main places of interest and a short stay. Make the most of days when townsfolk gather to celebrate the festa major (main local festival).
Scientific and sustainable routes: Satisfy your infinite curiosity, take a look at all the scientific and sustainable routes.

Leisure
One day you find yourself screaming with excitement as you whiz down a slide in a water park. The next day you enjoy an amazing concert in a wonderful auditorium. And the day after that you spend some time relaxing in a casino on the Costa Brava. The counties of Girona offer all of this, with leisure options to suit everyone.

Casinos: Try your luck in one of the casinos set in the idyllic surroundings of the Costa Brava.
Water parks: With attractions suitable for all ages you can spend an enjoyable few hours getting wet and laughings.
Municipal theatres: In the municipal theatres and auditoriums of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees you’ll find a wide-ranging schedule of events.

Nature and active tourism
Walk, ski, run, pedal, play, sail, jump, swim and, above all, experience the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees while doing what you like the most. Everything is in place for you to come and enjoy your favourite sports at any time, thanks to a great climate suitable for activities all year round and the most fantastic natural settings that you can imagine, from the high mountains down to the sea.

Some municipalities on the Costa Brava and in the Girona Pyrenees are strongly committed to nature and active tourism, offering specialised activities, accommodation and services for sports people and outdoor activity enthusiasts. Some travel agencies are capable of understanding exactly what you need and designing a made-to-measure programme for you. They offer you a unique stay on the Costa Brava and in the Girona Pyrenees, doing the activities of your choice. Specialised transfer companies are ready to take you to any point on the Costa Brava or in the Girona Pyrenees. The tourist accommodation providers of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees know exactly what you need. They’ve tailored their offering to the requirements of visitors who want to enjoy the local nature, along with their favourite sports.

Beaches: The Costa Brava is about sun, beaches, coves surrounded by nature, refreshing dips in crystal-clear water, peace and calm, strolls along coastal footpaths, charming fishing villages. How does all of that sound? Well get your diary out, find the next gap and get ready to spend a great day (or all the days you can manage) on the beach.
Snow: What about you, does the colour white get your adrenaline going? In the Girona Pyrenees you can ski in some of the most established Alpine ski resorts.
Cycle touring, greenways and mountain biking Snow.
Hiking: Step by step. Without hurrying. Breathing deeply. Taking photos. At your leisure. A wide variety of hiking trips are available on the Costa Brava.
Nautical tourism: The Costa Brava offers you more than 200 kilometres of coastline, 17 marinas, over 30 diving centres, sailing and windsurfing schools, and three natural parks, including the important Medes Islands marine reserve.
Multi-adventure: Adventure is multiplied on the Costa Brava and in the Girona Pyrenees. Get ready to multi-enjoy the multi-adventure multi-options available: horse trekking, Segway routes, adventure parks, skydiving, hot air balloon flights, canyoning, climbing.
Eco-tourism: Enjoy your visit to the counties of Girona while at the same time collaborating in the preservation of the area’s rich natural and cultural environment. Eco-tourism offers an extensive range of options that is growing all the time.
Sport tourism: If you are a sports person even when you’re on holiday, then the Costa Brava towns that hold the Sports Tourism Destination seal are for you. This seal, awarded by the Catalan Tourism Agency, certifies the availability of high quality sports.

Gastronomy tourism
The province of Girona is one of the world’s major food and wine destinations, a region at the forefront of culinary innovation as one of the greatest creative hubs on the planet. The combination of sea and mountains is the trademark of Girona cuisine, the fusion of the region’s culinary techniques and character. A cuisine with substance and its own identity; not merely a style of eating and drinking, but a way of life.

A good rest and a delicious meal. A relaxing atmosphere and a glass of DO Empordà wine. This is all at your fingertips at our gourmet accommodations. Landscape and food and wine go hand in hand in the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenes. And the region’s outstanding accommodations also do their part to enhance your experience. Get ready for new, delicious experiences. Activity companies organise original activities guaranteed to make a good impression. The food and wine map of the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees provides a host of attractions in mere inches of territory. A range of transport companies specialised in food and wine are available to make getting there even easier.

