Spain’s ‘wild coast’, the Costa Brava stretches from Blanes – 40 miles north of Barcelona – to the French border. While its beautiful beaches are firmly on the radar of travellers, step off the well-beaten path and you’ll stumble across untouched coves, wind-lashed headlands and quaint seaside towns. Hiking trails trace the contours of pink clifftops, while just offshore, some of Spain’s best diving sites can be found around Illes Medes.
The rugged coast gives way to hilly backcountry, sheltering hilltop medieval villages and the majestic Romanesque monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. The culinary landscape is just as staggering, with no fewer than 17 Michelin-starred restaurants in this pocket of Spain. A trio of museums pays homage to Surrealist artist Dalí, whose imagination was stirred by the natural beauty of Cadaqués.
