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Christmas Tree Fair in Espinelves.

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Categories: Local news,Points of interest
Christmas and New Year are approaching fast, and it means that soon a Christmas tree will appear in your house, and the best place to buy a live Christmas tree in Catalonia is a fair in the small town of Espinelves, lost among the mountains in the Montseny nature park, between Girona and Vic.
The traditional Christmas fair in Espinelves is already held 39 times, people seriously come here from almost all of Catalonia to buy not only a Christmas tree, but also a wide variety of home decorations, in order to prepare for the celebration of Christmas – the most beloved holiday for children and adults. And well, how can a Catalan fair do without traditional stalls with yummy and products of local artisans?
So if you don’t even plan to install a live Christmas tree at home, then you can just walk along the narrow streets of a medieval Catalan village (and the village is really aged – the Espinelves church has been mentioned in historical chronicles since 943!) – it’s a great opportunity to spend a wonderful weekend with your family!
Keep in mind that the fair is open until December 8, the weather forecast promises cooling, and in the evening, after sunset, the temperature in the mountains decreases rapidly, so it is better to dress warmer!

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Montsoriu Castle

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Categories: Points of interest
In the eastern part of the Montseny Natural Park, on a high hill, proudly rises one of the best Gothic castles of Catalonia – Montsoriu Castle (Castell de Montsoriu). People lived here since ancient times, the ancient Iberians built their settlement here, realizing the benefits of the convenient location and security of this place. The first written evidence of the presence of a fortified settlement dates back to 923, and the heyday of the castle’s glory dates back to the 14th century – it was then that the Viscount family of Cabrera lived here – one of the powerful families of the Catalan-Aragonese kingdom. According to contemporaries, the castle was a practically impregnable fortress thanks to stone walls and towers built according to the canons of fortification art, as well as an ingenious system for storing drinking water. In the troubled times of the Middle Ages, the castle gave shelter to other noble families of Catalonia, as well as to residents of surrounding villages.
Restoration work in the castle began in 1993, and they continue to this day.
According to one legend, three snakes live in one of the dungeons of the Montsoriu castle, and each of them holds a diamond in her mouth, and only in order to quench the thirst, snakes lay diamonds aside. The daredevil who can secretly steal a diamond from a snake while she drinks water will be rich and happy😃.

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Salvador Dali House-Museum in Port Lligat

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Categories: Points of interest
Without a doubt, all the real fans of Salvador Dali’s work, as well as true connoisseurs and experts on the Costa Brava, have already visited (and some, probably more than once!) The Salvador Dali House-Museum located in the small fishing village of Port Lligat, which is part of to the city of Cadaqués. We were also lucky to visit here, so today we will share information that may be of interest to those who are just going to pay a visit to Port Lligat.
A short story – in 1930, the Dali couple acquired a miniature fishing shack in a deplorable state, a neighboring house was purchased a few months later, and since then the almost non-stop process of transforming the space, adding new rooms, ennoblement of the adjacent territory has begun . It was here that Salvador Dali constantly (with a break from 1937 to 1948) lived and created his imperishable masterpieces until the tragic 1982, the year of the death of Gala, his permanent Muse. Then he was forced to move to Pubol in the castle of Gala-Dali, and then, having received serious burns during a fire in the castle in 1984, he moved to the Galatea tower in the Dali Theater-Museum in Figueiras, from where he was not destined to return to his beloved Port Lligat…

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Walk through the park with animals in the Pyrenees – Molló Parc

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Categories: Points of interest

Walk through the park with animals in the Pyrenees – Molló Parc.

In a picturesque mountain region of the Pyrenees, near the town of Camprodon, at an altitude of about 1,100 meters above sea level, there is a small Molló Parc in which live animals typical of this region of Catalonia, as close as possible to natural conditions.
According to the website of the park, here you can find several species of deer, wild boar, brown bear, wolf, fox, wild goats. There are also night and day birds of prey, marmots, otter, squirrels, lynx, wildcat, geneta. Also in the park there is a small farm where they live ducks, hens with roosters, domestic goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, calf, horse and foal, as well as a pair of obedient kind ponies ready to ride your kids for 5 Euros.
In addition to animals, in the park there are the main representatives of the local vegetation – almond, apple, spruce, ash, mountain ash, birch, hawthorn, fern, oak, cherry tree and many others. If you got tired during your walk, there are two picnic areas in the park, and if you didn’t take food with you, you can buy it in the mini-bars located here.
Great place to spend the day in nature with children!

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Fireworks Festival in Blanes 2019

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Categories: Local news,Points of interest
To the attention of vacationers and residents of the Costa Brava!
From July 23 to July 27 (Tuesday-Saturday next week) in the city of Blanes, right on the beach, the annual International Fireworks Competition of the Costa Brava will be held for the 49th time (the  official name in Catalan is – Concurs Internacional de Focs d ‘ Artifici de la Costa Brava).
According to the requirements to the contestants set by the town council, the action should begin at 22:30, with three warning shots at 22:15, 22:25 and at 22:30, the duration of the fireworks should be at least 18 minutes, not counting the very first and the latest shots.