DO Empordà Wine Route: An unforgettable wine tourism experience awaits you in Empordà on the Costa Brava. The DO Empordà Wine Route immerses you in a deep-rooted tradition of the area, dating as far back as Roman times.
Michelin-Starred Restaurants: This is Michelin-star territory, with a total of 19 Michelin stars awarded to 15 restaurants that offer unforgettable dining experiences.
Restaurants: The landscape of the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees –where sea and mountains meet– also has a marked presence in the region’s cuisine.
Cuisine Associations and Groups: They are the true ambassadors of Girona’s food and wine. They represent and promote our cuisine and local products.
Producer Tours: How is olive oil made in Empordà? And the different types of Girona cheeses? What is the secret to making a craft beer?
Food and Wine Venues and Cooking Classes: These are cooking classes and other venues designed specifically for sharing a range of activities related to good food and wine.
Wineries and Specialty Shops: Visitors can enjoy the full range of Empordà wines with tastings at different wine bars and shopping at specialty stores.
Museums: It is important to keep those things that form part of our identity alive as well as share them with the rest of the world.
Food and Wine Events: Make room on your calendar. The region’s event calendar is full of food and wine trade fairs, exhibitions and campaigns, local markets.
Girona Excel•lent: Food quality label to promote Girona Provincial Council and the Chamber of Commerce.

Wine Route
An unforgettable wine tourism experience awaits you in Empordà on the Costa Brava. The DO Empordà Wine Route immerses you in a deep-rooted tradition of the area, dating as far back as Roman times. Now you have the chance to experience this part of our gastronomic identity up close, discovering all the secrets of red, white and rosé Empordà wines.

Wineries: You can trace the history of winegrowing in the area, discover the secrets of winemaking, taste some very special Empordà wines and enjoy many other activities in the magical setting of vineyards.
Accommodation: The accommodation options of the Wine Route offer you much more than a wonderful rest in a variety of stunning landscapes.
Restaurants: In the counties of Girona exceptional gastronomy and wines go hand in hand, with mouth-watering options for everyone.
Wine bars and shops: There’s no better place to taste and purchase wines. The area boasts an extensive network of bars and shops specialising in D.O. Empordà wines.
Wine museums: There’s more to wine than flavour, colour and aromas.
Wine therapy treatments: Enjoy their regenerative and antioxidant properties through the wine therapy treatments offered by specialised establishments located throughout the counties of Girona.
Transport: Take delight in the wine, gastronomy, vineyards and landscape, as specialist transport companies take you on wine tours around the Girona province.
Tasting service: If you wish to learn more about wines and set free your senses, this section is a must. You will find tasting activities to enjoy at events, business meetings or with friends.
Wine events: Wine culture lives along the DO Empordà Wine Route and one of the ways to become accustomed to wine is through fairs, festivals, presentations and seminars

Localities
If you are looking for great cities to visit on weekend breaks or over an unforgettable couple of days of your holiday, you have come to the right place. Their beauty, culture and local cuisine make them top destinations for savvy travellers. The territory of the Costa Brava is made up of towns in Alto Ampurdán, Bajo Ampurdán and part of the most coastal towns in La Selva. The coastline of the coastal zone is made up of the following towns, listed from north to south:

Portbou
It is the municipality that is in the northernmost part of the Costa Brava, it is in the Alto Ampurdán region and borders France. In a small town that does not reach 1500 inhabitants, with a fishing tradition and which offers numerous leisure opportunities on its coast, such as diving or other water activities.

Cholera
Small municipality that has approximately 600 inhabitants. Its coastline is made up of six beaches: Cala Rovellada, Playa d’en Goixa, Playa Carbassó, Playa de Garbet, Playa de les Assutzenes and Playa del Borró nudist.

Llansá
Officially and in Catalan Llançà. Town in the Alto Ampurdán region of almost 5000 inhabitants. It is surrounded by the Cabo de Creus and l’Albera natural parks, both by land and by sea. It has small and quiet beaches that are combined with the presence of historical megalithic and pre-Romanesque remains.

