Where the mighty Pyrenees mountains plunge into the Mediterranean, along the far north-eastern shoreline of Spain, lies Costa Brava. The Catalan name for the region means “rugged” or “wild coast.” Both are apt. The dramatic scenery can certainly be described as rugged, much like the scenery I recall seeing in the first Trans Siberian Railway Tours I had some years back. For the wild side, you may find Costa Brava’s plethora of festivals which the region hosts fit the bill.
- Costa Brava Holiday Montse Poch / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
Costa Brava towns, once quiet fishing villages, have grown into centres for resorts, spas, travel, and leisure. The largest resort town is Lloret del Mar; its high season population swells to over 200,000 people. Other big names in Costa Brava Holidays include the towns of Blanes and Tossa del Mar. Away from the resorts, Cadaques still retains much of the rustic, arty charm that once attracted creative types Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. If you’re looking for great parties and cheap holidays, Costa Brava is always a good option.
Saints and Sinners
Many of the best parties in Costa Brava centre on religious feast days. Every town celebrates each festival in its own way, but some are more famous than others. The most interesting and fun include:
The Dance of the Dead in Verges. This is one not to be missed! On the night of Maundy Thursday, after a day of re-enacting the Passion of the Christ in the streets of Verges, people don skeleton costumes and run through the streets in the Dance of the Dead, a medieval tradition designed to remind us that we’re all equal, in the end. The festival usually occurs in April.
The Feast of Sant Jordi. Every April 23, lovers in Catalonia present one another with books and roses. This is a great one if you’re looking for a romantic spring getaway with that special someone. If you’re a fan of Sardana, Catalan’s signature traditional dance, you’ll be in luck: you’ll see performed in the streets everywhere on this evening.
The Feast of Sant Juan. Like to party until sunrise? Then this one’s for you! To celebrate the summer solstice and honour Sant Juan (St. John), Catalonians light bonfires, play music, and go ape with fireworks all night long. If you’re not sure where to enjoy the festivities, head to the nearest beach, where things really get going. Just be sure to arrive early to grab a spot, as this is one of the biggest events in the region.
Habenera festival in L’estartit. If you’re ready for more after the Feast of Sant Juan, head to L’estartit a few days later for their annual festival in honour of the sea. You’ll party like a pirate, what with all the shanties being sung and burnt rum on tap. This is also a great time and place to witness the Catalonian Pels Carrers, or human towers: a squad of people stacked on each others’ shoulders, sometimes up to 10 levels high! If you miss L’estartit’s, Calella de Palafrugell has an extremely popular Habenera festival a few weeks later.
The Festival of Sant Narcís in Girona. This one is for the endurance partier. Held at the end of October, it’s one of the region’s largest yearly festivals. You’ll see processions of giants (people dressed in gargantuan papier mache masks), more human towers and correfocs, people wielding masses of (lit!) fireworks as they run and dance in the streets.
Music, Food, and More
Traditional festivals aren’t the only goings-on in Costa Brava. Between all the parties, towns in the region somehow manage to squeeze in an impressive array of culture events that celebrate art, literature, food, and so on. These are among the most celebrated and worthwhile:
Festival Porta Ferrada. One of the oldest and best events. Music (with an emphasis on classical), theatre, and dance acts from all over Spain and the rest of the world perform here during July and August. You’ll find the setting is as impressive as the line-up: the thousand-year-old Monastery of Sant Feliu de Guixols.
Cadaques’ International Music Festival takes place at the beginning of August. The town’s eclecticism is reflected in the line-up, ranging from jazz to classical, pop, and rock. Another great thing about this festival, some acts are free or low cost, and five percent of the profits are donated to charity.
Gastromusical. Held in August in the town L‘Escala, this is the event to attend if your love of music equals your love of food. The head chef at restaurant El Moli creates special dishes designed to pair with musical acts performing in the festival. For lovers of Catalan music and food, nothing beats this venue.
Focs de Blanes. Can’t make the Festival of Sant Narcis in Girona? Still want to see amazing fireworks? Then try this annual fireworks competition in the resort town of Blanes. It attracts pyrotechnical experts from around the globe, who detonate five tonnes of gunpowder over the course of the four-day event.
Temps de Flors in Girona. April showers bring particularly vivid May flowers to this Costa Brava town. In true Catalan style, townsfolk turn the spring bloom into a celebration of art, music, and food.
Get There!
The simplest access for Costa Brava Holidays is to find cheap flights to Barcelona, Spain through a site like Travel Republic. From there, rental cars are easy to find, and public transportation is plentiful. No matter how you go, you’ll find it rewarding.
Michael Roberts discovered his love of Costa Brava quite accidentally: a sprained ankle while trekking in the southern Pyrenees forced him to retreat to the nearest beach. He found Costa Brava holidays the perfect occasion to retreat for writing up travel notes while recuperating. When not on a beach or trek, he enjoys reading philosophy and history. You can connect with Michael on Google+.
