The Costa Brava offers some surprising cultural experiences: remains of Iberian settlements, excavations from the Ancient period and Art Nouveau, Greco-Roman ruins, modernist works, the Catalan Art Nouveau movement and, of course, Salvador Dali and others. Many festivals throughout the year reflect the popular culture of the deeply rooted traditions of the Catalans and are really worth a visit.
The cultural experiences of the Costa Brava will surprise you
Local fiestas
A popular attraction are the different local festivals that take place throughout the year across the region, all of them worth a visit
Here is a small selection. You can get more information on the festivals at reception.
- Fira d`Indians
Every year Begur celebrates its strong links to the past, when emigration to the Caribbean – mostly to Cuba – was the best option for the people. The festive atmosphere of the Cuban colonial period celebrates the return of the now wealthy “Indians”. The small cove of “Sa Riera” below Begur is where the “Indians” arrived in their ships “from the Caribbean”. The celebration begins on the beach with period music and everybody dressed in white or period costume.
After the arrival of the “Indians”, the fiesta continues to Begur: Here countless live bands create a party atmosphere with Caribbean music. They dance, they celebrate, they eat and most of all they drink Mojitos. We should not overlook the cultural aspects of this historical setting: The sale of overseas products, such as coffee, cocoa, herbs and spices, as well as commercial demonstrations such as how to make nets, blacksmithing, basket weaving, ceramics, etc.” - “Temps de Flors” Flower festival in Girona
The flower festival “Temps de Flors” in Girona is just around the corner. For a few days you can visit a number of spaces with projects and installations made from flowers. Don’t miss this festival where flowers are combined with several cultural events. Taking a walk through the pleasant back streets or along the river is definitely worth it. - Pirate festival in Estartit
A delightful tradition that commemorates real pirate attacks, where we see the “pirates” parading through the streets. You can also enjoy the traditional crafts market. - Rose fair in Roses
Floral compositions, music, traditional crafts market, food tasting, workshops for kids…
Museums
The cultural wealth of the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees of Girona is reflected in the museums of different disciplines, periods and styles.
The Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum
In the medieval castle, the “Gala Dalí Castle” in Púbol, Salvador Dalí created a refuge and a place of rest for his wife Gala, his source of inspiration.
The Archaeological Museum of Catalonia - Ullastret
The Ullastret museum, which is part of the Archaeological Museum of Catalonia, is committed to the conservation, research and promotion of the remains from the Iberian period that form the archaeological group of Ullastret.
The Museum of the Mediterranean
The Museum of the Mediterranean offers an experience for young and old to take part in, in discovering and learning about the diversity of the Mediterranean starting from the region, a space in which to smell the aromas of the Mediterranean, hear its voices and touch its most recent history.
The Fishing Museum
The port of Palamòs is home to the Fishing Museum, which shows visitors a special relationship between man and the sea and the history of fishing.
The Cork Museum
A modernist former factory houses this interesting museum on the interpretation and promotion of knowledge and geography of the Catalan cork industry. This museum is located in the centre of the city of Palafrugell.
The Ceramic Museum of Bisbal
The special quality of the local clay and a long tradition of craft work have turned “La Bisbal d’Empordà” into the capital of ceramics. The Terracotta museum, with more the 8,000 exhibits, is worth a visit.
The History Museum
You can explore every aspect of the history of Sant Feliu de Guixols: archaeology, the cork industry, the relationship between man and the sea, paintings by local painters such as Josep Albertí, health, etc., at the museum of history in the old convent of Sant Feliu.
The Museum of Maritime Rescue
A branch of the Museum of History of Sant Feliu de Guixols dedicated to Maritime Rescue. Located within the town’s rescue centre.
The Great Museum of Magic - XEVI collection
Located in a Catalan farmhouse from 1800 in Santa Cristina d’Aro, the “Great Museum of Magic” exhibits automatons and posters, magic props from different periods, paintings, decks of cards and tarots, books, rare objects and photographs.
The Museum - Ca la Pruna House of Culture
The couple Josep M. Fàbrega and Mercè Auguet promised to preserve and promote awareness of peasant life by establishing the cultural museum “Ca la Pruna” with a permanent exhibition on life in the countryside.
The Jam Museum
In 2004, Georgina Regàs founded the “Jam Museum” in her workshop, where she makes more than 114 marmalades and jams, revealing the hidden secrets in a jar of marmalade and offering something for all tastes.