Puerto de la Selva
Officially and in Catalan Port de la Selva. It is part of the Alto Ampurdán region and has just over 1000 inhabitants. It is a municipality with a fishing tradition that has been partly relieved by the arrival of tourism to the area.

Cadaqués
Municipality of the Alto Ampurdán region located east of Cap de Creus. Its landscape captivated many artists, including Salvador Dalí. The painter lived in the town with Gala and now you can visit his residence, the Salvador Dalí House Museum. Although it is a town that attracts many visits from tourists, the area has not become overcrowded and continues to maintain its aspect of a fishing village.
The three places that you cannot miss when you go to Cadaqués are:
The wall. This is one of the emblems of Cadaqués, and is that before entering the historic center of the town, you will see the only remaining part of the wall, a lowered arch as an entrance.
The promenade. If you visit this town, you cannot miss its promenade, where you can find a statue of Salvador Dalí. In addition, along this walk you will see Casa Blaua, one of the most striking buildings in Cadaqués.
The Church of Santa Maria. This Church is located at the top of the hill, which was built to replace the one destroyed by Barbarossa.

Roses
Officially and in Catalan Roses, this Mediterranean town has experienced great growth with the arrival of tourism. It currently has approximately 18,000 inhabitants. Its offer makes it a destination that adapts to all types of tourists. Its heritage includes the Citadel of Roses, a 16th century medieval fortress, and the megalithic remains.

Castellón de Ampurias
Officially and in Catalan Castelló d’Empúries. It is a town of about 11,000 inhabitants that includes part of the Parque de las Marismas del Ampurdán. One of its most important festivals is Terra de Trobadors, which is celebrated on the weekend closest to September 11 and pays tribute to the music of the Middle Ages.

San Pedro Pescador
Officially and in Catalan Sant Pere Pescador. Municipality in the center of the Gulf of Rosas, in the Alto Ampurdán region. Its beaches make up an ideal environment for practicing water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing or kayaking, among others.

La Armentera
It is part of the Alto Ampurdán region. It is one of the municipalities that make up the Parque de las Marismas del Ampurdán.

The Scale
Coastal municipality of Alto Ampurdán. It is known for the anchovies that are caught and eaten in the area, which have led to the creation of the Anchoas de la Escala Quality Denomination.

Torroella de Montgrí
Town of the Bajo Ampurdán region. In the area, it is worth noting the presence of the unfinished Castle of Montgrí from the 14th century located on top of the Montgrí Massif.

Estartit
Town in the municipality of Torroella de Montgrí (Bajo Ampurdán), located to the left of the mouth of the Ter, west of the Montgrí Massif, between the Grande mountain and the sea, facing the Isles Medas nature reserve.

Pals
A town in the Bajo Ampurdán region of just over 2,800 inhabitants. It is made up of three nuclei: Pals, Masos de Pals and Playa de Pals. The singularities of each of these offer different proposals to tourists. Pals houses most of the heritage of the area, Masos de Pals is made up of a group of farmhouses of great architectural interest and Playa de Pals has all the resources to enjoy the Mediterranean.

Bagur
Officially and in Catalan Begur. It is located in the Bajo Ampurdán region. It is a fishing village that has some of the best beaches and coves on the Costa Brava: Sa Riera, Aiguafreda, Sa Tuna, Fornells and Aiguablava.

Palafrugell
Municipality of the Bajo Ampurdán region. It is located at the foot of the Gavarras massif. It is made up of 9 population centers: El Bruguerol, Calella de Palafrugell, Ermedàs, Llafranch, Llufríu, Palafrugell, Santa Margarida, Tamariu and Vila-seca. In Calella de Palafrugell, every year during the month of July, the typical Habaneras festival is celebrated.

Montras
Town of the Bajo Ampurdán region. Its municipal territory includes the Formigues Islands, an archipelago made up of four islets that are a perfect option for scuba diving due to the great richness of its waters.

Palamos
This municipality in the Bajo Ampurdán region has the third most important commercial port in Catalonia, after Barcelona and Tarragona. Prawns are the protagonists of the local cuisine, and are considered the best in the area.