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American Cars 2019 in Playa de Aro

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Categories: Local news,Points of interest
Ford Thunderbird, 1955 - 1957
American Cars 2019 in Playa de Aro.
Last weekend, June 8 and 9, the traditional holiday of fans of the American automotive industry “American Cars Platja d’Aro 2019” took place in Playa de Aro; this overwelming event was organized by the Catalan Club of the American Cars. According to the founders, the current exhibition of cars was held for the 30th time at the national level, and for the 25th time – at the international level.
It seems that every year the holiday is becoming more and more popular – at least we managed to see a lot of new, not previously exhibited cars. The rest is nothing new, everything is as usual: polished luxury cars of different years of manufacture, the oldest of which were lovingly restored and dated back to the 30s of the 20th century; a loud growl of powerful engines, the smell of burning tires on traditional drift competition, loud hard rock rambling from the speakers, crowds of people making selfies with cool cars, while their owners in wide-brimmed Texas hats relax in the shade, sipping beer accompanied by traditional Catalan snacks …

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Flower Festival in Girona 2019

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Categories: Local news,Points of interest

Flower Festival in Girona 2019.

And again a holiday came to Girona – from 11 to 19 May 2019, the city hosts the annual festival of flowers and design Temps de Flors 2019, this year already for the 64th time. What does this mean? It means that all car parks in the immediate vicinity of the old city are packed to capacity, dozens of tourist buses are crowded in remote parking lots, and in the heart of the old city there is no free space – people are drawn to the best examples of floral design, and certainly this craving cannot be stopped… An innumerable stream of tourists; dozens, and most likely even hundreds of thousands of people visit Girona these days just to see with their own eyes what was prepared by flower growers and designers this time to please us…

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Medieval Fair in Calonge 2019

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Categories: Local news,Points of interest
Medieval Fair in Calonge 2019Despite the cloudy weather and unusually gloomy sky threatening the useless rain at the height of the Easter weekend, the brave and merry Catalans are arranging a medieval festival in the streets and squares surrounding the ancient castle in the town of Calonge.
Everything is as usual, like at the usual Catalan fair of some 300-400 years ago – the knights arrange tournaments, waving their weapons and conquering the hearts of pretty ladies; street vendors set up shops with different foods; cheese and sausage trays threaten to cause increased salivation; the baker prepares hot bread in a coal oven (special mention are buns with chocolate!); if you suddenly have a stomach ache or you need to spoil the business of a competitor – on the next tray you will find the right potions and aromatic substances; your children will decrease the contents of your wallet, passing by numerous tents of sweets or armours and ammunition for young knights (it’s not like playing computer games!).
Here are the ancient wooden attractions for children, and while they are having fun, arranging a massacre on a rocking ship, you can join the group of dancing medieval townspeople to music played by wandering musicians, you can watch a puppet show or a procession of giant dolls… And don’t forget to visit an exhibition of knightly armor and weapons located in the castle, as well as writing a wish on a piece of paper and hanging it on a special olive tree – the holiday organizers guarantee that 99.9% of all wishes come true!
You still have the opportunity to visit this holiday on Sunday, the schedule of holiday events can be viewed following the link – Medieval Fair in Calonge 2019. On Sunday evening, at 21:30, they promise a pyrotechnic performance!
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Sant Martí d’Empúries and its beaches

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Categories: Points of interest
We continue to get acquainted with the ancient cities of Catalonia, as well as the best beaches of the Costa Brava. Today – two in one – a medieval one, not even a city, but a small settlement – San Marti d’Empúries (approximately 120 meters in length, and as many in width!), as well as beautiful beaches surrounded by picturesque dunes and rocks, located between Sant Martí and L’Escala.
The town of Sant Martí d’Empúries, located on the wonderful coast of the Costa Brava in the southern part of the Gulf of Roses, has more than one thousand years, for many centuries the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans have visited here. Once upon a time there was the ancient city of Empúries, on the site of which is now the archaeological museum; Well, right in front of the ruins of the city are magnificent sandy beaches – a favorite vacation spot of local residents.

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Medieval castle in Begur

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Categories: Points of interest
On a high cliff, offering breathtaking views of the Costa Brava and the surrounding valley, in the heart of Begur is an ancient medieval castle-fortress, unfortunately, not very well preserved to this day. Built on a strategically convenient place, the castle dates back to 1019 (!) and has seen in its lifetime many glorious military battles and brave men, including famous Mediterranean pirates. Today, at the top of the cliff, among the ruins of the once formidable military structure, an observation deck has been set up; here you can safely climb and admire the magnificent landscapes.
A short story about the history of the castle, accompanied by photographs can be viewed at the link – Begur Castle.

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