The Toy Museum
The Toy Museum, located in a small palace in Sant Feliu de Guixols, has more than 6500 objects on display from between 1870 & 1980, many of them made in Spain.
The Doll Museum
Thanks to a present from Josefina Teixidor, this doll museum was founded in 1997. The idea was to consider dolls as a cultural object of mankind. The exhibition has a private collection of old dolls from Neus Borell and a collection of 245 crochet dolls.
The Rural Museum
The Rural Museum is a collection of agricultural tools, belonging to the “Mas Pou” Restaurant in Palau-Sator. The collection has been assembled by salvaging farm tools and machinery and the items of country life.
Other places of cultural interest
In the interior of the Costa Brava, there is a lot to see, explore and experience! All over you can discover medieval towns, where time passes at a leisurely pace, where old palaces, Romanesque churches and old castles hide behind thick stone walls, and the defence towers hint at the turbulent past of a disputed Catalonia.
Pals
The “Torre de les Hores” is a symbol of the medieval town of Pals. The fortified, round Romanesque tower, whose style is found in those around the millenary church of Sant Pere. A walk through the back streets, passing old noble palaces and charming fountains completes the visit to this place. Don’t miss the views of Baix Empordà from the “Mirador Josep Pla” viewpoint close to the castle!
Peralada
The “Peralada Castle”, the XIV Century castle, is the main attraction of this medieval town, with its fantastic park, home of the famous summer music festival and its casino. Close by there is the “Carmelite Convent” from the XIII century, with a wine and glass museum and one of the most important libraries in Catalonia: among the 80,000 books there are 1,000 editions of Don Quijote alone. A visit to Peralada is completed with a visit to the Roman cloisters of the Monastery of Sant Domènec and one of the surrounding bars to enjoy one of the wines and Cavas made in the local winery.
Peratallada
Peretallada, from the Catalan “pedra tallada”, could mean either “cut” or “cutting rock”. In fact, large parts of this rural village are made from natural rock: the towers, the eye-catching arches, the Roman church of Sant Esteve, and of course “el Castell”, the castle from 1065. A place well worth seeing in the interior of the Costa Brava.
Siurana
The town of Siurana is located on the limestone cliffs more than 700 metres inland of Tarragona. The spectacular location served a defense purpose as the Christian conquerors attempted to take the land from the Moors one by one, forcing them to retreat to more and more remote areas. Currently the name Siurana is given to a coveted olive oil with a Designation of Origin.
Iberian City of Ullastret
Archaeological site that shows the course of ancient roads adapted to the terrain and the massive wall with its defence towers that are both rounded and rectangular. A small museum displays findings from the site.
Besalú
In its time, Besalú was the capital of the County. It is well-known for its Romanesque architecture. Not only the churches of Sant Martí and Sant Vicenç, but also the monastery of Sant Esteve are the highlights of the group of medieval buildings. A preserved synagogue and a Mikve show that there was once a Jewish settlement here. In the centre there is a communal fountain from the XII century, which offers an excellent photo opportunity.
Sant Pere de Rodes (Port de la Selva)
Built in the X century, this Benedictine monastery is one of the many examples of Romanesque architecture and one of the most sophisticated in the Girona area. From here there is an impressive view of the entire Cap de Creus.
The Empúries Ruins
The Empúries Ruins form part of the legacy left by the ancient civilisations of the Greeks and Romans on the Iberian Peninsula, an archaeological site that attests to a history of more than 2,500 years, in an idyllic location between the beaches and the coves, which offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea,
Vila Vella in Tossa de Mar
A town with an historical centre which looks out to sea. The fortress wall from the middle ages with its enormous defence towers is extremely interesting.
The Dalí Triangle
The life and works of the painter Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), a native of Figueres, are located in three different areas: the theatre museum of Figueres with many works from the entire creative period of the master; the house and museum in Portlligat near Cadaqués, which Dalí established as a labyrinth-like residence and study from a group of old fishing houses; and finally the castle at Púbol in the town of La Pera, which Dalí gave to his wife Gala.
Barri Vell in Girona
More than a thousand years of history are to be found in the old town of Girona, around the single nave cathedral and in the back streets of the old Jewish district. Discover it for yourself!