Barcelona | Costa Brava Holidays and Vacations

Although many travellers love to relax in their villa with private pool in Spain , others are looking for a vacation in Spain that’s a little more active. The good news is that Catalonia offers the best of both worlds, with great places to relax, and a number of lively activities to really get the heart pumping. Perhaps one of the best things to do if you’re an activity lover is to walk the old Roman walls of Girona.  Add caption Passeig de la Muralla The pathway created by the Roman walls is known as ‘Passeig de la Muralla’, and experts believe that some sections of the wall date as far back as the 1st century! However, many portions of the wall are actually much newer, and were restored following intentional demolishment which enabled the city of Girona to expand. There are a number of entry and exit points along the path, but taking in the entire 3km wall is well recommended (you can rest your legs at your villa in Spain at the end of the day!). On...

There’s a great deal of debate over exactly where the name ‘Catalonia’, or ‘Catalunya’, came from. There are some who say that the region is named after the Katelans, an Iberian tribe. There are others who say that the name has Celtic origins. Perhaps most interesting, however, is the belief that Catalonia means ‘Land of Castles’. While we don’t know for sure, what we do know is that the region has an abundance of fortresses and magnificent, castle-like mansions that make this a very historic and stunning place to visit. The beauty of the ‘Land of Castles’ is that there’s a lot of diversity in both the architectural styles and the current status of the buildings. Some luxurious manor-style constructions have now been converted into villas in Spain , for example, allowing visitors to enjoy a truly luxurious vacation experience. Others, such as Castell de Montsoriu in Girona, are open for tours by appointment only, while some, like Castell de Santa Florentina located in t...

Sitges has long been a popular holiday destination, in recent years it has been home to some of the best parties for the LGBT communities as well as a great family and couples resort. There is something for everyone in this fabulous coastal town – don’t spend every day relaxing in your villa with pool in the Costa Dorada , Sitges is bursting with energy, and with some of the best beaches and nightlife on the coast it would be a shame to miss it! Here are some of the fun places you could be exploring on your holiday in Spain. The Golden Beaches The Passeig Maritime is probably the most popular beach in Sitges, it’s the perfect place to sit with a glass of tinto de verano and watch the world go by. You will see cyclists, joggers and even roller bladers throughout the year trying to keep fit and making the most of the weather. Join them or indulge in one of the many water sports on offer on the beach. The boardwalk market stall holders will attempt to sell you a plethora of ...

Catalonia is a wonderful place for bird watching – and we mean of the feathered variety! The incredible, picturesquedelta plains and nature reserves of Terres de l’Ebre have over 350 species of birdlife for you to discover. If your Spain vacation rental is in this region and you are a keen ornithologist, then don’t forget your binoculars as this area will be right up your street! The Els Ports mountain range flanks the River Ebre as it meanders down to the delta and the sea. Keen observers can view rice fields, salt marches and hundreds of pink flamingos – almost unheard of in the western Mediterranean. The birdlife is unrivalled with rare species waiting to be discovered among the flora and fauna. Andouin’s Gull is one of the rare nesting birds which can be found along the delta, a greater number you are unlikely to see anywhere else in the Mediterranean. The Black Wheatear, Squacco Heron and Boneli’s Eagle also inhabit this area of Spain. Other rare and exotic bird...

Everyone has a hidden talent, sometimes it just takes a while to find it. It’s easy to get swamped down in a 9 – 5 job where you sit in front of a computer screen all day with no room to think. Escaping to a villa with pool in the Costa Brava can help you tap into your creative side in more ways than one – you just have to know where to start. Think of the things you are interested in trying. Do you enjoy photography? Do you get a buzz from architecture or prefer to indulge your artistic side sketching pictures of landscapes? You can do it all here. If you fancy painting your own pottery these are some of the best areas to purchase good quality, solid terracotta pots, paint them with scenes from your stay in your family villa in Spain or take them home and design from memory. Take photographs of everything which interests you, if it’s the local wildlife or churches, document them in a scrapbook or an online page where your friends can view your trip through your...

The Brexit vote result in the UK came as a shock to many, but what does this mean for ex-pats from the UK who has chosen to make Spain their official residence, and also the Spanish nationals who live and work in the UK? Well, rest assured it’s highly unlikely that anything will be affected in the short term, as Article 50 has yet to be triggered and the official negotiations can take two years following this event for the UK to officially leave the European Union. Ex-pats lived in Spain way before the EU came into full effect, if you can remember when there was border and passport patrols at La Jonquera on the French/Spanish border you will know that foreign nationals were still allowed in and out of Spain with little to no hassle – you just had to show your passport. There is speculation that ex-pats may lose some of their free healthcare benefits in Spain or their pensions have to be drawn differently, but nobody actually knows until the negotiations are finalised. It is...

For any lovers of Spanish art, architecture and musicthe Route of the Four Geniuses is a trip you should take . Close to your Costa Dorada vacation rental , this route paints a picture of the unique landscapes, birthplaces and villages which influenced four of the greatest creative talent Spain has ever known – Gaudi, Miro, Picasso and Pau Casals.  The route explores four towns close to the city of Tarragona which have all inspired each individual artist at some point in their lives. The first village El Vendrell is located 35 kilometres north of Tarragona, this was the birthplace of Pau (Pablo) Casals, a renowned Spanish composer and musician. Casals was a cellist, a conductor and composer and is known to be one of the greatest cellists of this age. El Vendrell is home to the Pau Casals Vila Museum which tells the story of his life and many compositions. Reus is the next city on your trail, itwas the birthplace of Antoni Gaudíwho brought us the magnificent Sagr...