If you think about going on holidays to Lloret de Mar with your family this summer, we want to share with you the essential places to visit in the south of the Costa Brava, from Blanes to Palamós.
The Santa María Castle, better known as Castle d'en Plaja, is one of the most emblematic buildings in Lloret de Mar. It is located on the beach, next to the Sa Caleta cove, at the Platja Gran de Lloret north end.
This neo-Gothic style castle, work of the Girona architect Isidor Bosch i Bataller, began to be built in 1933 and was completed in the mid-forties. For its construction, the stones used, were extracted from the land’s ground.
Its beautiful beacon towers and ogival-shaped windows stand out. In addition, it has a private path protected by a stone wall that ends in a small viewpoint over the sea from which you can enjoy wonderful views.
Currently, the building is owned by Narcís Plaja Martí a Girona businessman, married to María Vilà i Ruyra, niece of the writer Joaquim Ruyra, considered one of the great modern 20th century storytellers.
It is perfect to visit with the family at any time of the day while taking a walk along the Lloret de Mar promenade.
The Santa Clotilde Gardens are one of the most beautiful and romantic places of Lloret de Mar. They are located on the top of a cliff between Cala Boadella and Fenals beach, with unbeatable panoramic views of the Costa Brava.
These gardens were designed in 1919 by Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí and are characterized by a clear influence of the Italian Renaissance model (with overlapping terraces, intersecting paths, ramps, stairs, sculptures, fountains and ponds), perfectly combined with the architectural work from the surroundings.
With more than 25,000 m2, the Santa Clotilde Gardens are considered one of the best Mediterranean botanical gardens in Europe. An ideal walk to discover the native Mediterranean flora and where the sea breeze mixes with a pleasant scent of flowers.
The ticket to the gardens is € 6 and the opening hours can be check at the Lloret de Mar tourist information office.
In addition, during the next weeks of August enjoy the Som de Mar Festival, a family cycle during 9 days on the trot with concerts in the Santa Clotilde Gardens. If you want more information, do not hesitate to check our post about the festival.
The Sant Romà Church is in the city centre, in Plaça de l’Església of Lloret de Mar. This building clearly reflects the two building periods of construction and architecture.
On the one hand, the front Gothic style of the building, with its portal and austere indoors, built in the 16th century. In contrast with the colour of the domes and the twelve apostles mosaic, inspired by the modernist art movement in the late 19th century.
The altarpiece of the main altar was requested by the juries of the University of Lloret, in the year 1541, to Pere Serafí and Jaume Fontanet painters.
The church has been modified and enlarged on numerous occasions throughout history. One of the most important reforms was the work of the modernist architect Bonaventura Conill i Montobbio at the beginning of the 20th century and consisted of a deep adaptation to the modernist style, covering the entire temple with mosaics using the trencadís technique in the two chapel sides, the Saintly and the Baptismal.
The Church of Sant Romà is free and can be visited every day from 9.30am to 12pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm.
The Sant Joan Castle, also known as Forcadell Castle, is located at the top of the Sant Joan hill of Blanes, 173 meters above sea level.
It is the ideal place to enjoy the best views of Blanes and its coastline with your family. From this point you can see the Gavarres Mountains, the coastal mountain range and the Montseny. On days when the sky is clear, you can see the Montjuïc mountain outline in Barcelona.
It was built in the mid-13th century to monitor the maritime pirate intrusion. It was made up of an enclosure fortified with a tower with a cylindrical base 15 meters high.
The castle lost its strategic importance from the end of the 15th century and was abandoned until a military optical telegraphy station was seated in the mid-19th century. Later, during the Spanish civil war, it was used as a refuge.
The Marimurtra Botanical Garden was founded in 1924 by Karl Faust, a German businessman and scientific patron. It is in the Passeig de Carles Faust in Blanes, above some cliffs that border the sea.
The garden has 16 hectares and has more than 4,000 species. The subtropical garden has an interesting collection of cactus, the temperate garden of bamboos and Chilean palm trees, and the Mediterranean Garden of olive trees.
Since its founding, the Marimurtra Botanical Garden has become a place of inspiration for gardeners from around the world and a learning place for students and professionals. Like the Santa Clotilde Gardens, it is considered one of the best Mediterranean botanical gardens in Europe.
One of the most captivating venues in the garden is the Linneo Temple, an exceptional viewpoint over Cala Forcanera with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
The entrance fee to the botanical garden is €7. The opening hours can be check on the official website of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden.
Tossa de Mar is one of the most charming towns in Costa Brava south and is well known because of its wall, located in the Vila Vella of the town built between the 12th and 14th centuries as a defence against piracy.
It has about 300 meters perimeter and seven towers with a circular ground plant and a cylindrical body, the tower located at the eastern side is called Torre d'en Joanàs. The vestiges of the primitive Gothic-style parish church dedicated to San Vicente have also been preserved.
Within the wall you can find tight and steep streets and centuries-old stone houses, although most of the areas are dedicated to commercial stores and restaurants.
In 1931 it was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument and currently, Tossa de Mar is the only example of a fortified medieval town that exists on the Catalan coast.
Both the wall and the old town of Tossa de Mar are perfect to visit with children, since is perfectly walked on foot.
In the south as well as in the north of the Costa Brava, the best views can be found bordering the coast.
Cami de Ronda is the name for the paths used by the Civil Guard to control the Spanish maritime border and prevent smuggling. Currently, it is an attractive walk that goes along the whole Girona coastline.
One of the most popular paths goes from Sant Pol beach to Sa Conca beach, located in S’Agaró. At the beginning of the path, you will see the famous coloured houses of Sant Pol beach (used as changing room, with about 100 years old). In the middle of the path you will find a viewpoint that looks like a temple with spectacular sea view.
Another beautiful route is the one from La Fosca beach to Cala del Castell, in Palamós. During this path between two beautiful beaches, you will find Cala S’Alguer, a cove located in a small fishing village, with white houses, large wooden gates painted in different colours and the traditional fishing boats. In short, one of the most beautiful coves on the Costa Brava.
The two paths are quite simple and can be walked perfectly on foot. In addition, they are perfect to do at any time of the year.
At Rosamar Hotels we have the best hotels in the south of the Costa Brava for you to enjoy a family holidays.
The Rosamar & Spa hotel located on the seafront, offers all the services so children and adults can fully enjoy their stay. With spa, swimming pool, fitness area, restaurants... and much more!
At the Rosamar Garden Resort hotel, located 300m from the beach in Lloret de Mar, you can choose between rooms or apartments. It has swimming pools (with slides for children and adults) and a sports area so you can all have a great time together.
At Rosamar Hotels we have everything you need to spend an incredible family holiday!