Costa Brava coast
Costa Brava coast

Adventures in "l'Empordà"

Enjoy a hedonistic summer rediscovering life’s little pleasures.

4 March 2023

Describing Empordà, in north-east Catalonia, writer Josep Pla said that "the picturesque produces a great fascination". With an abundance of scenic views, the best way to experience this fascination for yourself is with a holiday spent exploring the region’s rich history and natural beauty.

Just an hour’s drive from central Barcelona, Empordà is divided into two comarques – Alt (upper) Empordà and Baix (lower) Empordà – that reach from rocky coastlines swooping down to meet the Mediterranean sea, through vast areas of farmland and winding hills dotted with charming medieval towns right up to the foothills of the imposing Catalan Pyrenees. There’s much to be explored in this region, with its authentic architecture, rugged landscapes and traditional customs, making it an ideal destination for rediscovering life’s little pleasures.

La Gavina
01

Holiday like a film star at Hostal de La Gavina

Located on a private estate in S’Agaró, Hostal de La Gavina has an impressive history. The hotel opened its doors in the 1930s when the Costa Brava was nothing more than a succession of small fishing villages. Remaining in the hands of just one family over the years, by the 1950s the hotel had gained cult status, serving as the glamorous backdrop for movies including the 1959 film Suddenly, Last Summer and playing host to some of Hollywood’s brightest stars such as Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery, Robert de Niro and Lady Gaga. Today the hotel offers 74 rooms, a seawater swimming pool, a spa and a selection of bars and restaurants, and thanks to a subtle, timeless fusion of old and new, its authentic old-school charm remains firmly in place.

Cadaqués
02

Discover an artists’ bolthole in Cadaqués & Portlligat

Glimpsing Cadaqués from the sea for the first time is an unforgettable moment: its rows of pretty whitewashed houses with blue windows crowned by Santa María church, with a backdrop of mountains, make it easy to see why this old fishing village is a favourite for visitors to the Costa Brava. A lazy stroll through the town’s steep, winding streets is a great way to while away the hours during a visit as you wonder about the many settlers who have inhabited this somewhat hidden part of the coast over the centuries, from the Iberians to Romans, Etruscans, Egyptians and Greeks. The town’s tucked away location and scenic views have also captivated many artists and writers over the years, including Picasso, Duchamp, Magritte, Lorca and Josep Pla, not to mention Dalí, who settled in the nearby village of Portlligat.

Cadaqués’ tucked away location and scenic views have captivated artists including Picasso, Duchamp and Magritte

Cadaqués

The Bicester Village Shopping Collection

Portlligat is one of the most famous coves in Cadaqués and is still today the base for the town’s few remaining fishermen. Attracted by the cove’s wild, unspoilt nature, Dalí purchased several fishermen's cottages here that became his residence and studio. The buildings have now been turned into a museum which is well worth a visit to explore the world of this surrealist genius.

Discover the secret coves of Costa Brava

Discover
Casavells
03

Admire artworks and antiques at Palau de Casavells

CASAVELLS is a unique almost hidden space in the catalonian region of L’Empordà, set in an antique masía from XVIII century that brings together a harmonic coexistence between art, craft and design.

Created in 2014 by Luis Sendino and Jacobo Valentí, the space was born with the intention of building projects which explored popular culture within the contemporary scene. Developing a national and global reputation for presenting dynamic and distinctive programming, the gallery has been supporting and nurturing local and international artists ever since.

Offering expansive, carefully curated collections, the space is conceived to rethink the viewers’ experience inviting the beholder to participate in a dialogue amongst different disciplines. Taking artistic risks and embracing diversity, featuring local talent all the way to international renowned artists and designers.

Camiral
04

Play and unwind at PGA Catalunya Resort

Award-winning Camiral Golf & Wellness is an unmissable stop for any golf lover visiting the Costa Brava, and a stay at the resort’s luxury Hotel Camiral is sure to make a visit all the more relaxing. This modern five-star hotel, part of The Leading Hotels of the World group, boasts comfortable rooms, a wellness area, a wide variety of activities, delicious cuisine and exquisite treatments where the guest's well-being is top priority. Added to this are two golf courses: the demanding Stadium Course, ranked number one in Spain for six consecutive years, and the Tour Course, a shorter, more affordable course that perfectly complements the Stadium Course.

