domingo, 26 de enero de 2014

BARCELONA: MONTSENY


El Montseny is a mountainous mass with a characteristic form, dominating and visible from many parts of Catalonia, known everywhere for the beauty of scenery. It's located in the Catalan Pre-coastal Mountain Range, of which this massif is the highest part. It's made up of three different geographical units:

  • El Matagalls
  • Turó de l'Home - Les Agudes (which with 1706m and 1703m are the highest peaks in the park)
  • Pla de la Calma


The Pyrenees from Turo de l'Home in Montseny
The Pyrenees from the top of Turó de l'Home in Montseny



In 1978 UNESCO included Montseny Natural Park within the world-wide network of biosphere reserves, for its variety of countryside, fauna and flora.



Excursions

From the information centers in the Natural Park you can find out about routes and points of interest for the full enjoyment of time spent there. I specially recommend to use the network of sign-posted routes. They start from Fontmartina, Santa Fe, Sant Marçal, Collformic and the Collet of Sant Martí and go up to the most important peaks of the massif.

The most interesting excursions for me would be:

  • Collformic - Matagalls: 3400m, 1h30min
  • Font de Passavets - Turó de l'Home: 3850m, 1h40min
  • Turó de l'Home - Les Agudes: 1550m, 40min
  • Santa Fe - Les Agudes - Turó de l'Home: 11,5Km, 4h30min
  • Empedrat de Mourou: 5,8Km, 1h45min (circular route)
  • Bellver - Turó del Tagamanent: 1,2 km, 30min


The excursions we did this weekend were:

Day 1
  • Collformic-Matagalls

Day 2
  • Font de Passavets - Turó de l'Home


Montseny



Montseny and Montserrat from Turo de l'Home
Montseny and Montserrat in the background from Turó de l'Home


Collfornic - Matagalls


Route from Collfornic to Matagalls in Montseny
Beginning of the route from Collfornic to Matagalls in Montseny


Montseny near Matagalls
Montseny from a point midway between Collfornic and Matagalls


The Pyrenees from Montseny near Matagalls
The Pyrenees from the route between Collfornic and Matagalls in Montseny


Montseny in Barcelona
Nice view of Montseny in Barcelona


Creu del Matagalls
Creu del Matagalls (Cross on the top of Matagalls)


Matagalls in Montseny
When we got to the top of Matagalls, there were many people enjoying the spectacular views of the Montseny


Matagalls in Montseny
View from the summit of Matagalls in Montseny


The Pyrenees from Matagalls in Montseny
The Pyrenees from the summit of Matagalls in Montseny


Creu del Matagalls in Montseny
Creu del Matagalls in Montseny




Font de Passavets - Turó de L'Home



Font de Passavets in Montseny
Beginning of the route from Font de Passavets to Turó de l'Home


Route from Font de Passavets to Turo de l'Home
L'Avetosa in the route from Font de Passavets to Turó de l'Home


Turo de l'Home in Montseny
Near the summit of Turó de l'Home in Montseny


Summit of Turo de l'Home in Montseny
Summit of Turó de l'Home, the highest mountain in Montseny


Turo de l'Home in Montseny
This path leads to the summit of Turó de l'Home in Montseny


Views from Turó de l'Home



Pic de les Agudes in Montseny
Pic de les Agudes from Turó de l'Home in Montseny



The Pyrenees from Turo de l'Home in Montseny
The Pyrenees from Turó de l'Home in Natural Park of Montseny


The Pyrenees from Turo de l'Home in Montseny
The Pyrenees and the Collsacabra (also appears the village of Tavertet) from Turó de l'Home in Montseny


Montseny from Turo de l'Home
The Montseny from Turó de l'Home, its highest mountain


Turo de l'Home in Montseny
Going down from the summit of Turó de l'Home in Montseny




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

BARCELONA - MONTJUIC: REFUGI 307

Refugi 307 is one of the bomb shelters which were built during the Civil War to protect the population from the indiscriminate bombing to which Barcelona was subjected. The first shelters were set up in the basements of houses and in metro stations. However, as the bombings intensified, people joined together to build air-raid shelters.

More than a thousand were built during the war, and among them was Refugi 307, (shelter number 307). This refuge consists of 400 metres of tunnel measuring 1.6 meters wide and 2 meters high. During the visit, you can discover what the living conditions were like within its walls and see the different rooms, including the toilets, a drinking fountain and an infirmary.



Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Refugi 307 in Barcelona


Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Refugi 307 in Barcelona was built under the mountain of Montjuïc



Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Open air Exhibition inside the Refugi 307 in Barcelona


Barcelona during the Civil War
Bombardment of Barcelona during the Civil War



Occupation of Barcelona during the Spanish Civil war
Occupation of Barcelona during the Spanish Civil war in 1939



Plan for Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Plan for Refugi 307 in Barcelona


Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Latrines inside Refugi 307 in Barcelona



Tunnels of Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Tunnels of Refugi 307 in Barcelona



Tunnels of Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Refugi 307 consists of 400 meters of tunnels 


Tunnels of Refugi 307 in Barcelona
Throughout the length of the shelter, you can get a glimpse of living conditions in its tunnels



- Useful information:

  • Address: Nou de la Rambla, 169
  • How to get there:
    • Metro: L2 and L3 stop Paral.lel.
    • Bus: 20, 21, 36, 57, 64 and 157
  • Web site: www.museuhistoria.bcn.cat




viernes, 17 de enero de 2014

COSTA BRAVA: CAMI DE RONDA IN BEGUR

The coastal paths called Camins de Ronda are one of Begur’s (and Costa Brava) principal and best-known attractions. Historically-speaking, they are old paths criss-crossing the coast, used mainly by customs officers to keep an eye on tobacco smugglers, and by fishermen and sailors to go fishing or in cases of shipwreck.


