Luxury Costa Brava holidays

This ‘Wild’ coast runs northeast from Blanes, 60km north of Barcelona, all the way to the French border and was originally targeted in the 1950’s as a French tourist destination; the good summer climate, excellent beaches and favourable exchange rates leading to tourism rapidly taking over from fishing as the principal industry.

Costa Brava is an intriguing mix of handsome, natural, scenic attractions; high cliffs, wooded coves, isolated beaches, low-key fishing villages, plus, of course, some rather well-developed holiday resorts, although the reality is far more encouraging than might be imagined; Tossa de Mar with its medieval wall and turrets is still very attractive, La Bisbal, famed for its ceramics, is a medieval market town in an appealing river setting, and the ancient, much-loved, walled city of Girona stands aloof on a fortified hill as a counterpoint to the wilder excesses of the larger resorts further south.

The area immediately surrounding Girona includes the Montseny Massif and the extraordinary volcanic region of Garrotxa.

Discover Dali

Salvador Dalí’s approach to life is reflected in three dedicated museums in Catalonia; Salvador Dalí House Museum in Port Lligat, the Dalí House Museum in Pubol and, if you only have time to visit one, do choose the must-see, flamboyant, Dalí Theatre & Museum in Figueres; the most popular visitor attraction of the region.

Girona

A charismatic confection of museums, Gothic churches and galleries and cobbled alleyways, Girona’s eminently walkable centre offers a fantastic dining scene and the most diverse nightlife outside Barcelona. Tossa de Mar, with its medieval walls, towers and turrets standing guard over the boat dappled bay, has luckily managed to retain much of the magic discovered by painter Marc Chagall back in the 1930’s.

Catalonia Coast

There are some of the finest blue flagbeaches in Europe, including broad, sandy stretches and elegant horseshoe bays; perfect for walking, cycling, swimming, diving, snorkelling, diving and sailing.