Costa Brava House

	Sign In Sign-Up

Costa Brava House
The costa Brava of Alt empordà
Your house in the best place

Introduction The Landscape

The Alt Empordà ("Upper Empordà") region lies in the north-east of Catalonia. (Spain)
To the north the Pyrenees form a natural frontier with France. To the east there is the Mediterranean, with many popular tourist resorts on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Iberian Peninsula.
An important point in Iberian history was when the Greeks and Romans first came to the Iberian Peninsula by the Gulf of Roses.
Greeks from Phocaea founded the town of Empúries in the sixth century B.C. The town was enlarged by the Romans who arrived at a later date, in 218 B.C..
Roman influence can still be seen in many villages in the Empordà. There are several whose name begins with Vila..., the Latin word villa meaning a country house or rural estate.
Empùries was abandoned during the Arab Invasion, but recent excavations have uncovered spectacular ruins and works of art.

The Costa Brava has a unique coastline: only here can we find such beautiful small coves formed by the effect of sea erosion on different types of granite. Inland, the rivers Fluvià and Muga water a fertile agricultural plain.
The marshes formed at the mouths of these rivers, are included in the famous Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park, whose 4783.5 hectares form the second largest marsh area in Catalonia. The Aiguamolls are a regular stopping place for many species of migrating birds.
Special mention must be made of the Cap de Creus, a peninsula of outstanding natural beauty.
The Alt Empordà has a Mediterranean climate, with rain in Spring and Autumn.
A climatic feature of the area is a frequently strong and gusty north wind called the Tramuntana. This wind causes the sky to be almost permanently cloudless, giving the daylight a special clarity throughout the Alt Empordà.

Modus vivendi Art and artists

The main economic activity is tourism and the leisure industry. There are wonderful beaches, marinas and many quality hotels, restaurants and
campsites, all of these in towns and villages which are themselves well worth visiting.
Roses is an important commercial port, and Cadaqués a typical fishing village, where coral has been fished from many years. In the past Cadaqués suffered continuous attacks from pirates.
Mention must also be made of the aerodrome at Empuriabrava, which among other activities offers the enthusiast courses in parachuting.
In fact, all the towns and villages on the Costa Brava are worth a visit. Many organize a waterborne fiesta on 16 July, the day of the patron saint of seafarers.
In contrast to all this tourist activity on the coast, we can also find peace and tranquillity in the interior of the Alt Empordà, where even today we can enjoy the attractions of rural life.
The capital, Figueres, is a modern town with a welcoming populace. Here there is the Dalí Museum, which receives more visitors than any other museum in Spain.
Fishing is another means of earning a living. L'Escala is famous for its traditional salted anchovies, which have a registered guarantee of quality.
There is also an important cork industry (holm oak plantations), and pottery is also produced.
The Empordà is well-known for its wines, especially those produced by the co-operatives at Capmany, Espolla and Peralada.

There are many dolmens scattered throughout the Alt Empordà. Historic buildings include the monastery at Sant Pere de Rodes (9th. and 10th. century), which is a National Listed Building and one of the most important medieval ruins in the Iberian Peninsula.
In Roses there is a citadel which was built by Charles V, and in which can be seen ruins of the ancient Greek settlement of Rhode.
Castelló d'Empúries is noted for its Gothic cathedral.
The fine castle at Peralada has been converted into a casino, and also houses the Wine Museum.
Among many other attractions, mention must also be made of the Benedictine Abbey at Sant Quirze de Colera, Requesens castle and the castle of Sant Ferran (Figueres), which is the second largest fortress in Europe.
Many citizens of the Alt Empordá have gained international fame, including Salvador Dalí, born in Figueres in 1904, who many years later (1974) was to found his famous museum. Narcís Monturiol, born in Figueres in 1819, experimented successfully with the submersible craft which later came to be called submarines. The first was the Ictineo, built in 1864.
Other names to remember are Ramon Muntaner, a medieval chronicler born in Peralada, Victor Català, pseudonym of Caterina Albert, a writer from l'Escala, Angel Planells, a painter born in Cadaqués in 1901, and Albert Boadella, the director of the Joglars theater group.