These two par 72 golf courses, designed by eight-times Ryder Cup player Neil Coles and Spanish Open winner Ángel Gallardo, have hosted the Spanish Open three times and European Tour tournaments are also regularly held here. This premium resort’s extensive practice facilities and beautiful scenery guarantee an unforgettable golf getaway.

La Fortalesa
05

Enjoy exceptional hospitality at La Fortalesa

Once a military fortress, La Fortalesa de Sant Julià de Ramis is a private complex located at the highest point of the Sants Metges mountain, just ten minutes from Girona. Dating back to the nineteenth century and listed as a Cultural Asset of National Interest (Béns Culturals d'Interès Nacional), the fortress’ buildings have been restored and converted into an architectural complex that houses the DOR Museum, the country’s only jewellery, gemmology and silver museum; the DOR Restaurant, which offers traditional, local gastronomy; the Hotel Sants Metges, a five-star hotel with 15 rooms, a wellness area and heliport; and Atempo, a gourmet restaurant with five Michelin-star chef Jordi Cruz at the helm.

One of the most unique and impressive spaces to be discovered at La Fortalesa is La Cúpula, an event space with a domed roof made from natural materials, designed to blend seamlessly into the landscape. This extraordinary, eye-catching room is a feat of architectural creativity that’s not to be missed during a visit to the fortress. The enthusiasm, passion, hospitality and attention to detail of the La Fortalesa team make it the ideal place to enjoy a truly special experience, with exceptional architecture, stunning surroundings and unique ambience.

06

Savour local produce and traditional Catalan cuisine

A trip to Empordà means eating and drinking in style, and sampling the local produce is a must. Try the fruit and vegetables grown by local farmers, organic veal from Girona, prawns from the seaside town of Palamós, eggs from the market, fresh bread made the old-fashioned way and Empordà DO wines. There are many eateries to choose from, but here are two of our favourites that are putting local produce in the spotlight:

Ramón Freixa’s Restaurant Mas de Torrent: There’s much to admire at luxury hotel Mas de Torrent: this retreat based in a converted eighteenth century Catalan farmhouse is an oasis of tranquillity and calm. But one of its real highlights is its restaurant, run by two-Michelin-star chef Ramón Freixa, who aims to combine the highest quality local produce with the traditions of Catalan cuisine and innovation gastronomic ideas.

Perallada castle in l'Empordà

Paco Pérez’s Shiro: Discover Peralada Resort, near Figueres, during July and August and you’ll find not only its permanent restaurant, Castell Peralada, offering a contemporary take on the traditional cuisine of Empordà, but also a pop-up restaurant, Shiro, from chef Paco Pérez. With five Michelin stars under his belt, Pérez captures the essence of the Mediterranean and fuses it with Asian flavours, offering a truly unique gastronomic experience. An evening spent sampling dishes from this menu of Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and Thai dishes made with local ingredients at the Costa Brava institution is certainly a memorable one.

07

Explore Cap de Creus, the land that inspired Salvador Dalí

En el extremo más oriental de la Península Ibérica, sorprende el Parque Natural del At the easternmost point of the Iberian peninsula lies the beautiful Cap de Creus natural park. Located between the land and the sea, the area is endowed with a unique terrain, where the effect of the Tramontane, the local wind that blows down from the mountains, has created a rugged, almost lunar landscape, where rocks take on whimsical shapes.

The striking singularity of the nature here inspired Dalí. Along with his wife, Gala, he spent many hours at Cap de Creus swimming, sailing, attending events and parties, and creating installations and ‘happenings’. In fact, the undulating rocks found here, specifically in the headland’s Pla de Tudela nature reserve, would become the protagonists of Dalí’s artworks, including El gran masturbador (1929).

It is a mythological place that is made for gods more than for men

Salvador Dalí

The Bicester Village Shopping Collection

Dalí described the area to a friend in a 1961 letter: “This part between the Camel and the Eagle that you know and love as much as myself, is and must forever remain pure geology, with nothing that can mystify it; I make it a matter of principle. It is a mythological place that is made for gods more than for men and it needs to continue as it is.”

  • couple walking and shopping in la roca village

    比斯特购物村欢迎您

    行程安排、礼宾服务等实用信息一览及《安心购物指南》

    如何抵达购物村
  • 下载我们的应用程序。

    欢迎下载比斯特购物村APP,轻松查询精品店信息。

    了解更多

Don't miss...