Calonge
Municipality of the Bajo Ampurdán region, divided into two parts: Calonge on the one hand, and San Antonio de Calonge on the other. Beautiful beaches and coves such as Roques Planes, Ses Torretes (popularly known as Cala Gogo for being next to the campsite of the same name), Torre Valentina, etc.

Castle-Playa de Aro
This municipality is made up of Castillo de Aro (Castell D’Aro), Playa de Aro (Platja D’Aro) and S’Agaró. The three nuclei offer an ideal environment for practicing sports; in addition to a proposal for leisure, commerce and important cultural activities. During the arrival of tourism on the Costa Brava, this town has become one of the main destinations.

Sant Feliu de Guíxols
This municipality, in the Bajo Ampurdán region, has acquired international renown thanks to the music festival that is held every summer in the area, the Porta Ferrada International Festival, instituted in 1958.

Santa Cristina de Aro
This municipality in the Bajo Ampurdán region, located to the south of it, on the border with Gironés and La Selva, in the province of Gerona, Catalonia. It is made up of the parishes of Santa Cristina, Romanyá de la Selva, Solius and Bell-lloc as well as other small nuclei.

Tosa de Mar
This municipality has become the destination par excellence for many tourists. Its beaches, its historical heritage, and its leisure offer attract many visitors, especially during the summer.

Lloret de Mar
Town of the region of La Selva. Its tourist offer is full of contrasts. The area stands out for its great variety of nightlife, as well as its historical and monumental heritage. It is worth noting the presence of the Iberian town of Puig de Castellet.

Blanes
Its municipal term belongs to the region of La Selva. It is the town that delimits the Costa Brava to the south. Its landscape, which includes mountains, beaches and coves, has made it one of the most visited destinations on the Costa Brava.

Geography
The coastal strip extends along 158 linear kilometers (85 nautical miles) and 256 kilometers. With 3,611.9 km², the steep outline of its famous beaches and the fishing villages that populate its coastline are not the only attraction on the Costa Brava.

The parks of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà and Cap de Creus, the Medes Islands or the lake of Banyoles, the medieval past preserved in enclaves such as Pals, the old quarter of Girona or the Romanesque art of Sant Pere de Rodes, surrealism of Salvador Dalí’s creations in the Dalinian Triangle. The counties of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, La Selva, Gironès and Pla de l’Estany, named the Costa Brava since 1908, offer the visitor all kind of alternatives for the holidays.

Seaside
The character of the beaches, often formed by quiet coves with thick sand and calm waters, attracts visitors to the coasts of the Alt and Baix Empordà and La Selva counties. The rugged profile of the rocks and cliffs that surround them and the pine groves that almost reach the sea give the Costa Brava a unique personality. Among the main tourist centers are the towns of Roses, L’Escala, L’Estartit, Calonge, Blanes, Lloret de Mar, Platja d’Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Palamós, as well as the fishing villages of Cadaqués.Port de la Selva or Palafrugell.

The quality of the sands and waters is recognized by the numerous concessions of blue flags of the Girona coast. Environmental respect has also been demonstrated by obtaining EMAS validation for several beaches in the towns of Roses and Calonge-Sant Antoni. Also, the beaches of Calonge, Lloret de Mar and Fenals have earned the “Q” certificate of tourist quality.

Types of villages
The first data that are of human presence in the province of Girona back to 750,000 years ago, when the Homo Erectus settled in what today is known as the site of Puig d’en Roca, in Girona, and in the Cau del Duc, in Torroella de Montgrí. Since then, the presence of man in our counties has been constant: that of Cromanyóreplaced the former and adopted a hunting-based lifestyle; later came the Iberians, with their fortified constructions and their own writing system; later the Greek people founded the city of Emporion and turned it into one of the most important commercial enclaves of the Mediterranean; then the Romans created road networks that united the peoples of their domain. Jewish communities fleeing the destruction of Jerusalem also settled here. This constant flow of civilizations, cultures and beliefs has influenced the urban appearance of most municipalities and allows to identify different types of population on the Costa Brava.

