The coastal area of Spain that begins in Blanes and ends at the border with France, in Portbou and that also limits to the north with the Costa Vermella and to the south with the Costa del Maresme is called Costa Brava.
Name Costa Brava It was initially granted by the journalist Ferran Agulló on September 12, 1908, when writing in La Veu de Catalunya, about this beautiful coastal area of Spain. This name is the result of the main characteristic of the area which is its abrupt and rocky coast.
It is important to mention that the international name of this great tourist area became official in 1965, when it began to receive tourists from all over Europe, especially from France, the neighboring country.
Costa Brava, a unique place in the world
It can be affirmed without fear of being wrong that the people who live on the Costa Brava do so in a unique place in the world, let's see the reasons for this:
- Many of its beaches have the highest qualification of the European Union.
- At 30 minutes they have the international airport of Gerona and the High Speed Train
- In just over an hour you can reach the ski resorts of the Pyrenees.
- For lovers of forests and rural tourism, it is an ideal enclave in the interior.
- Its cuisine is world class, in the province of Gerona is the Celler de Can Roca and there was Ferran Adriá's Bulli.
- In terms of culture, it has Roman enclaves and buildings of all kinds, medieval towns and Romanesque and Gothic architecture. In Figueras is the Dalí Museum, one of the most visited in Spain.
- The Costa Brava is in a geographical location that, with its Mediterranean climate, is protected from the risks of other areas of the world in terms of hurricanes and similar phenomena. It is also a very safe area in terms of possible earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
- You have the legal certainty of being in a country of the European Union.
- It is a natural hub between the Middle East, Russia and the United States.
All these characteristics together make this place the residence objective of many great businessmen from all over the world and for this reason it is one of the places where the Golden VISA.
Properties on the Costa Brava
Coastal municipalities of the Costa Brava
List of some of the best-known coastal municipalities of the Costa Brava, ordered from south to north:
Blanes
Blanes is considered the "gateway" to the Costa Brava. It is famous for its beaches and its port, and each year it holds a fireworks contest that attracts thousands of visitors.
Lloret de Mar
One of the most popular tourist destinations on the Costa Brava, known for its nightlife and beaches. Lloret de Mar offers a large number of water and sports activities.
Tossa de Mar
A picturesque destination known for its medieval citadel and its beaches with crystal clear waters. Tossa de Mar combines history, culture and natural beauty.
Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Known for its port and its monastery, Sant Feliu de Guíxols is a quiet city that offers a mixture of culture and history, as well as beaches and coves.
Platja d'Aro
This municipality is popular for its beaches and its nightlife. It offers a mix of family tourism and activities for young people, with numerous shops and restaurants.
Palamos
A fishing town with an important port, famous for its "Palamós prawn". It offers several beaches and coves, and is a popular place for lovers of sailing and diving.
Calella de Palafrugell
A small and charming fishing village, known for its beaches with transparent waters and its annual festival of habaneras.
Llafranc
An elegant and laid-back destination, popular with tourists looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. It offers a beautiful beach and a marina.
Tamariu
This small town is known for its sheltered beach and family atmosphere. It is an ideal place for those looking to escape the crowds.
Begur
Famous for its secluded coves and rugged landscape, Begur is a popular destination for those looking for a more natural beach experience.
Palafrugell
Although the center of the municipality is not on the coast, it has several famous beaches and coves, such as Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc and Tamariu.
Roses
A tourist town known for its large bay and sandy beaches. It offers a wide range of water activities and is a popular starting point for exploring the Cap de Creus Natural Park.
Cadaqués
A charming fishing village known for its relationship with Salvador Dalí. Cadaqués is famous for its white architecture and its bohemian atmosphere.
Port of the Jungle
This small fishing village is located on the Cap de Creus peninsula and offers beaches and coves surrounded by an impressive natural landscape.
These are just some of the many municipalities and towns that you can find on the Costa Brava, each with its own character and charm. I hope this list will be useful for you to plan your visit to this beautiful region.
History
This coastal area is a place that has a great history as it is a region of movement and settlement for many peoples and cultures, with numerous historical remains that give proof of this, for example, there are very old monuments that belong to the Paleolithic period with an antiquity estimated 5000 years BC
In the same way during the third century BC the Costa Brava It witnessed the Punic wars that were fought between the Carthaginians and the Romans, where the Romans were victorious, obtaining control of the area and thanks to this the entire Iberian Peninsula.
