Muntanya Russa – Parc d’Atraccions del Tibidabo, Barcelona / By Jordiferrer (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Costa Brava

Lying on the north east of Catalonia, Costa Brava’s coastal location is a haven for holiday makers. The lure of crisp beaches and stunning coastline makes it irresistible for those who enjoy soaking up the sun. The name itself comes from ‘costa’, meaning ‘coast’ and ‘brava’ meaning ‘wild’. While the Costa Brava attracts those who just want to lie in the sun, it has many other parts to explore.

Even if you book into a family friendly resort, there’s a lot to explore. There are towns such as the picturesque Begur, which is visited for its rustic charm and history. There are still remnants of the town’s intriguing past history, especially at Begur’s castle, which was completed in the 17th century. As a family, the municipality is full of great opportunities to explore the rugged side of Spain.

Barcelona

Barcelona is Catalonia’s capital, and second only to Madrid for size in Spain. This is a thriving, cosmopolitan city that boasts a rich, cultural heritage. It is made up of a busy collection of restaurants, galleries and events that are perfect for adults and children. The city itself is very kid friendly, and it’s not hard to find something to keep them entertained.

Along with the must-see attractions such as Gaudi’s Sacred Family Church and the Dali Museum, there are other activities such as theme parks, zoos and more. Tibidabo Amusement Park is located atop Mount Tibidabo, which is the highest point of the lush, verdant Collserola Ridge nature park. The amusement park itself is 512m above sea level, which lends itself to some dramatic, and exhilarating rides.

Valencia

The history of Valencia dates back to 138 BC, where it began life as a Roman colony. Since then it has developed into a very modern city without sacrificing many of the historical connections that formed its foundation. Valencia lies on the banks of the river Turia, which offers incredible scenery and breathtaking views.

When visiting Valencia, its essential to visit the Bioparc. Not so much a run of the mill zoo, the Bioparc has been designed to give animals more freedom, replicating their natural habitats as accurately as possible. You really do feel as though you are (safely) exploring the animal’s environments, instead of finding them caged in ours.

I Dream Elephants brings a great choice of kids clothes, including Spanish brand Bobo Choses.

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Vila Vella

Tossa del Mar’s Vila Vella (old town) is one of the most striking sights in this part of the world. Standing 70 metres above sea level and offering great views of the rugged coastline that gives the area its name, it is the best preserved walled city along this coastline. The city dates back to the 12th century but the fortifications continued to be extended until the late 14th century. This area also offers access to other interesting sights, including the ruin of the the Sant Vicenc old Gothic cathedral, the 14th century governor’s house which now houses the Municipal Museum, and the lighthouse. This area is well worth a visit.

Vila Vella, Tossa de Mar, Spain / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Alex Alishevskikh

Dali Museum

If you’re visiting this part of the world, don’t miss the chance to see the Portlligat House-museum where Salvador Dali lived and worked from 1930 to 1982. It started as a fisherman’s hut, but Dali extended it over the years. Now, it’s more like a labyrinth with surprising objects around every corner. Even if you’ve already visited one of the other Dali museums at Figueres and Pubol, this is a must for Dali fans.

Santa Clotilde Gardens

If enjoying nature is your thing, then you will love the Santa Clotilde Gardens. Like many Costa Brava sights, this garden is perched on a rocky hillside with amazing views of the sea and coastline. This is a beautiful Italian-Renaissance style garden which means plenty of sculptures and fountains to accompany the flowers and plants. The gardens provide a relaxing, enjoyable interlude for sun-seekers and when you’re done, head down to the small shingle beach at Fenals – it’s beautiful!

Catalunya Lloret de Mar – Jardins de santa clotilde, Spain / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jaume Meneses

Medieval Costa Brava

The Costa Brava is a great place to explore the mediaeval period, which was very important to the region’s history. Of particular note are La Bisbal, which boasts a city centre castle, Toroella de Montgri, which has medieval ramparts (and a summer music festival to boot) and the mediaeval village of Ulla, but there are many more – any drive in this part of the world will bring you to one.

Toroella de Montgri, Spain / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jos Dielis

To go even further back in the region’s history, check out the Iberian settlement on Sant Andreu mound just past Ullastret. You can see signs of how the inhabitants lived in the 7th century and explore the period further in the Ullastret Archaeological Museum.

There’s so much to see in this part of the world that this is only a short introduction. You’ll soon be able to add some favourite Costa Brava attractions of your own.

Ready to see the Costa Brava? Marian Jaime recommends Suntransfers’ taxis from Barcelona Airport to start your holiday right!

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Roser Goula

Northern Costa Brava

Starting in the north Figueres and Cadaques are the main towns of the area stretching up to France. Figueres is a beautiful Catalan town with an interesting architecture and plenty of warmth. The town is most famous for its Dali museum which is the world’s best collection of Dali’s and absolutely un-missable. Dali was born in Figueres and the museum is the most popular in the whole of Spain. Beyond the museum the ramblas are a great place to stroll and while away your afternoons while enjoying the fantastic cafes and street culture of this great town. Cadaques is also tied intimately to Dali and is a beautiful fishing village with a much more sedate and peaceful way of life for you to enjoy.

Outside of the towns the north of the Costa Brava has beautiful countryside with the area around Cap de Creus being fantastically beautiful. Inland the medieval capital of the region Girona is spectacular and a beautiful town with exceptional architecture.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Roser Goula

Central Costa Brava

The central areas of the Costa Brava are the most popular with beach tourists. The main areas between Palamos and Pals are the favourite haunt of locals from Barcelona and tourists. The central coastline is really just a tourist attractions with Costa Brava villas, hotels and luxury resorts lining most of the coastline and somewhat ruining the local atmosphere. That said there are still some places to escape the tourist crowd and some beautiful beaches. If you head a little further inland though you can enjoy the stunning scenery of this fantastic region and a much more local atmosphere.

Southern Costa Brava

The southern Costa Brava takes us further into the concrete jungle and the traditional hotel and beach villa holidays Spain has to offer. It’s much more lively this end of the Costa Brava strip with the area around Lloret de Mar being the most vibrant and boisterous. The sun, sea and sands are undoubtedly the biggest draws and there are some stunning beaches and beautiful resorts to enjoy. However, if you want local culture you will again have to head inland for the main part as the southern coast is one of the most popular tourist regions. Nevertheless this shouldn’t put you off as the area is still beautiful and it’s a lot less crowded and more beautiful than the neighbouring Costa del Sol.

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