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.

The turquoise and clear water of the beach of Tamariu

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

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

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

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

This little cove was a quiet place to sunbathe

Nice overview of the beach of Tamariu

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

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

• Blanes
• Sant Feliu de Guíxols
• Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge
• Sa Tuna, Sa Riera and Aiguablava beaches in Begur
• Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell beaches
• Tossa de Mar
• L'Escala, L'Estartit and Les Illes Medes
• Cadaqués, Roses and Empuriabrava

From Camins de Ronda in Costa Brava you can enjoy fantastic views of Costa Brava and its beaches:

• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Tossa de Mar
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in S'Agaró
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Palamós
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Begur
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Calella de Palafrugell

- Barcelona Beaches

• Barceloneta beach
• Castelldefels beach
• Sitges beach

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

• Mallorca
• Cádiz and Costa de la Luz
• Beaches in  Galicia
• Basque Country - Guipúzcoa and San Sebastián
• Cantabria and Santander
• Alicante

• Beaches in Algarve

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

• Calonge
• Pals and Peratallada
• Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery
• Empúries
• Dalí Theatre-Museum
• Catedral de l'Empordà in Castelló d'Empúries

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

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 Girona. Almost 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:

• Girona (old city and jewish quarter)
• Pals and Peratallada
• Calonge
• Empúries
• La Catedral de l'Empordà in Castello d'Empúries
• El Port de la Selva
• Cadaquès, Roses and Empuriabrava
• Parc Natural del Cap de Creus
• Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
• The Dalí Theatre-Museum
• Medieval Village of Besalú
• Banyoles

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

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

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

Romanesque archs and Corinthian columns inside the church of Sant Pere de Rodes

  The capitals are designed according to the Corinthian tradition and are considered among the best pieces of sculpture in s.XI

Another view of the romanesque bell tower of Sant Pere de Rodes

Capitals I saw in the cloister of Sant Pere de Rodes

 The romanesque bell tower and the defense tower of Sant Pere de Rodes abbey

Interesting view inside the romanesque bell tower of 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

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: 

• Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
• Montserrat Abbey
• Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery
• Santa Maria de Ripoll Monastery
• Poblet Monastery
• Santes Creus Monastery
• Sant Miquel del Fai
• Sant Cugat Monastery

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.

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

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

 A memory of the medieval village of Besalú

Medieval bridge in Besalú

 

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

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

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

Call Jueu (Jewish Quarter)

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

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

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

 

The incredibly well-preserved miqvé in Besalú

The Miqvé was located beside the Synagogue

Monastery of Sant Pere

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

 

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

Hospital of Sant Julià

 

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

Cúria Reial

 Main facade of La Curia Reial in Besalú

Plaça de la Llibertat

Arches in La Plaça de la Llibertat

Medieval church of Sant Vicenç

Main facade of the medieval church of San Vicenç in Besalú

A typical narrow street in Besalú

Portal de la Força

 Portal de la Força in Besalú

 

Leaving Besalú via the medieval bridge

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

• Rupit
• Beget
• Santa Pau
• Pals and Peratallada
• Siurana
• Montblanc

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:

• Calonge
• Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery
• Empúries
• Dalí Theatre-Museum
• Catedral de l'Empordà in Castelló d'Empúries

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

  

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

• Medieval village of Besalú
• Banyoles
• Catedral de l'Empordà in Castelló d'Empúries

DAY 3

• Llançà
• El Port de la Selva
• Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes

DAY 4

• Medieval village of Palau-Sator
• Tamariu beach

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)

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

The water of Montgó beach is turquoise and clear, like most of the Costa Brava beaches

Empúries

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

Peristil house, one of the best preserved buildings of the ancient greek city of Emporion

Medieval Village of Besalú

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

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

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

Lake of Banyoles

Overview of Banyoles Lake, another nice visit near La Costa Brava

A child stares at ducks over the clear water of Banyoles lake

Castelló d'Empúries - Catedral de l'Empordà

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

Impressive gothic door made of marble of Santa Maria de Castelló church

Llançà

One 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

Typical view of El Port de la Selva, a lovely fishing village of El Cap de Creus

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

Sant Pere de Rodes

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

Romanesque bell-tower of Sant Pere de Rodes medieval monastery

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

Medieval Village of Palau-Sator

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

Flowers 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 with typical white houses in the background

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

Another 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:

• Blanes
• Sant Feliu de Guíxols
• Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge
• Sa Tuna, Sa Riera and Aiguablava beaches in Begur
• Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell beaches
• Tossa de Mar
• Cadaqués, Roses and Empuriabrava
• L'Escala, L'Estartit and Les Illes Medes

From Camins de Ronda in Costa Brava you can enjoy fantastic views of Costa Brava and its beaches:

• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Tossa de Mar
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in S'Agaró
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Palamós
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Begur
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Calella de Palafrugell

If you like beaches, below you have other beautiful beaches in Catalonia:

- Costa Daurada beaches

• Barra del Trabucador beach in Delta de l'Ebre
• L'Ametlla de Mar
• Salou beach
• Miami Playa
• Beach beside the Castle of Tamarit
• Beach of Roc de Sant Gaietà

- Barcelona Beaches

• Barceloneta beach
• Castelldefels beach
• Sitges beach
• Sant Pol de Mar

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

• Calonge
• Pals and Peratallada
• Dalí Theatre-Museum
• Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes in El Port de la Selva
• Empúries
• Catedral de l'Empordà (church of Santa Maria) in Castelló d'Empúries
• Medieval village of  Besalú

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

• Mallorca
• Cádiz and Costa de la Luz
• Beaches in  Galicia
• Basque Country - Guipúzcoa and San Sebastián
• Cantabria and Santander
• Alicante

• Beaches in Algarve

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