Leisure centers
They are nuclei or municipalities of the coast that are characterized by a high tourist specialization. Its fundamental economic activity and its raison d’être is tourism; they offer a wide range of accommodation and concentrate a large number of fun-related activities, such as water parks, restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs. The tourist towns that make this type are in the Alt Emporda, Roses and Empuriabrava, the Lower Empordà Estartit, Palamos, Sant Antoni de Calonge and Platja d’Aro and La Selva Lloret de Mar.

Small coastal nuclei
These are generally small towns located on the coast of Girona which, despite the push from tourism, have managed to maintain their character as a coastal town closely linked to the sea. They have a resident population of less than 4000 inhabitants and the sea is a basic element in the harmony of the landscape and the maintenance of maritime activities and infrastructures, such as the presence of fish markets, fishermen’s huts, bathing huts, fishing fleets or elements of maritime culture. The nuclei that make up this type of tourism are in the Alt Empordà, Portbou, Colera, Llançà, El Port de la Selva and Cadaqués, and in the Baix Empordà, Palafrugell andPalamós.

Nature
The Cap de Creus Natural Park offers a view of the Pyrenees, immersing yourself in the Mediterranean. It has a steep coastline with more than 300 species of fish and meadows and forests inland that allow the observation of migratory birds. The second natural park in the region, the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, is a wetland of almost 5,000 hectares between the rivers Muga and Fluvià, with great biodiversity of flora and bird species.

Other areas of natural value are the Medes Islands (a privileged setting for scuba diving), the lakes of Banyoles and Sils or the massifs of Cadiretes (Tossa de Mar), Montgrí (Torroella de Montgrí), Les Gavarres (La Bisbal d ‘Empordà) and the Natural Area of Castell-Cap Roig Palamós.

The flora has its place in the botanical garden Marimurtra and Pinya de Rosa, in Blanes, and of Cap Roig and Santa Clotilde, in Calella de Palafrugell and Lloret de Mar, respectively.

Natural Parks
Three Natural Parks are present in the geography of the Costa Brava:

Cap de Creus Natural Park
The protection law of this area makes the Cap de Creus Natural Park, located in the north of the Costa Brava, in the Port de la Selva, one of the most unique in the Iberian Peninsula. It determines as protected areas the municipalities of Port de la Selva, La Selva de Mar, Llançà, Cadaqués, Palau-saverdera, Pau, Roses and Vilajuïga, with an area of 13,886 hectares spread over 10,813 hectares of land and 3073 of maritime space.

Wetlands of the Empordà
Located in the north of the Costa Brava, between the towns of Castelló d’Empúries – Empuriabrava, Sant Pere Pescador and Roses, this natural park is the second most important of its kind in Catalonia, as it concentrates a large number of native species. of flora and fauna. It is divided into two large areas, north and south of the river Muga, which bring together the most characteristic elements of the landscape of the Alt Empordà.

Montseny Natural Park
Located in the interior of the southern part of the Costa Brava, in Arbúcies (Selva), the Montseny is the largest and highest massif in the Catalan pre-coastal range, straddling the demarcations of Barcelona and Girona. One of the main values of the massif lies in the extreme variability of the environments it presents, as a result of the important altitudinal and vegetation gradients, as well as the diversity of its relief. Oak and pine forests, cork forests, oaks and beeches they are some of the trees that give shape to an almost forest landscape that at the same time, acts as a space of refuge for many animal species typical of higher latitude environmental contexts.

Art and Culture
The historical memory of the counties of Girona dates back to the Paleolithic period, when several nomadic tribes enabled the area; in this way the foundations were laid for future civilizations, such as the Iberian, Greek and Roman peoples, whose cities have survived to our times and have become must-sees. Later, the Costa Brava captivated intellectuals and artists of all eras, who left their unmistakable mark in the form of multiple cultural manifestations.

Museums and Collections
The great artistic richness is collected in a set of almost fifty Museums and Collections cataloged between the five counties that conform the place-name of the Costa Brava.

