Calella de Palafrugell, coves and medieval villages

On a Costa Brava that has, in places, indulged a little too much in intensive concreting, Calella de Palafrugell takes the opposite approach and plays the card of a charming little resort. On the seafront, you'll find the old fishermen's cottages with their white facades, which give the town its cachet.

Calella de Palafrugell almost forms a single entity with its small neighbour Llafranc, which is of the same ilk. Here, the coastline, which is very jagged and often downright steep, offers some admirable coves in its indentations, bathed in clear water, and several pretty sandy beaches that are less crowded than in the big seaside resorts, as you head up towards Tamariu and then Begur, or down towards Palamos.

Whatever your destination, the coast around Calella de Palafrugell invites you to enjoy a Costa Brava that's still well preserved, lively but not overly so. As always, hiking and kayaking are the two coolest ways to explore the natural beauty of the Calella de Palafrugell coastline.

Calella de Palafrugell isn't all about the sea. The resort is a very pleasant base from which to explore the surrounding Baix Empordà region. Although Palafrugell, the town itself, is of limited interest, a number of small medieval villages bear witness to the high level of activity in this part of Catalonia since the Middle Ages, and even before.

Within a 20-minute drive are Pals and Peratallada, two ancient (and touristy!) villages that will delight lovers of old stone and medieval architecture: narrow streets, dry stone walls, castles and churches are all on the agenda. Other charming villages, perhaps less well known, are also worth a visit, such as Monels, Palau Sator and Ullastret...

In a different vein, it's impossible to miss Púbol, the hamlet that is home to the Château Gala-Dalí, an integral part of the Costa Brava's Dalí triptych, along with the Salvador Dalí House in Port Lligat and the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. The programme around Calella de Palafrugell promises to be as packed as it is varied!