Cataluna

Fishing villages, pretty coves & rural escapes

Catalonia (known locally as Cataluna) stretches from the Mediterranean border with France in the north to the delta of the River Ebro in the south, and includes the Eastern Pyrenees. Barcelona, the region's capital city, is a very popular destination for city break holidays.

Cataluna - History and Heritage:

Cataluna is a highly individual Spanish province, steeped in history with a proud heritage that is fiercely guarded by the local Catalans. Catalonia has its own unique character which sets it apart from the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. It's an autonomous region with its own language, Catalan. The language is unique although it is Latin-based and some of the vocabulary is similar to Spanish and French. Catalonia (Cataluna) was one of the areas of strongest resistance to the Franco regime in the first two decades following the Civil War. Book shops and libraries had their Catalan books destroyed and the language was banned from schools, radio and the media. It's not surprising then that both the language and culture of Catalonia were revived with a vengeance after Franco's death in 1975.

Cataluna - Holiday Accommodation:

On our website you will find a selection of carefully chosen houses, villas, apartments and hotels located throughout Catalonia. Our accommodation ranges from restored country houses in rural Cataluna to coastal apartments and villas with pools in the most pleasant resorts on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada.

Cataluna - Costa Brava - Overview:

The Costa Brava is one of Spain's most picturesque coasts. The Costa Brava comprises the coast of the province of Gerona and stretches from just north of Barcelona to the French border.

It is sometimes regarded as the birthplace of the popular package holiday, however this image is misguided. Although some areas and resorts cater for the mass market, the coastline of the Costa Brava is generally rugged and indented with small sandy coves on to which spill traditional, pretty fishing villages.

We consider the coast of Palafrugell with its pine clad cliffs and delightful little villages like Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc to be particularly attractive. Roses in the north has some of the best beaches and is a good base from which to explore the rugged coast of Cabo de Creus, Cadaques and Figueres. more info about the Costa Brava.

Cataluna - Costa Dorada - Overview:

Stretching from Cambrils in the west to La Pineda in the east, the Costa Dorada has all the ingredients for the perfect seaside holiday. Located on the east side of Spain, this is the coast from the Ebro Delta and Tarragona in the south, up to Barcelona in the north. It encompasses about 150 miles of golden beaches, hence its name 'the Gold Coast,' lapped by safe, shallow waters of the Mediterranean sea.

There are several pleasant places to stay along the Costa Dorada including the fishing village of L'Ametlla del Mar (ideal for exploring the Ebro), the attractive resort of Altafulla (close to Tarragona and Port Aventura) and sophisticated Sitges (near Barcelona) where the beaches are good. The city of Tarragona is well worth visiting and has some fascinating Roman remains. More info about the Costa Dorada.

Cataluna - Penedes - Overview:

Monasteries, castles, medieval villages and vineyards are scattered across the rolling countryside of rural inland Cataluna. 20km along the coast to the west of Barcelona is the Penedes region. Penedes is considered to be the cradle of modern Spanish wine growing and is famous for 'Cava', the Spanish equivalent of Champagne, which can be sampled in the many bodegas throughout the region. Penedes produces two different types of wine, still and sparkling. more info about Penedes.

Cataluna - Our holiday accommodation and service:

Travel with secretdestinations.com holidays and enjoy delightful, privileged, sophisticated holiday destinations throughout Cataluna (Catalunya/Catalonia) including the Costa Brava, Costa Dorada and Penedes. Privately owned houses, cottages, villas, apartments, villas with pools and hotels, in beautiful coastal and rural locations, hand-picked for an authentic taste of unspoiled secret Spain.

So, if you're looking for an activity holiday walking, cycling and trekking in Cataluna's pretty countryside; exploring historic catles, fascinating villages, rural towns and vibrant cities; enjoy wine-tasting and gastronomy; fancy a spot of surfing, swimming, sunbathing or relaxing on great beaches; or you just want to simply escape the tourist masses with a privately owned apartment, cottage or villa with a pool, call our holiday team today. We can also assist you with flights to Cataluna, ferry travel and holiday car hire.