Your house in the best place

This site is compatible with iEXPLORER and NETSCAPE 3.0 or higher.
Better for iEXPLORER 5.x (800x600 - 64k colors).

alt-emporda@tav.net

Introduction	The Landscape
The Alt Empordà ("Upper Empordà") region lies in the north-east of Catalonia. (Spain) To the north the Pyrenees form a natural frontier with France. To the east there is the Mediterranean, with many popular tourist resorts on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Iberian Peninsula. An important point in Iberian history was when the Greeks and Romans first came to the Iberian Peninsula by the Gulf of Roses. Greeks from Phocaea founded the town of Empúries in the sixth century B.C. The town was enlarged by the Romans who arrived at a later date, in 218 B.C.. Roman influence can still be seen in many villages in the Empordà. There are several whose name begins with Vila..., the Latin word villa meaning a country house or rural estate. Empùries was abandoned during the Arab Invasion, but recent excavations have uncovered spectacular ruins and works of art.	The Costa Brava has a unique coastline: only here can we find such beautiful small coves formed by the effect of sea erosion on different types of granite. Inland, the rivers Fluvià and Muga water a fertile agricultural plain. The marshes formed at the mouths of these rivers, are included in the famous Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park, whose 4783.5 hectares form the second largest marsh area in Catalonia. The Aiguamolls are a regular stopping place for many species of migrating birds. Special mention must be made of the Cap de Creus, a peninsula of outstanding natural beauty. The Alt Empordà has a Mediterranean climate, with rain in Spring and Autumn. A climatic feature of the area is a frequently strong and gusty north wind called the Tramuntana. This wind causes the sky to be almost permanently cloudless, giving the daylight a special clarity throughout the Alt Empordà.
Modus vivendi	Art and artists
The main economic activity is tourism and the leisure industry. There are wonderful beaches, marinas and many quality hotels, restaurants and campsites, all of these in towns and villages which are themselves well worth visiting. Roses is an important commercial port, and Cadaqués a typical fishing village, where coral has been fished from many years. In the past Cadaqués suffered continuous attacks from pirates. Mention must also be made of the aerodrome at Empuriabrava, which among other activities offers the enthusiast courses in parachuting. In fact, all the towns and villages on the Costa Brava are worth a visit. Many organize a waterborne fiesta on 16 July, the day of the patron saint of seafarers. In contrast to all this tourist activity on the coast, we can also find peace and tranquillity in the interior of the Alt Empordà, where even today we can enjoy the attractions of rural life. The capital, Figueres, is a modern town with a welcoming populace. Here there is the Dalí Museum, which receives more visitors than any other museum in Spain. Fishing is another means of earning a living. L'Escala is famous for its traditional salted anchovies, which have a registered guarantee of quality. There is also an important cork industry (holm oak plantations), and pottery is also produced. The Empordà is well-known for its wines, especially those produced by the co-operatives at Capmany, Espolla and Peralada.	There are many dolmens scattered throughout the Alt Empordà. Historic buildings include the monastery at Sant Pere de Rodes (9th. and 10th. century), which is a National Listed Building and one of the most important medieval ruins in the Iberian Peninsula. In Roses there is a citadel which was built by Charles V, and in which can be seen ruins of the ancient Greek settlement of Rhode. Castelló d'Empúries is noted for its Gothic cathedral. The fine castle at Peralada has been converted into a casino, and also houses the Wine Museum. Among many other attractions, mention must also be made of the Benedictine Abbey at Sant Quirze de Colera, Requesens castle and the castle of Sant Ferran (Figueres), which is the second largest fortress in Europe. Many citizens of the Alt Empordá have gained international fame, including Salvador Dalí, born in Figueres in 1904, who many years later (1974) was to found his famous museum. Narcís Monturiol, born in Figueres in 1819, experimented successfully with the submersible craft which later came to be called submarines. The first was the Ictineo, built in 1864. Other names to remember are Ramon Muntaner, a medieval chronicler born in Peralada, Victor Català, pseudonym of Caterina Albert, a writer from l'Escala, Angel Planells, a painter born in Cadaqués in 1901, and Albert Boadella, the director of the Joglars theater group.