 Cataluna is made up of four provinces - Barcelona, Girona,
Tarragona and Lleida (Lerida), each with a capital city of the
same name. Barcelona is the place people want to visit and the
capital is now very much an international city. The area enjoys
a varied landscape from the high sierras of the Pyrenees, to
the Mediterranean coast and the central lowlands. There are two
Cataluna coastlines - the Costa Brava with its cliffs and deep
coves (Costa is Catalan for coast and Brava means Rugged) - and
the Costa Dorada (Gold Coast) with long, wide and gentle beaches.
There are three airports - Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona. There
are two international rail stations at Estacion de Sants and
Estacion de Francia, both in Barcelona.
Palafrugell on the Costa Brava is
located about 18 miles due east of Girona. Sant Feliu de Guixols
is about 12 miles south. Palafrugell itself is just 2 miles from
the pretty fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell.
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 Located in the middle of the coast of Girona,
the medieval town of Palafrugell was once fortified. The busy
market town now offers visitors relics of its past such as the
parish church of Sant Marti whose nave and side-chapels were
built in the Gothic style and the ancient Roses House which preserves
its 17th-18th-century façades. Many narrow streets emanate
from Placa Nova -a large square with bars, restaurants and boutiques.
Palafrugell has a strong Catalan atmosphere and a history as
a centre of cork production. The Museu del Suro is devoted to
the local cork industry and also has a display of cork sculptures.
Palafrugell has attempted to promote an alternative image of
the Costa Brava, using culture, festivals and gastronomy. In
December the restaurants serve El Niu, a local casserole featuring
cod, hake, cuttlefish, eggs and potatoes. Between January and
March the speciality is sea-urchins, which form the basis of
a culinary festival known as la garoinada. |
