About location

Located on the north eastern coast of Catalonua, Spain, the Costa Brava region stretches from the French border to Blanes (a resort town 60 kilometres north east of the city of Barcelona). The name Costa Brava is derived from the Catalan word ‘Costa’ which means coast and ‘Brava’ that stands for wild or rugged. The region has gained international repute for its popular tourist resorts. Costa Brava’s seaside towns signed a charter in 1998 to ensure that the phenomenal tourism growth goes hand in hand with the sustainable management of the environment.

Climate

Costa Brava’s position at the north east end of Spain makes it wetter and cooler than all other sea adjacent areas of Spain. Broadly speaking, the climate of Costa Brava is Mediterranean with hot summers and milder winters. However, the region’s climate is a confluence of weather systems originating from the Mediterranean, Africa, Europe, the Atlantic and the Pyrenees and this makes it difficult to predict at times. It is not unusual to experience substantially different weather on two consecutive years. There are also several distinct microclimates depending on where one is in the region.

The summer kicks off in June with average highs at about 25C peaking at 28C between July and August. The sirocco wind that originates from the Sahara can occasionally push up day temperatures past 35C. During the peak of summer, nights may be uncomfortably warm for some tourists with average lows sometimes at 21C. In, autumn temperatures start to fall and rainfall increases. Thunderstorms may occur especially over the month of October. By the winter, average lows are at 7C and highs at 13C. Spring sees increased in rainfall though not as much as the autumn and by May, day highs are at 21C as the summer season begins.

History

Costa Brava is filled with many signs that demonstrate the presence of Romans in the area at some point in its past. Archaeological findings have also shown the presence of Arabs, Visigoths, Greeks and Iberians at different times in the area’s history. By the 1950s, local entrepreneurs and the Spanish government had identified Costa Brava as an area suitable for development and promotion as a tourist destination. The target market was tourists from France, the United Kingdom and other countries in Northern Europe. It was shortly after that apartments and hotels started to come up leading to the formation of the Llorel de Mar, Tossa de Mar and Blanes seaside resort towns.

Attractions

Costa Brava’s key allure for holiday makers has been its coastline which is evidenced by the thriving coastal resorts. However, several parts of the interior have retained the traditional feel of the area and are a suitable holiday alternative for persons that want something different from the seaside attractions. Cadaques, a town at the base of the Pyrenees not far from the French border, has played host to such famous artists as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and Salvador Dali thanks to its calm and serene demeanour.

Along the shores of Banyoles Lake is the Santa Maria de Porqueres, a Romanesque church whose history dates back to the 12^th century. It is one of the most visited sites in Catalonia. Then there is Fageda Beech Forest, whose natural beauty is nothing less than enchanting. Other places to see include Parc Art (the open air art gallery), the 6^th century Greco-Roman Empuries park, the 18^th century Sant Ferran Castle (Europe’s largest fortress), the 10^th century Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, Girona’s old town and Breda’s Sant Salvador Monastery.

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