Travel Eye on Blanes (Costa Brava, Spain)

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Overview :

The most southerly resort on the Costa Brava, Blanes not only attracts international tourists but is also frequented by large numbers of Spanish holidaymakers. Like most coastal towns Blanes has grown from a picturesque fishing village to tourist boomtown. The resort has a two-mile (3km) long stretch of coastline offering sandy bays and rocky coves, the main beachfront lined with high-rise hotels and apartment blocks. Behind the seafront the town still retains some reminders of its past, like the medieval castle of St Joan, several churches and other ancient buildings. Pride of the town are two renowned botanical gardens, which boast thousands of plant species. Along with all the trappings of modern tourism, Blanes also prides itself in giving visitors a taste of the real Spain, offering traditional street markets, several fiestas and folk dancing fairs.

Locality:

Situated in NE Spain, on the Mediterranean coast, Blanes is the most southerly resort on the Costa Brava located in the Spanish region of Catalonia. The resort is popular with Spanish holidaymakers and also attracts international tourists due to its location just 60 kilometres north of Barcelona airport.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Blanes is popular with middlemarket holidaymakers of all ages, though the resort is attracting an increasing number of more mature guests in the mid-seasons. Also popular with Spanish holidaymakers. Local excursions from Blanes are pretty much the same as Lloret de Mar, with the local town council promoting visits to the smaller towns of the rural interior. Blanes does benefit from the frequent train service through the resort areas to Barcelona.

Popular attractions in Blanes include:

Vall de Nuria Rack Rail :

About two hours from the coast are the southern slopes of the western Pyrenees, where in winter skiers skim the sides of the valleys, and in summer time nature-lovers enjoy the tranquillity of the Alpine environment. A popular excursion for holidaymakers on the Costa Brava is to take Spain's only cog railway into the scenic Vall de Nuria north of Girona, surrounded by mountain peaks and passes that form a massive amphitheatre. The rack railway connects with regional trains, departing from the Ribes-Enllac station and travelling to the village of Queralbs.

Banyoles :

The historic lakeside town of Banyoles just north of Girona is well known for hosting international rowing events, but it is also a fun, attractive and interesting place to visit and perhaps work off some energy in a pedal-boat or on a bicycle. The bright blue lake itself is the only one in the world fed by two merging subterranean rivers, the clean water flowing in at 600 litres a second. There are numerous options available to those wanting to take to the water, from a swimming dock to cruises or hire boats, and a grassy bank for sunbathers or a network of shady footpaths for those who prefer the shore. The town of Banyoles dates from 812, having grown up around a Benedictine monastery, and its old section is full of fascinating ancient buildings. The natural history and archaeological museums are worth visiting, and all is centred on a lovely arcaded square where a traditional market has been held every Wednesday since medieval times.

Girona :

The city of Girona, on the route from the Pyrenees to Barcelona, is one of the most important historical sites in Spain, founded by the Romans and later a Moorish stronghold. Sitting astride the confluence of the Onyar and Ter rivers, this quaint medieval city attracts hordes of tourists from the Costa Brava resorts and Barcelona, all lured by the experience of walking through the old quarter, the Call, with its narrow alleyways and ancient stone houses. Inside the ancient walls are such gems as the 12th-century Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants and the14th-century cathedral built in the Catalonian Baroque style. The cathedral is accessed by climbing up 90 steps. It includes a museum containing art works and rare manuscripts. Also of particular interest are the restored 12th-century Arab baths with their central octagonal pool, and the fascinating Jewish quarter where, between the 9th and 15th centuries the culture and religion flourished on the narrow steep streets. The arcaded promenade, the Rambla de la Llibertat, is lined with delightful cafes and shops selling souvenirs, crafts, antiques and curiosities. In addition the city is well supplied with museums and galleries.

Salvador Dali Museum House :

The busy fishing village of Cadaques draws plenty of visitors, but they do not come for the local beach, which is narrow and stony. Rather the resort town's attractions are its picturesque natural harbour, some excellent restaurants, numerous galleries, fashion and art and craft shops, and the former home-turned-museum of world renowned surrealist painter, Salvador Dali, sited in Portlligat Bay just to the north of the town. Dali's somewhat bizarre home consists of a labyrinthine cluster of fishermen's huts, added to the original building in various stages by the artist over a period of 40 years. Visitors are conducted through the house and garden in small groups, having pre-booked.