Quick Facts
More low cost flights and Catalan tourism strategies will focus new residential investment here from 2005
Getting There
Girona Airport
Barcelona Airport
Brits have been baking on the beaches of their beloved Costa Brava since the birth of the package holiday when everything was very affordable. Forty years later and they can be found in the svelte bars of Puerto Banus, Costa del Sol, the verdant greens of La Finca Golf in Costa Blanca or the urbane Des Res districts of Albir/Altea in Costa Blanca north.
In that time the proud Catalans shaped more of their own destiny and went upmarket, to an extent that Barcelona is Britain’s favourite weekend city destination and property prices and standards of living are among Spain’s highest.
The beaches of the Catalan coast start just minutes away Barcelona and Girona and they stretch forever in both directions – Costa Brava up towards France and then down towards the sister Costa Daurada and the Rio Ebro Delta. There are splendid arcs of sand, crumpled, picturesque coves, brightly painted boats and armies of sun worshippers claiming their own territorial rights.
Inland are majestic towns and pretty villages where time has stood still and wild and rugged mountains that race down to the shores with a pine fringed flourish. The name means “brave” or “fierce” coast, a totally apt description reflected in the bright clear air and the transparent seas that provide tasty seafood and fish for a thousand fish restaurants. This unique Mediterranean climate produces some fine wines too.
There are marshlands and lakes of the Emporda National Park and a pretty town called Roses, which has attracted invaders for 500 years or more and still draws in thousands for its seafood and anchovies served in a string of famous restaurants.
Salou, the resort at the heart of the Costa Daurada, offers every kind of beach fronting its never ending promenade and Passeig de les Palmeras, dedicated to the medieval Catalan king who embarked to conquer Mallorca. Cambrils is a harbour town famous for its gourmet seafood restaurants serving Rio Ebro eels and elvers, sea bream and regional rice dishes.
Tortosa is the ancient riverside capital of the region, hailed by Julius Caesar and most subsequent visitors including the Moors who left a hilltop castle as today's striking monument and Pope Benedict XIII who loved the local patisseries.
There is a good selection of beachside apartments from regional and local builders and inland there are £1M-plus converted farmhouses on offer. Golf fans can find apartments from €220,000 and 4-bed fairway villas around €600,000 and the Catalan style and quality shows through.
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