Not only is this region of the Costa Brava blessed with idyllic coves and lovely sandy beaches, but there are also numerous gorgeous towns and villages to visit within the beautiful countryside. You will be very happy if you spend every day on the beach, but if your holiday group want to get a feel for real Catalan lives, it is very easy to do so here. If you do not want to drive, you can hire bikes and cycle on the quiet roads. Very close to the villa you can visit Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell and Pals. Regencos and Pubol are also beautiful.
The heart of Pubol is the castle Salvador Dali bought for Gala, his Russian wife which is surrounded with elephant statues and pomegranate and fig trees. Gala’s 1960’s couture dresses are on display. It really takes you back in time, and you can imagine them living there. The picturesque, whitewashed village of Port Lligat and Dali’s impressive Theatre-Museum in Figueres are the remaining parts of The Dali Triangle. Llafranc, which is an easy drive from the villa, was a favourite haunt of Salvador Dali.
The likes of Norah Jones, Anastacia and Andrea Bocelli have played at the famous Festival del Jardin Cap Roig. The botanical gardens at Calella de Palafrugell are spectacular with plants and trees from all over the world. The views are stunning too while you walk around the gardens. There are many art exhibitions by famous artists as well as music and wine festivals.
If you enjoy wine tasting, there are some wonderful vineyards to visit and wines to taste. While you are visiting the incredible beach and rice fields of Pals you can also visit the Mas Geli vineyard. They make six delicious organic wines. A native grape of the region is ‘Garnacha of the Emporda’ with which a naturally sweet wine is produced.
Begur is fast gaining a reputation as one of the prettiest and most chichi towns to visit in the Costa Brava with gastronomic feasts offered by its wonderful restaurants. The beautiful Medieval village is blessed with Neoclassical mansions, fishermen’s huts, quirky bistros, cobbled streets and whitewashed houses draping the hillside below the ruins of its stone castle. While visiting Begur you could also stop at La Bisbal, which is only 15 minutes away. It is home to a ceramic industry and has many shops and galleries.