Salvador Dalí house-museum
It is an essential place to visit if you want to know deeply the universe of the painter. It is located in the bay of Portlligat, in the north of Cadaqués, the city where Dalí spent much of his childhood and youth. In it you can visit the artist’s workshop, the library, the private rooms and the garden and pool.

Salvador Dalí lived there from 1930 to 1982, the year in which Gala died and he settled in the Castle of Púbol. Currently you can visit the entire house, full of objects related to the artistic activity of the painter, and the outdoor spaces.

Archaeological Museum of Catalunya-Ullastret
In this museum, located in the town of Ullastret, many of the objects found in the excavation campaigns that are carried out annually in the Iberian site of the town are collected.

Gala-Dalí Castle – Púbol
It is the residence where Salvador Dalí lived after Gala’s death. It was the artist’s last workshop and has been open to the public since 1996. The Castle dates from the 11th century and, although the space retains its exterior appearance, Dalí restored the entire interior, such as the old kitchen converted into Gala’s bathroom or the Hall of the piano.

Inside the castle you can see the paintings and drawings that the artist gave Gala to decorate the castle, as well as the elephant sculptures that decorate the garden, the collection of haute couture dresses that belonged to Gala and the many objects that they used for its decoration.

Catalonia Toy Museum
It was inaugurated in 1982. In the museum you can see more than 4,000 old toys that belonged to characters such as Anna Maria and Salvador Dalí, Federico García Lorca, Ernest Lluch, Salvador Puig Antich, Pere Casaldàliga, Josep Palau Fabre, Quim Monzó, Federic Amat, Joan Miró or Joan Brossa. The museum was awarded the National Prize for Popular Culture in 1999.

Dalí Theater-Museum
Opened in 1974, the Dalí Theater-Museum was built on the ruins of the old municipal theater in Figueras and designed by Salvador Dalí himself. It contains a wide range of works that describe Dalí’s artistic career: from his first artistic experiences and surrealist creations, to the last works of his life.

Some of the works exhibited in the museum are Port Alguer (1924), The Spectrum of the Sex Appeal (1932), Soft Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon (1941), Poetry of America (1943), Galarina (1944-1945), La Basket of Bread (1945), Leda Atómica (1949) and Galatea de las spheres (1952).

Other pieces produced by Dalí for the Theater Museum are The Mae West Room, The Palace of the Wind and the monument to Francesc Pujols.

Perelada Castle Museum
Within the Castle of Perelada, is the Convent of Carmen, which currently houses the collections of the castle owners. Following the guided tour you can see the church of the s. XIV, the library that has 80,000 volumes (200 incunabula, 800 noble writings and more than 1,000 different editions of Don Qujote, in 33 different languages), the ceramic and glass collections, the latter one of the most important in the world, the wine museum and the cellar of the Gran Claustro cellar. You can also visit the castle’s historic park, designed by François Duvillers in 1877, commissioned by the Counts of Perelada.

Sculpture parks
Cap Roig Gardens
In Calella de Palafrugell, Baix Empordà, the Caixa de Girona Foundation of La Caixa has created a park of sculptures in the gardens of Cap Roig where sculptures by artists who transform the garden into a unique art space are gathered among the vegetation. Outdoor.

Art Park
A Cassa de la Selva, Selva is the Park of Contemporary Arts in Cassa de la Selva. Recognized contemporary artists, as an exceptional fact, have been able to choose the location and installation of their work, which, in this way, establishes a suggestive word dialogue with their environment.

Can Ginebreda Forest
In Porqueres, Plà de l’Estany. These are the sculptures by Xicu Cabanyes that stand out for the vital and personal intensity of the experience and its artistic globality.

Dalinian Triangle
Salvador Dalí is a personality of contemporary culture, a recognized surrealist genius and a man rooted in a land, the Empordà, a landscape, the Costa Brava and some Catalan traditions. A visit to the three Dalinian spaces is also an unmissable event for lovers of art and culture. In each place you can see, in addition to paintings, sculptures, drawings, holograms and mechanical installations, a captivating and dreamy world that leaves no one indifferent. The Dalinian Triangle route offers the visitor a broad perception of Dalí’s universe that can lead him to delve deeper into the symbolism, thought and reality of the Empordà artist.

