Costa Brava - the Rugged Coast - is one of Spain's premier tourist areas and lies along the Spanish Mediterranean shore from the city of Blanes, 60km northeast of Barcelona, to the Spanish-French border. The jewel of Catalonia, festive Costa Brava is best known for its sparkling beaches and Riviera-like atmosphere.

Reviewing the Rugged Coast

The ancient city of Girona is both the capital of Costa Brava and Spain's most popular city. Any visit to this beautiful area must include a day or two in Girona so that tourists can soak up the sights and sounds of the picturesque Jewish Quarter and the venerable Old City. Time should also be set aside to walk along the town walls and to visit the Spanish-Gothic Girona Cathedral as well as the Romanesque Church of Sant Pere de Galligants.

A tour of Costa Brava would also not be complete without stopping by Salvador Dali's hometown, Cadaques. While in Cadaques, tourists should make sure to visit the Dali Museum, which is situated in the actual house where the famous painter once lived, and to pay their respects to the Dali statue that graces the town's inviting beachfront.

Must-See Sights in Costa Brava

Although Costa Brava is an astoundingly beautiful region and deserves to be fully explored, there are some areas that are particularly inviting. Calella de Palafrugell, for instance, is the quintessential Catalonian fishing village and welcomes visitors by offering them uninterrupted access to its stunningly spacious beach.

Lloret de Mar is possibly Costa Brava's premier resort, and not only does it offer at least twelve gorgeous beaches, it is also well known for its fascinating archeological ruins, intriguing maritime museums and scintillating nightclubs. Malgrat de Mar, although not as well known as Lloret de Mar, enchants visitors with the fairytale figures in its tranquil Parc Francesc Macià while simultaneously inviting them to view the breathtaking panorama from the grounds surrounding El Castell, the tower atop the hill in the centre of the town.

Santa Susanna is known for catering to the younger set and has many chic restaurants, taverns and bars on offer. It is, however, also home to several striking examples of Spanish medieval architecture, like the Chapel of Santa Susanna, which dates back to the early 16th century. Tossa de Mar is yet another of Costa Brava's premier resorts, and this sleepy Catalonian seaside town will charm and delight visitors with its 12th century architecture, its lovely laid-back beaches and its mysterious Roman ruins.

Getting Around in Costa Brava

One of the most popular ways of getting to know this charming region is by car. Traffic is not overwhelmingly heavy, and it is easy to drive from town to town and stop wherever the mood takes you. Parking is also not a problem within these sleepy Catalonian towns, although some of the streets may be extremely narrow and thus somewhat difficult to negotiate.

Costa Brava is an inviting and peaceful part of Spain that tourists of all ages will enjoy exploring.