Costa Brava: the magical territory of Catalonia

The Costa Brava, named after a writing by the journalist and poet Ferran Agulló, stretches along more than 200 kilometres of Catalan coastline, from charming Blanes to the emblematic city of Portbou, bordering the French Pyrenees.

Dreamy landscapes, heavenly beaches, steep ravines with pine trees that caress the Mediterranean Sea and various natural parks are some of the picturesque images that make the Costa Brava one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain.

Historical artists' refuge

This abrupt and magical corner of the Mediterranean has also been a recurrent refuge of inspiration for a long list of artists, both national and international. Salvador Dalí, Truman Capote, Marcel Duchamp and Terenci Moix are some of the famous artists who gave free rein to their artistic creation in the incredible landscapes of the Costa Brava.

Nature, art and culture on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea have created the perfect combination for the Costa Brava to become a worldwide tourist reference. We must not forget the historical impact that the imprint of the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí, original from Figueres and a regular resident of the fascinating town of Cadaqués, still has on the area.

Activities on the Costa Brava

Likewise, the diversity of landscapes and its pleasant Mediterranean climate make the Costa Brava a perfect destination for the practice of all kinds of sports activities.

Hiking, cycling, climbing, parachuting, kayaking tours, boat trips, golfing and scuba diving are some of the most popular sports activities along the Costa Brava.

Access to the Costa Brava

The Costa Brava is accessible by plane from several airports that connect with the main European destinations. Girona Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is the closest, although the most common and convenient option for the international traveller is to land at Barcelona El Prat International Airport (BCN) and transfer by car or using the rail network. Another option is to arrive from Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport (PGF) in less than 30 minutes by car.

Its proximity to France makes the Costa Brava easily accessible through a modern network of motorways or through the French high-speed train network (TGV), with stops in Figueres, Gerona and Barcelona.

From Barcelona you can get there in less than two hours using the AP-7, also known as the Mediterranean motorway.

Villages on the Costa Brava

Empuriabrava

Also known as the Spanish Venice, Empuriabrava is a small municipality located in the heart of the Costa Brava. The great attraction of this town in the Alt Empordà lies in its more than 40 kilometres of navigable canals, its bridges that are so reminiscent of the Italian city, its splendid architectural heritage and its incredible beaches such as La Rubina and Playa de Comes.

Empuriabrava has become in recent years a privileged destination for national and European tourism. Year after year, the number of tourists who come to Empuriabrava in search of a rental property increases, or even those who, after falling in love with this pearl on the shores of the Mediterranean, decide to invest in a second home on the Costa Brava.

Empuriabrava has the largest residential marina in Europe. Its strategic location in the Gulf of Rosas is the ideal option for the practice of all kinds of nautical and adventure activities.

Santa Margarita and Rosas

Only five kilometres from Empuriabrava, situated to the south of Cape Creus, we find the coastal town of Rosas, another symbol of the Costa Brava. This Catalan tourist spot has a great offer of hotels, housing estates, beaches and restaurants. For lovers of sailing and boat trips, there is also the Port Roses marina, which helds more than 500 boats during the high season.

The landscape of Rosas is characterised by an extensive sandy beach and, as you head east, you will find small attractive coves such as Canyelles Petites, Cabo Norfeu, Punta Falconera and Montjoi.

Less than two kilometres from Rosas, is the Santa Margarita Beach. Its 550 meters of width and its crystalline and shallow waters make it a fantastic option for a relaxing day on the Costa Brava.

In addition, Santa Margarita has an attractive residential marina with the capacity to accommodate deep-draft yachts, which makes it a highly demanded location for international luxury tourism. Joining the marinas of Empuriabrava and Santa Margarita, the traveller will be able to enjoy the largest residential marina in Europe, as well as visit the many beautiful private moorings.

Playa De Aro

Also located on the Costa Brava, in the Baix Empordà area, Playa de Aro borders Calonge and Palamós to the north and s'Agaró and Sant Feliu de Guíxols to the south.

Originally it was a small fishing village that due to the tourist boom of the 1960s and 1970s grew to become one of the main residential areas of the Catalan Costa Brava. If you travel to the Costa Brava, do not forget to visit one of the properties for sale in Playa de Aro.

This fame makes its population grow from 10,000 inhabitants in winter to 50,000 during the summer months, thus becoming one of the areas where the demand for buying and renting homes on the Costa Brava has increased the most.

One of the main advantages of Playa de Aro is its long and comfortable beach, which extends along more than 2 kilometres of coastline, and is also one of the only beaches on the Costa Brava that is free of cars. At the end of the beach is the Playa de Aro Sailing Club, one of the largest and most luxurious on the Costa Brava.

Are you interested in buying a property on the Costa Brava to enjoy a few months of holidays during the year or to settle there permanently? Please contact our real estate agency in La Escala to find the house, apartment or villa of your dreams.