Dalí Theater-Museum
The Dalí Theater-Museum of Figueres, inaugurated in 1974, was built on the remains of the old municipal theater of Figueres and has a wide range of works that describe the artistic career of Salvador Dalí, from his first experiences. artistic and his creations in surrealism, to the works of the last years of his life.

Salvador Dalí House-Museum
Salvador Dalí’s house-workshop in Portlligat is an indispensable place to visit to get to know the painter’s universe well. The House-Museum is located in the bay of Portlligat, north of Cadaqués, the village where Dalí spent long periods during his childhood and youth, surrounded by the landscape and the light that inspired him and that always reflected in his paintings. The house consists of a set of fishermen’s houses, bought in different stages, which Gala and Dalí labyrinthically structured and configured, and decorated over forty years, from 1930 to the seventies. Inside the house you can visit the painter’s workshop, the library, the rooms where he spent his private life and the garden and pool area.

Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum
The Gala-Dalí Castle in Púbol —which was the residence of the painter’s wife during the 1970s and also the artist’s in the early 1980s— has been the Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum since 1996. Inside you can see the paintings and drawings that Dalí gave to Gala to exhibit in the castle, as well as the sculptures of elephants that decorate the garden, a collection of haute couture dresses from Gala, the furniture and numerous objects they used to decorate the castle themselves.

Popular festivals
International fireworks competition of the Costa Brava
From July 22 to 27, Blanes will celebrate one of the most renowned fireworks competitions in Europe. This contest has already a century of tradition, only during the period of the Civil War in Spain was it stopped celebrating.

Corpus Christi – Floral rugs
Religious festival that is celebrated on May 22 in the old town of Tosa de Mar. The residents install altars and decorate the streets where the procession parades with flower carpets.

Recital of Habaneras from Calella de Palafrugell
It is a recital that has been held annually since 1967 on July 5. For one day Calella de Palafrugell becomes the capital of Havana where the Cuban and Spanish people come together performing popular songs that sailors brought from the Caribbean in the 19th century

Verbena de San Juan
In all the towns of the Costa Brava, during the night of June 23 the arrival of summer is celebrated around purifying bonfires.

Cavalcade of the Magi
In the main municipalities of the Costa Brava, the Three Kings Parade is organized during the night of January 5. Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar parade in floats or mounted on horseback through the villages, to distribute gifts to all the children.

Saint Jordi’s Day
This holiday is celebrated on April 23. In Catalonia, traditionally, it is known as Valentine’s Day, when couples give each other a book and a rose. This festival is also understood as a vindication of Catalan culture, and for this reason many balconies are decorated with the signal.

Gastronomy
At the beginning of the 21st century, the regions of Girona have become one of the main centers of gastronomic pilgrimage in the world. In fact, it is no secret that the avant-garde cuisine center is located in Cabo de Creus on the northern stretch of the Costa Brava where El Bulli de Ferrán Adriá (in Cala Montjoi) has created a new school.

The regions of Gerona have always been a reference for good cuisine: avant-garde cuisine could not have arisen without historical antecedents, without local products, without the region’s raw materials from agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, the production of olives, livestock, fishing, etc.

Beyond the revolutionary nouvelle cuisine that broke with centuries of baroque cuisine, the generalization of the new culinary movement has its roots in Gerona, in the artistic and innovative entrepreneurial spirit of Catalonia.

Tourist distinctions
Five towns on the Costa Brava are considered family tourism destinations: Lloret de Mar, Calonge – Sant Antoni, Roses, Blanes and Torroella de Montgrí – L’Estartit.

The Sports Tourism Destinations in the area are Lloret de Mar (cycling, football, athletics and team sports) and Castelló d’Empúries – Empuriabrava (skydiving and football) on the coast and Banyoles – Pla de l’Estany (rowing, white water canoeing, swimming, cycling, mountain biking, running and triathlon) inland. The Costa Brava has 17 marinas and two nautical resorts, L’Estartit and the Medes Islands and the Bay of Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge.