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martes, 30 de agosto de 2011

CATALONIA - COSTA BRAVA: TAMARIU BEACH

We spent our last day in La Costa Brava in Tamariu, a lovely fishing village which has become a fantastic place to enjoy the beautiful beaches of this area of Catalonia. We didn't have enough time in march to visit Tamariu, so I was really eager to walk on its beach. And we were lucky because it was a really lovely day! 

I liked a lot Tamariu. It's as beautiful as Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell and Begur, the villages I visited during the days I spent in La Costa Brava in march.


Tamariu beach in La Costa Brava
The turquoise and clear water of the beach of Tamariu


Tamariu beach in La Costa Brava
The beach of Tamariu is a perfect place to enjoy the beauty of La Costa Brava and its beaches

Tamariu beach
In Tamariu you will also see the typical boats and white houses of the fishing villages of La Costa Brava

Anchor near Tamariu beach
This anchor tells us that Tamariu was a fishing village before becoming a fantastic place to spend some peaceful days in La Costa Brava


Tamariu beach
In La Costa Brava mountains reach the sea, which gives a wild look to this beautiful environment


Tamariu beach
This little cove was a quiet place to sunbathe


Tamariu beach
Nice overview of the beach of Tamariu


Ronda Way in Tamariu
Here the Ronda Way from Tamariu to Cala Pedrosa and Llafranc begins


Tamariu beach
On the left, teenagers jump into water from a trampoline while, on the right, people is coming back from a walk along the Ronda Way


As you can see, we spent a lovely day in Tamariu. It was a great way to say goodbye to these nice days in La Costa Brava.

If you like beaches, below you have links of some of the most beautiful beaches in Catalonia:


Costa Brava beaches




Other fantastic beaches I have visited in Spain and Portugal are:



Besides, in La Costa Brava you can visit the fantastic city of Girona, many lovely villages and interesting places, like:




Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places and villages in Catalonia.

lunes, 29 de agosto de 2011

CATALONIA - COSTA BRAVA: SANT PERE DE RODES

After visiting the medieval village of Besalú the previous day, in the end I would visit the romanesque monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, one of the most important monasteries in Catalunya

Located in the municipality of El Port de la Selva, in La Costa Brava, the Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes rises majestically in the middle of the mountain, overlooking the peninsula of El Cap de Creus.



Built in the tenth century, is the best example of Romanesque art in the province of GironaAlmost since its foundation in the tenth century, the monastery was increasing its power on either side of the Pyrenees.


What astonished me the most of this visit was the fantastic romanesque church and the fantastic views of El Cap de Creus and the Mediterranean sea from the monastery.

If you have more time after visiting this fantastic monastery, there are other interesting nearby places to know like:


Next, some pictures I took the day I visited Sant Pere de Rodes.




Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery in Costa Brava
Two of the most remarkable parts of Sant Pere de Rodes are the defense tower and the romanesque bell tower

Church of Sant Pere de Rodes in Costa Brava
The church of Sant Pere de Rodes, the most important element of this romanesque monastery. It's also a masterpiece in the catalan romanesque style. The nave of the basilica is richly decorated and really large

Church of Sant Pere de Rodes in Costa Brava
Romanesque archs and Corinthian columns inside the church of Sant Pere de Rodes

Church of Sant Pere de Rodes in Costa Brava
  The capitals are designed according to the Corinthian tradition and are considered among the best pieces of sculpture in s.XI


Sant Pere de Rodes in Catalonia Costa Brava
Another view of the romanesque bell tower of Sant Pere de Rodes

Cloister of Sant Pere de Rodes in Costa Brava
Capitals I saw in the cloister of Sant Pere de Rodes

Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery in Costa Brava
 The romanesque bell tower and the defense tower of Sant Pere de Rodes abbey

Bell tower of Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery in Costa Brava
Interesting view inside the romanesque bell tower of Sant Pere de Rodes monastery

Costa Brava from Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery
Fantastic view of el Cap de Creus, the Mediterranean sea and El Port de la Selva on the right. The views from Sant Pere de Rodes are stunning

Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery in Costa Brava
Before leaving, one last look to Sant Pere de Rodes, a romanesque abbey I liked a lot



Next I would like to give you some useful information in case you want to visit this fantastic monastery:

- Adress Camí del Monestir, 17489 El Port de la Selva (Alt Empordà)
- Phone:  972 38 75 59
- Opening time: From tuesday to sunday

  •  From october to May, from 10am to 5pm.
  •  From june to september, from 10am to 7:30pm.

- January 1st and 6th, December 25th and 26th closed.
- Free admission on tuesdays and on may 20.



If you liked Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, maybe you would be interested in visiting other interesting monasteries in Catalunya, like: 




Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Catalonia, among them, more nice places in La Costa Brava.

domingo, 28 de agosto de 2011

CATALONIA MEDIEVAL VILLAGES: BESALU

Besalú is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval villages in Catalonia. Located between Girona and Olot (and not far from La Costa Brava) it was an important medieval crossroads of routes linking Olot, Figueres, Empúries and Girona.


These roads cross actually in the current Plaça de la Llibertat, the main square of the village. In addition to walk along its streets, these are the main places of Besalú I visited.

  • The Medieval Bridge, the symbol of Besalú
  • Call Jueu in Besalú - Miqvé and Synagogue
  • Monastery of Sant Pere
  • Hospital of Sant Julià
  • Cúria Reial
  • Plaça de la Llibertat
  • Medieval church of Sant Vicenç
  • Portal de la Força

By the way, El Call Jueu of Besalú is one of the best preserved in Catalunya, together with El Call Jueu de Girona and El Call Jueu of Barcelona.

Next you can see some pictures of Besalú I took during the day I spent in this lovely medieval village.

The Medieval Bridge

Besalú from the medieval bridge
From the medieval bridge you can enjoy a nice overview of Besalú


Medieval village of Besalú in Catalonia
 A memory of the medieval village of Besalú


Medieval bridge in Besalú
Medieval bridge in Besalú


Medieval bridge in Besalú 
A nice place to enjoy the view of the medieval bridge, the symbol of Besalú



Pont Vell street in Besalú
Pont Vell street leads you from the medieval bridge to La Plaça de la Llibertat


A beautiful courtyard in Besalú
 A beautiful courtyard in Besalú which I saw before arriving at Plaça de la Llibertat


Call Jueu (Jewish Quarter)


Street of the jewish quarter in Besalú
In Besalú you can also see the typical narrow street of the medieval jewish quarters

Besalú in Catalonia
On the left you can see the entrance to the synagogue of Besalú and the medieval brigde in the background. The jewish quarter of Besalu is one of the best preserved in Catalunya

Jewish quarter in Besalú
This entrance through the city wall was the only one of the jewish quarter in Besalú. So jews couldn't enter the village

Miqvé in Besalú 
The incredibly well-preserved miqvé in Besalú


Miqvé in Besalú
The Miqvé was located beside the Synagogue



Monastery of Sant Pere

Church of Sant Pere monastery in Besalú
Overview of the church of Sant Pere monastery in Besalú, the only preserved element of this monastery


Church of Sant Pere in Besalú 
Detail of a capital inside the church of Sant Pere in Besalú


Hospital of Sant Julià
 
Hospital of Sant Julià in Besalú
 Beside the church of Sant Pere we saw the hospital of Sant Julià, another well-preserved medieval building in Besalú


Cúria Reial

Curia Reial in Besalú
 Main facade of La Curia Reial in Besalú


Plaça de la Llibertat

Arches in La Plaça de la Llibertat in Besalú
Arches in La Plaça de la Llibertat



Medieval church of Sant Vicenç

Church of San Vicenç in Besalú
Main facade of the medieval church of San Vicenç in Besalú


Typical narrow street in Besalú
A typical narrow street in Besalú


Portal de la Força

Portal de la Força in Besalú
 Portal de la Força in Besalú

 
Medieval bridge of Besalú
Leaving Besalú via the medieval bridge


In addition to Besalú there are more nice medieval villages in Catalunya. Some of them are:


If you like medieval architecture, you should visit the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, the old city of Girona with its jewish quarter and the monasteries of Montserrat and Poblet. The Pyrennes offers also charming romanesque villages in la Vall de Boí.


Besides in La Costa Brava, near Besalú, you can visit many lovely villages and interesting places, like:


Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Catalonia, among them, more interesting medieval villages.
  

sábado, 27 de agosto de 2011

COSTA BRAVA: BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES AND BEACHES


After the three fantastic days I spent in La Costa Brava in March, I decided to come back to this wonderful area of Catalonia to keep visiting heavenly beaches and beautiful fishing and medieval villages like Tamariu or Besalú.

Of course, La Costa brava also offers cultural activities, like visiting Empúries or Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery.

Next, all the interesting villages, beaches and coves I visited:

DAY 1

  • L'Escala - Cala Montgó (Montgó Beach)
  • Empúries

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4


I also would like to show you some pictures of the beautiful places I visited during these august days I spent in La Costa Brava.


L'Escala - Cala Montgó (Montgó Beach)



Montgó beach in L' EscalaOverview of Montgó beach in L'Escala, another beautiful beach of La Costa Brava


Cala Montgó in L'EscalaThe water of Montgó beach is turquoise and clear, like most of the Costa Brava beaches

Empúries


Empúries in La Costa BravaBesides beautiful beaches, La Costa Brava offers interesting cultural activities, like the remains of the ancient city of Empúries


Empúries in La Costa BravaPeristil house, one of the best preserved buildings of the ancient greek city of Emporion

Medieval Village of Besalú


Medieval bridge in BesalúOne of the most beautiful villages you can visit near La Costa Brava is the medieval village of Besalú and its wonderful bridge


Miqvé of the medieval village of BesalúIf you visit Besalú, you have to enter the Miqvé, one of the best preserved jewish bath in Catalonia


Call Jueu (jewish quarter) in BesalúA typical narrow street of El Call Jueu (the jewish quarter) in Besalú

Lake of Banyoles


Banyoles Lake in CataloniaOverview of Banyoles Lake, another nice visit near La Costa Brava


Banyoles Lake in CataloniaA child stares at ducks over the clear water of Banyoles lake

Castelló d'Empúries - Catedral de l'Empordà


Catedral de l'Empordà in La Costa BravaSanta Maria de Castelló is also known as "La Catedral de l'Empordà" because of its size


Catedral de l' Empordà in La Costa BravaImpressive gothic door made of marble of Santa Maria de Castelló church

Llançà


Llançà in La Costa BravaOne of the nice beaches of Llançà, a village of La Costa Brava located next to El Cap de Creus. This beach is the starting point of the Ronda Way to El Port de la Selva


El Port de la Selva


El Port de la Selva in La Costa BravaTypical view of El Port de la Selva, a lovely fishing village of El Cap de Creus

The beach of El Port de la SelvaThe beach of El Port de la Selva appears in front of its typical white houses

Sant Pere de Rodes


Sant Pere de Rodes monastery in La Costa BravaOverview of Sant Pere de Rodes monastery, the most important religious building in La Costa Brava


Sant Pere de Rodes monastery in La Costa BravaRomanesque bell-tower of Sant Pere de Rodes medieval monastery


El Port de La Selva from Sant Pere de Rodes monasteryImpressive views of El Port de La Selva and La Costa Brava from Sant Pere de Rodes monastery

Medieval Village of Palau-Sator


Palau-Sator in La Costa BravaTypical street in Palau-Sator, a lovely medieval village in La Costa Brava


Palau-Sator is a lovely medieval village in La Costa BravaFlowers on a window sill in a street of the medieval village of Palau-Sator, another beautiful village in La Costa Brava


Tamariu Beach


Tamariu beach in La Costa Brava
Tamariu beach with typical white houses in the background


Tamariu beach in La Costa BravaA lovely cove next to Tamariu Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in La Costa Brava


Tamariu beach in La Costa BravaAnother view of the nice beach of Tamariu, another lovely village in La Costa Brava



If you liked this pictures, clicking on the next links you will find more pictures of another fantastic beaches in La Costa Brava, like:


- Costa Daurada beaches

Barcelona Beaches


Besides, in La Costa Brava you can visit the fantastic old city of Gironamany lovely villages and interesting places, like:


Finally, clicking on the next link you will find more beautiful villages, beaches and landscapes in Catalonia.