Sa Riera beach in Begur
Sa Riera beach in Begur from Camí de Ronda


Nowadays Camins de Ronda are used not only as a path between the various coves, but also as a place to take walks while enjoying the incomparably beautiful landscape of Costa Brava.

Because of its coastline, abrupt and folded between cliffs, Camins de Ronda of Begur are not continuous for their 20 km length, instead they are divided into four separate sections.

From north to south, these are the sections of Camins de Ronda in Begur:

  • From Sa Riera beach to Platja del Racó beach via the Illa Roja cove.
  • From Sa Riera and covers 500 metres of coast offering a spectacular panoramic view of the cliffs and the abrupt coastline.
  • From the beaches of Sa Tuna to Aiguafreda 
  • From Platja Fonda beach to Fornells’ small coves and Aiguablava beach. 

From Sa Tuna to Aiguafreda



Sa Tuna beach in Costa Brava
Beginning of Camí de Ronda in Sa Tuna beach


Costa Brava from Cami de Ronda in Begur
Turquoise and clear water of Costa Brava from Camí de Ronda in Begur


Aiguafreda beach in Begur
Aiguafreda in Begur is a typical beach of Costa Brava



From Sa Riera to Platja del Racó


This is the section is the one I liked the most.


Sa Riera beach in Costa Brava
Sa Riera beach in Begur from Camí de Ronda



Sa Riera beach in Costa Brava
Clear water of Sa Riera beach in Costa Brava


Sa Riera beach in Begur
Lovely cove next to Sa Riera beach in Begur


Cami de Ronda in Begur
Taking pictures of Costa Brava from Camí de Ronda


Cami de Ronda in Begur
Camí de Ronda near Sa Riera beach in Begur


Illa Roja beach in Begur
Illa Roja beach in Begur from Camí de Ronda


Cami de Ronda in Begur
Camí de Ronda from Sa Riera beach to the beach of Platja del Racó


Illes Medes from Cami de Ronda
Illes Medes from Camí de Ronda in Begur


Platja del Raco in Begur
Platja del Racó in Begur and, behind, Platja de Pals, belonging to the town of Pals


From Platja Fonda to Aiguablava beach



Aiguablava beach in Begur
Aiguablava beach in Begur from Camí de Ronda






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


Moreover if you like beaches, below you have other beautiful beaches in Catalonia, Spain and Portugal:

- Costa Daurada beaches

Barcelona Beaches


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

lunes, 13 de enero de 2014

COSTA BRAVA: CAMI DE RONDA IN CALELLA DE PALAFRUGELL

The footpaths called Camins de Ronda (Ronda Way) will allow you to discover in detail the most lovely corners of the Costa Brava in Catalonia.

Historically-speaking, they are old paths criss-crossing the coast, used mainly by customs officers to keep an eye on tobacco smugglers, and by fishermen and sailors to go fishing or in cases of shipwreck.


Beach of Llafranc in Costa Brava
Beach of Llafranc in Costa Brava from Camí de Ronda


Nowadays Camins de Ronda are a set of public seaside footpaths (belonging to the GR-92) often connecting beautiful beaches and villages of Costa Brava and offering beautiful views of its beaches and coves.

There are several sections of Camí de Ronda near Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell:

  • From Garbí stairs in Llafranc to Golfet beach in Calella de Palafrugell (about 1h 30min.)
  • From Pedrosa cove in Tamariu along the coast (1 hour approx.), continue inland to Saint Sebastian (45 min. more approx.) and, finally, you can keep walking to Llafranc (20 min. approx.)

Next I would like to show you some pictures of the first section, the one I enjoyed.

Llafranc



Beach of Llafranc
Llafranc from Camí de Ronda in Costa Brava


Cami de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell
Camí de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell in Costa Brava


Cami de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell
Stairs in Camí de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell



Cami de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell
Camí de Ronda between Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell is really well preserved


Cami de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell
The environment around this Camí de Ronda is really nice


Cami de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell
A lovely place I liked a lot beside Camí de Ronda between Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell


Cami de Ronda from Llafranc to Calella de Palafrugell
Reaching Calella de Palafrugell from Llafranc


Calella de Palafrugell



Calella de Palafrugell in Costa Brava
Calella de Palafrugell from Camí de Ronda in Costa Brava



Calella de Palafrugell in Costa Brava
Calella de Palafrugell in Costa Brava


Calella de Palafrugell in Costa Brava
Beach of Calella de Palafrugell and, behind, the begininng of Camí de Ronda to Llafranc


More beautiful Camins de Ronda in Costa Brava are:


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


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


Moreover if you like beaches, below you have other beautiful beaches in Catalonia, Spain and Portugal:

- Costa Daurada beaches

Barcelona Beaches


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