After all these battles, the Costa Brava it was inhabited mainly by fishermen and farmers who farmed near the coast. Starting in the 1930s, tourists began to arrive at these beautiful beaches and it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that tourism began to grow exponentially in the region.
The growth of tourism in the Costa Brava gave way to the urban development of some coastal spaces, although some towns currently maintain their traditions and the natural beauty of the region with small towns of whitewashed houses and narrow streets.
Natural spaces
La Costa Brava It provides a great spectacle of nature thanks to its eight magnificent natural parks where you can visit mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, wetlands, beaches, coves and dizzying cliffs, ancient volcanoes covered with forests, gardens and coastal paths.
These eight natural parks are Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, Cadí-Moixeró, Cap de Creus, Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'Albera, Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser, Parc Natural del Montgrí, Illes Medes i Baix Ter, Montseny Natural Park and La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone.
This beautiful tourist area also has four botanical gardens full of native plants mixed with plant species from other countries, which immerse the visitor in a world full of colors and intoxicating aromas. These gardens are known as the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, the Pinya de Rosa Botanical Garden, the Cap Roig Gardens and the Santa Clotilde Gardens.
A few kilometers away we can find unique natural spaces and nearby areas of great scenic interest such as:
- Massif of Cadiretes in Tossa de Mar
- Massif of Les Gavarres located in La Bisbal d'Empordà
- Ter river headwaters – Setcases and Freser –
- Núria in Ribes de Freser
- The Estanys de Sils.
Similarly, for tourists who love hiking, there are coastal paths that cross the Costa Brava from Lloret de Mar to Portbou, where you can enjoy hiking, as well as beaches and coves, with spectacular views.
Among the most beautiful and visited coastal paths are the Cap de Creus coastal path, the one from Tossa de Mar to Cala Pola and the Tamariu path, these paths show the most emblematic natural environments of Catalonia and also beautiful trails through forests of pines by the sea.
Towns on the Costa Brava
La Costa Brava It has more than 200 kilometers of the Catalan coastline with a large number of towns with tourist attractions, although some are in the same sea, others are located a few kilometers inland.
This territory is made up of towns that include Alto Ampurdán, Bajo Ampurdán and part of the more coastal towns of La Selva.
The coastline of the coastal area is made up of the following towns, named from north to south: Portbou, Colera, Llansá, Puerto de la Selva, Cadaqués, Rosas, Castellón de Ampurias, San Pedro Pescador, La Armentera, La Escala, Torroella de Montgrí, Estartit, Pals, Bagur, Palafrugell, Montrá, Palamós, Calonge, Castillo-Playa de Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Santa Cristina de Aro, Tosa de Mar, Lloret de Mar and Blanes.
Museums
In the area of influence of the Costa Brava There are numerous museums that confirm that this territory offers a unique experience, since it shows part of the identity of the area, transmitting the essence of its inhabitants.
The museums in the area can be divided as follows:
- Art
- Archeology
- interpretation centers
- Science and technology museums
- history ethnologists
- Art Galeries
- Exposition halls
Among the main museums are:
- The D'Or Museum – The Fortalessa of Sant Julià de Ramis
- The Dali museum
- The Carmen Thyssen Space
- The Municipal Museum of Tossa de Mar
- The Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants
- The Archeology Museum of Catalonia – Empúries
- Sa Perola Interpretation Center
- Ecomuseum-Flour Mill of Castelló d'Empúries
- Quart Pottery Museum
- Great Museum of Magic The Magic House – Xevi Collection
Gastronomy of the Costa Brava
Costa Brava It is one of the main gastronomic destinations worldwide, since this area has influences from Aragonese and Navarrese cuisine, together with the French influence.
This region has always been a reference for good cuisine as a result of the excellent raw material of the place such as its agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, the production of olives, livestock, fishing, etc.
Combining tourism and gastronomy can be easily found at Costa Brava thanks to the combination of the sea and the mountains, which provides unique and unforgettable flavors with the fusion of the personality and culinary techniques of the region.