The Costa Brava is the coastal region of northeast Catalonia in the province of Girona. Its stretches from Blanes to the French border. The province of Girona within Catalonia is 5 885 square km and is on northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The Pyrenees form its border to the north between El Puig de Querol and El Puig de L'Abet Cornay nr Meranges and the cape of Cervera, which submerges in to the Mediterranean sea. To west is bordered by the province of Barcelona. Its eastern border is 256km of the Costa Brava. The Costa Brava is a diverse region of natural beauty and heritage, many of its visitors have bought their own Costa Brava Villas and Costa Brava Apartments and return to the area as often as they can.
Santa Feliu de Guixols has beautiful architecture and good restaurants. Platja d'Aro offers 3km of busy beaches, bars and shops. Also there are Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar. The capital of Costa Brava is Girona, is of Roman origin.
The average temperature on the Costa Brava hovers around 22C, with temperatures in the summer months often reaching 30C and the region often receiving as much as 12 hours of sunshine a day. The months of July and August are peak season, and the hot humid weather during this time is often tempered by coastal winds. May and June is a great time to visit, with temperatures of 23C, and the more unpredictable weather results in fewer crowds. Spring and autumn is the wettest time, although rainfall on the Costa Brava is fairly moderate, with the area receiving about 600mm per year. The autumns are warm, seeing temperatures between 21- 24C, with October being the wettest month. During the winter, the sun still shines an average of 6 hours a day, although the temperatures drop to 16C, resulting in crisp, bright days.
Catalonia has two official languages, Catalan and Spanish. Most of the local population habitually speak Catalan, and all the population understand and can express themselves perfectly well in Spanish.
The Volcanic area of Garrotxa is 12 000 hectares where there more than 40 volcanic cones plus 20 lava flows and other unique and natural features. It has a population of about 40 000. It is a land of myths and bandits. The area is volcanically inactive but not extinct. The last eruptions occurred between 10 000 and 15 000 years ago. There are mainly woods of oaks, beaches and alders etc. The flatter areas are for cultivation of forage and cereals for livestock and pasture areas. This is a good leisure option for the family as traffic is restricted. You can move around the paths on foot or by horse drawn carriage, which take up 15 people for a hour trip. The museum educates you on the workings of the volcanoes etc. Charts, photographs and illustrations represent the county’s seismic and volcanic phenomena and main ecosystem. Plus there a chance to feel the ground tremble as it recreates what it would be like when a earthquake strikes.
The Nuria valley is on the southern slope of the eastern Pyrenees at 2,000 m in the region of Girona of which the highest point is 2,913m.The main access to the valley is the rack railway or on foot. The railway is the only rack railway within Spain. There are high mountains, Romanesque churches, and the sanctuary, a place visited by pilgrims since 12th century. According to legend about 700 AD Saint Gil carved the image of the virgin of Nuria. Even though the Saint Gil chapel wasn’t built till 1615 and new church wasn't started until 1883. The flora of the valley is typically Pyrenees consisting of oaks, pines and birches etc. There are Chamois, Marmots, Golden eagles and red frogs.
As well as the train there is a cable car rising to Coma del Clot and a chair lift to Pic de L’Aliga, which means the peak of the Eagle. In summer you can also rent boats on the lake. The enclosure of the sanctuary offers games rooms for children, a stable with horses, exhibition on the nature and souvenir shops etc.
Nuria valley also has 10 ski slopes - 2 black runs of 241m and 613m 2 red runs of 1035m and 783m, 4 blue runs of 1752m, 750m, 744m and 333m and 2 green runs of 354m and 400m. Use of snow cannons are also in use. There is a ski lift with chairs and 2 others and a cable car. Have a capacity of 3820 skiers per hour. There is also skiing at La Molina and Masella, At La Molina has 31 slopes offering different levels of skiing, also cross country skiing, a circuit for snow mobiles and dog pulled sledges or snow shoes. At Masella there are 52 slopes at different levels of skiing and also snowboarding. You can also find water parks at Aqua Brava at Roses, Aquadiver Platja d'Aro at Castell - Platja d'Aro and Waterworld at Lloret de Mar.
