A holiday that will appeal to everyone? Families, groups of singles, couples, lone travelers…? Yes, it is possible on the Spanish Costa Brava, everything you could ask for and easily accessible – fun filled activity holidays, beach relaxation holidays, walking and beautiful scenery and a huge choice of gastronomic delights – head north, to Lloret de Mar and the surrounding towns and villages and you won’t be disappointed! Come for the Fiesta this week!
relaxing on the beach
How do I get there?
Situated 75kms from Barcelona and only 40kms from the smaller airport at Girona, and so therefore plenty of scope for cheap flights with the budget airlines. You could drive through France to get here, savoring the creeping up of the thermometer as you make your way south, always pleasant!
The scenery will tell you that you have arrived:
Pine crowned hills, dramatic cliff-drops, scenic coves, sandy beaches and the sight of thousands of cork trees lining the way.
Dramatic cliffs at Lloret de Mar
Tan Time
You will have arrived at one of the most popular holiday locations in Spain, and the most popular holiday resort in Catalonia. Also popular with citizens of Barcelona looking for a second home on the coast for weekends and holidays, with the main beach 1630 metres in length and 45m wide full of soft sand it’s easy to see why! Beach-life reigns supreme here, among the best are:
- Playa de Lloret
- Cala Gran
- Playa de Fenals
- Cala Tortuga
- Playa de Sta Cristina
- Cala Morisca
- Cala des Frares
- Playa de Tremual
- Cala Banys
Add all of this to warm temperatures, fantastic nightlife, days filled with water-sports and a fiesta running for 3 days this week, are you packing yet?!
Party? When?
Starting on the 24th July and running through 25th and 26th is the main annual fiesta for Lloret de Mar. The patron saint, Santa Cristina, is celebrated in style. Set the alarm, as it starts at 8am in the morning with a colourful flotilla of fishing boats which take the statue of Santa Cristina across to the Ermita by sea. This was built by the local people, those that could not afford to give money donated their time as labour, and it features a coloured marble altar. The Ermita contains some important relics of Santa Cristina, a skull, a rib and a femur.
Ermita de Santa Cristina
After the pilgrimage, the fishermen sit underneath an ancient tree and eat a special stew called Estofat. Er, mind the bones!
It may be visited throughout July and August, Monday to Friday. Admission: Free.
Back to the fiesta, a re- enactment of a dance between a Moorish boy and a Christian girl – the Ball de Plaça – carries on with food, music, wine and more dancing until the night of the 26th when you can enjoy the loud and stunning firework extravaganza.
Party girl, Santa Cristina
Dancing on the beach
Still here on July 30th? Well get down to Sa Caleta beach with some Reggae music, it’s on all day and the kids won’t be left out, there’s a special kids concert from 11am.
Enjoy Nordic Walking? Another FREE activity is held every Saturday. Meet up at 9:00am at the Athletic Courts to join in, there’s a trained guide, a Nordic Walking Expert who will take you around using this technique. A great way to meet new friends for the lone traveller!
Smell the roses…
Botanical views
For the green fingered among you, don’t miss the chance to visit the famous gardens of Santa Clotilde in Lloret de Mar and Pinya de Rosa and Mar i Murtra in Blanes.
Designed in the 1920′s, Santa Clothilde garden is set on a rocky Costa Brava hillside, stylishly designed. The style can be compared with that of Villa Ephrussi in France: it is Arts and Crafts and makes brilliant use of evergreens and has great stairways with statuary rising either side – a good day out.
Mar i Mutra in Blanes holds 3,000 species of Mediterranean and sub Tropical plants within 4hectares, and also offers spectacular views, remember the camera for this one!
Mar i Murtra
but watch the thorns….!
Pinya de Rosa on the outskirts of Blanes holds a massive 7,000 species of tropical plant-life and has one of the largest collect of living Cacti in Europe.
The collections of the Agave, Aloe, Lucca and Opuntia genuses have come to be considered the best in Europe and even the world.
So, not just the camera for this one, long trousers and gloves may be more appropriate!
Where else to discover?
A fantastic idea that should be employed everywhere is the Lloret Open Museum. Billed as a museum without walls, an open space,everywhere you walk you will see information panels detailing the town’s heritage giving you directions and information on the various places of cultural, historical and natural interest.
You can then choose from the Iberian settlement at Puig de Castellet, the Maritime Museum, Sant Romá Church or Sant Joan Castle amongst many other attractions, you will be already armed with all the information you need.
climbing castles
Eating out
The specialty? Well, no prizes for guessing seafood of course! Take an evening out and drive to my favourite place Sa Riera, down the hill from Begur and sample some freshly caught seafood and sit overlooking the prettiest bay on the coast – just my own personal opinion! You cannot fail to love it!
Or stay in Lloret and choose from….well, just about whatever you want. The busy and successful tourist industry has ensured that you can eat whatever, and whenever you like! Choose traditional Spanish, Pizza, Pasta, Chinese, even English!
And so to bed…
What a choice! A villa? An apartment? Beach front? Town centre? Have a look through this extensive list of holiday homes to rent in the immediate area. Whether it’s a family reunion or a place for one in the sun – you are sure to find it here.
And when you have danced,swam, walked, gardened and partied…..send us a postcard! Wish we were there!
Flickr accreditation mauro-ventura/santiMB/jas_gd
