Around us

At the end of July, the bay fills with smoke, music, and people. Five nights, pyrotechnic teams from around the world, one of Europe's oldest fireworks competitions, running since the nineteenth century.

The rockets are launched from Sa Palomera, the rock where the Costa Brava begins. Each night, the beaches and terraces fill with people.

Outside that one week, Blanes is a real Mediterranean town — a long promenade, a medieval castle above the bay, and the Marimurtra botanical garden on the cliffs. It is worth visiting in any season.

At the beginning of October, the stretch of coast beside us becomes the finish line of one of Europe's best-known long-distance triathlons — IRONMAN Barcelona.

Athletes from around the world swim into the Mediterranean at sunrise, cycle along the Maresme coast, and finish with a marathon on Calella beach. From a villa a few kilometres away, the whole weekend takes on a quiet energy of its own.

Calella also anchors the Carnaval de l'Alt Maresme in late February and La Minerva in September — a small seaside town with a surprisingly full festive calendar.

A medieval fortress rising straight above the sea — one of the few fortified fishing towns still standing on the Costa Brava. Walk the walls in late afternoon.

In mid-January, one of the town's oldest traditions quietly unfolds — the Pelegrí. One man walks forty kilometres inland to a chapel of Sant Sebastià and returns the next day, fulfilling a vow made against the plague in the fifteenth century. It ends with a torchlit procession along the old walls.

Marimurtra feels as though the entire garden is leading you towards the sea. Paths wind down between palms, cacti and Mediterranean plants, then suddenly open onto cliffs and turquoise coves.

Its most recognisable spot is the white Temple of Linnaeus above the water. But there is no need to head straight for it: along the way, quiet terraces, shaded corners and unexpected views offer plenty of reasons to stop before reaching the main panorama.

The garden is especially lovely in the morning, while the light is still soft and the paths are not yet busy.

The Santa Clotilde Gardens are hidden on a cliff between Cala Boadella and Fenals Beach. Cypress trees lead down a series of stairways, terraces follow one another, and the sea appears gradually — first in glimpses between the trees, then as a full panorama.

This is not a botanical garden in the usual sense, but a carefully composed landscape of fountains, sculptures, geometric paths and slightly theatrical views of the coast. The pleasure lies not only in the plants, but in noticing how the garden reveals the space step by step.

The best part of Santa Clotilde is not one particular viewpoint, but the route down towards the sea and back again.

Hidden among the woods near Canet de Mar, Santa Florentina Castle is a place where medieval architecture unexpectedly meets Catalan Modernism.

Its towers, courtyards, stained-glass windows and richly decorated rooms look almost like ready-made film sets. And with good reason: in Game of Thrones, the castle became Horn Hill, the ancestral home of House Tarly.

There is plenty to discover even for those who have never watched the series. Visits are available only on selected days, so it is best to check the schedule and book tickets in advance.

Montnegre i el Corredor is one of the best nearby areas for hiking. You can choose a short forest walk lasting a couple of hours or a longer route with climbs, viewpoints and changing landscapes.

The trails gradually lead away from the coast into pine, oak and cork forests. Along the way, you may pass old farmhouses, small churches and stretches where there is little around you except the path, the trees and the sounds of the forest.

Choose a route that suits your preferred distance and difficulty, and bring water and suitable footwear. This is a completely different side of the region — greener, cooler and ideal for spending several hours on the move.