The most charming corners of the Costa Brava
Medieval towns, picture-postcard beaches and charming corners to fall in love with the Costa Brava... even more! My recommendation: if you can, visit these places outside of high season. May, June and September are ideal months to discover the Costa Brava: without crowds and with ideal weather.
We start with the charming corners near the sea. Ordered from north to south, this is a route that you can do in a single day, since there are barely 35km between the two extremes. Come by car and stop at each place to enjoy the magic and charm of each corner.
Sa Tuna
In Cap de Begur there are some of the most beautiful beaches on the Costa Brava. And Sa Tuna is without a doubt one of them. A small and cozy cove, surrounded by pine trees and nature and surrounded by the warmth of the people who reside in the center of Sa Tuna.
It is a select place that invites you to stay for a while. Among its white, immaculate houses full of flowers, a small charming hotel stands out (the only hotel on the beach): Hostal Sa Tuna, an old fishermen's house located on the seafront.
Aigua Xelida, Tamariu
We continue in Cap de Begur; this time near Tamariu, another of the most beautiful towns in the heart of the Costa Brava. The Aigua Xelida cove won the “Favorite Landscape of Catalonia” award in 2009. Can you imagine why? I'll tell you: the place exudes charm everywhere! This small (or rather, narrow) cove has an enchanting turquoise color and is surrounded by vegetation. It is the quintessence of the Costa Brava!
The nearest town is 2 km away and to get to the cove you have to walk. Approach the Aigua Xelida urbanization by car and continue until you reach Illa Blanca street. You will have to park your car in this area. Then, going down Illa Blanca street you will find some stairs that will take you to the cove.
In the town of Tamariu you will find the small charming hotel Es Furió, located in front of Tamariu beach, which is well worth a dip and a walk on the sand.
Aiguablava
We continue in the heart of the Costa Brava, very close to Begur. Aiguablava has earned a well-deserved reputation for its natural environment and the blue color that gives its name to the beach. Although you can get to Aiguablava by car, it is best to take a part of the coastal path that connects the beach with the Aigua Blava hotel. A mere fifteen minutes walk that will allow you to see coastal landscapes and small charming corners.
Calella
The town of Calella de Palafrugell is one of the most beautiful and emblematic of the Costa Brava. A Mediterranean treasure that has inspired writers like Josep Pla and singer-songwriters like Joan Manel Serrat (in Calella Serrat he composed the song “Mediterráneo”).
Although a walk through Calella is always more than recommended, if you can choose a time to visit Calella, choose the first Saturday in July, when its popular Cantada de Habaneras is celebrated, a show worth seeing live. In 2016, they celebrate their 50th edition!
Calella is picturesque and full of charm. Its arches on the seashore and its white fishermen's houses are famous. In the center of Calella you will find three fantastic hotels: the Hotel Alga, located on the main avenue of Calella and a few meters from the beach; the Hotel Sant Roc, on the seafront, with excellent views of the beaches of Calella; and the Hotel Garbí, ideal for going with children.
S'Alguer
S'Alguer is a beautiful fishing village that will surely steal your heart. It looks like an image from a postcard or a fairy tale; only that it is very real and that you can walk through its alley, sit in the cove or take a dip.
You can get to S'Alguer directly by car or on foot along the coastal path that leaves from La Fosca on one side or from Playa Castell on the other.
This corner of the Costa Brava was declared an “Asset of Cultural Interest” in 2004 to prevent anything from changing and ensure that this haven of peace and tranquility remains authentic forever. S'Alguer is a unique place full of charm that you cannot miss if you visit the Palamós area.
In S'Alguer there are no hotels so you will have to stay near Palamós, Platja D'Aro or Sant Antoni de Calonge. The Silken Park San Jorge hotel is a 15-minute drive from La Fosca and is ideally located between Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge. It is a very modern hotel and has a great pool with sea views.
La Fosca
La Fosca beach is located in Palamós and is one of the best beaches on the Costa Brava. Extensive, quiet, cozy, familiar, easily accessible and, also, a perfect place to walk by the sea. From La Fosca you can walk towards S'Alguer, which I told you about before.
Two blocks from La Fosca beach you have the Ancora hotel, a very comfortable and familiar hotel, ideal for a getaway to Palamós.
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In addition to the charming places located by the sea, there are other charming places on the inland Costa Brava.
The Empordà is full of medieval towns and beautiful landscapes. Perfect places to take a walk, eat in a good restaurant or take advantage of a day when a cloud has covered the sun.
Below, I present the three most charming corners of Empordà. There are barely 20km between the first and the last and you can visit them in a couple of hours.
Palau-Sator
Palau-Sator is the hidden gem of the Empordà. Few people know it and it is a medieval town just as or more beautiful than its neighbors Monells or Peratallada. After passing under the imposing Tower of the Hours, you will enter Palau-Sator and discover that it retains all its medieval charm with the walls and the castle. Walk through its streets and tour the town to the castle square. Precious!
Near Palau-Sator is Pals, the most popular medieval town in the area; and there you will find the charming Mas Salvi hotel: a luxury for all the senses. Its eight double suites have private terraces and direct access to the garden and the incredible natural environment that surrounds them.
Peratallada
Peratallada is one of those towns where you would never get tired of taking photos. A small medieval town full of charm and life. Cobblestone streets without traffic (you have to leave your car parked outside, in a designated parking lot) and balconies and facades full of flowers. The cute terraces and shops put the cherry on top of a charming town on the inland Costa Brava.
Within the walled enclosure of Peratallada, you will find the small charming hotel El Cau Del Papibou. Built in an 18th century manor house, this hotel is also an exquisite restaurant.
Monells
Monells is another of the charming medieval towns on the Costa Brava. A must-see that will allow you to get to know a little more about Baix Empordà. The town was built around a castle of which today only the walls remain, but walking through its streets full of history will make you remember the Middle Ages of knights and princesses. Don't miss its beautiful arcaded plaza.
Very close to Monells you have another charming town: Madremanya. And there is a beautiful hotel like La Plaça Madremanya. An old renovated farmhouse that still preserves the stones and tiles, the barrel vaults and the original Bohemia.
Fotos:
Armando Gonzalez Alameda (Sa Tuna), Asier Sarasua Aranberri (AiguaBlava), Jordiipa (Aigua Xelida), Jorge Franganillo (Calella), Jordi Carceller Comas (S’Alguer), Jorge Franganillo (La Fosca), Miquel Colomer Planagumà (Palau-Sator), Jose Manuel Mota (Peratallada), Jennifer Woodard Madera (Monells).
