Barcelona | Costa Brava Holidays and Vacations

Catalonia is steeped in history and if you are lucky enough to rent a villa in the Costa Brava you will have the opportunity to experience it all. Leading from the coast near Calella de Palafrugell are several endearing medieval villages which should be on your itinerary to visit. If you are hiring a car or are a keen cyclist this is the perfect time to get out and about around Catalonia. From Palafrugell take the C-31 road to Pals first of all. Pals is a pretty hilltop medieval village with charming squares, tapas bars, ceramic shops and stunning panoramic views from the cobbled streets and village walls. It’s a great place to begin your medieval village trail. From here your next port of call should take you to the pretty village of Peratallada, the name means “carved stone” and it’s easy to see why, this compact fortified medieval town is built from carved stone from the moat which encircles it. The Romanesque church of Saint Stephen dates back to the 13 th century...

Picture the scene, you have your entire holiday completely planned out to the finest minute detail, you have booked your villa with pool in Spain , the kids are happy they have a trip to the waterpark, beaches and markets. You have one day remaining to fill on your itinerary and you really want to see Barcelona while you are staying in the area. Can you do it in a day? Sure you can! Here are a few ideas on how to get the best out of Barcelona in a day. Don’t try to see too much It’s impossible, even with the best will in the world to see all of Barcelona in one day; the city is just too vast and way too interesting. Our suggestion would be to write down your top 5 and divide it into areas. That way you won’t spend all of your time travelling on the metro to get from one place to another. Prioritise Do you want to see the main tourist attractions or spend time in one or two lesser known areas which are of interest? Some areas are slightly off the beaten track lik...

A wonderful medieval town located close to the town of Palafrugell on the Costa Brava, Pals is set atop a hillside, surrounded by sunflower fields and a patchwork of verdant green fields. If your holiday rental in Costa Brava is situated close to this picturesque village it is definitely worth a half day trip to explore its unique qualities. The centre is dominated by a medieval Romanesque tower which can be seen on your approach to the village; this was built between the 11 th and 13 th centuries and houses a clock tower. Charming cobbled streets give way to arches and pretty geranium covered balconies and doorsteps. There is an archaeological museum here as well which allows you to gain a deeper insight into the villages medieval history. The viewing point of Josep Pla is the perfect place to view all the way across to the coastline, on a clear day you will be able to see the Medes islands positioned just a mile off the coast of L’Estartit. The town’s Goth...

When we think of choosing a destination for our CostaMaresme Vacation Rental we will usually think of Calella de la Costa or Malgrat de Mar. However, there are many other lesser known towns which make up this coastline just north of Barcelona which are often overlooked. Charming Spanish coastal towns with fewer tourists and a more relaxed ambiance may just be what you are looking for. Arenys de Mar Located a short train, car or bus ride from central Barcelona sits the pretty fishing town of Arenys de Mar. It’s been an important fishing port in this region for centuries, the town even hasits own fisherman’s quarter, the origins of which date back to the 14 th century. The town hosts many pieces of Modernist artwork for which the region is famous, and there are 10 defence towers to protect the town from invaders as the wealth from the fishing industry grew. The centre of the town is Rambla, it is here you will discover the beautiful baroque designed Santa Maria Church, if yo...