Page 223 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

C A T AL ONIA  221

The Costa Brava

The Costa Brava (“wild coast”) runs for some 200 km (125 miles) from Blanes northwards
to the region of Empordà (Ampurdán), which borders France. It is a mix of pine-backed
sandy coves, golden beaches and crowded, modern resorts. The busiest resorts – Lloret
de Mar, Tossa de Mar and La Platja d’Aro – are to the south. Sant Feliu de Guíxols and
Palamós are still working towns behind the summer rush. Just inland there are medieval
villages to explore, such as Peralada, Peratallada and Pals. Wine, olives and fishing were
the mainstays of the area before the tourists came in the 1960s.

Llançà
Port de la Selva Cap de
N260 Creus
Parc Natural del Roses lies at
Peralada Cap de Creus the head of a
Cadaqués sweeping bay. Its
sandy beach, the
Castelló C260 Roses long est on the Costa
Cadaqués retains an air of d'Empúries Brava, has become a
seclusion, as it is accessible only mecca for lovers of
by a steep road. It has an arty Fortià Empuriabrava water sports.
atmosphere and its small, stony Parc Natural
beaches remain unspoiled and dels Aiguamolls
less crowded than others. de l’Empordà L’Escala is a small
resort, popular mainly
with local tourists.
It has fine beaches
C31
L’Escala and a small port
Punta where fishing nets
del Milà dry in the sun.
L'Estartit
Begur is a hilltop
Illes Medes
Riu Ter town just inland.
Torroella
L’Estartit is a good base for the Illes de Montgrí It has good views of
the coast, and small
Medes, a former pirates’ lair, which C31 coves are tucked
now form a marine reserve with at its feet.
clear waters perfect for skin diving. Peratallada
Pals Begur
Palamós is a working port with modern hotels C66 Llafranc, a white-
to the south, and secluded beaches and coves washed resort, with a
lapped by clear water to the north. Palafrugell promenade leading to
Llafranc neighbouring Calella, is
C31 one of the coast’s most
La Platja d’Aro’s long and sandy Calella de pleasant resorts.
Palafrugell
beach is lined with modern hotel
blocks. It is one of the most popular Palamós
resorts on the coast.
C31
Tossa de Mar has a Llagostera Platja d’Aro
golden beach and a S’Agaró
small cove beneath C35
the fortified Sant Feliu
Old Town. de Guíxols
Tossa de Mar
C63
Tordera Lloret de Mar Lloret de Mar has more
hotels than anywhere else
Blanes 0 kilometres 10 on the coast. But there are
unspoiled beaches nearby,
Malgrat de Mar 0 miles 10 such as Santa Cristina.

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