Costa Brava Tourist Guide

CostaBravaTouristGuide.com — Twelve Catalan newspapers published a joint editorial last Thursday in which they defend the legality of Catalonia’s statute of autonomy.

The statute — meant to clarify the division of political powers between Spain and Catalonia — is under review by Spain’s constitutional court, which reportedly may weaken plans to enlarge the region’s self-government.

The newspapers, including the popular La Vanguardia en El Periódico, point out that both the Spanish and the Catalan parliament approved the statute, which enhanced Catalonia’s powers in taxation and judicial matters and provided the region with more control over airports, ports and immigration.

Catalonians voted for the statute in a 2006 referendum.

However, three years ago the conservative People’s Party (PP), Spain’s main opposition party which favors a stronger central state, lodged a complaint against the statute at the Constitutional Court.

El Pais last Sunday reported the court is leaning toward rejecting the term “nation” in the autonomy statute. In addition it would cancel or alter many of the statute’s 126 articles, including Catalonia’s increased promotion of the Catalan language.

Autonomous Communities

Political power in Spain is divided by a central government and 17 Autonomous Communities, including Catalonia, which is home to 7 million of Spain’s 46 million people.

These communities are self-governing, each through their own Generalitat — an autonomous political institution which has exclusive jurisdiction, both legislative and executive, over a wide range of subjects.

The Dignity of Catalonia

The court’s decision could set the stage for a major political crisis just before Madrid takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union during the first half of 2010.

The joint editorial, published under the title, “The Dignity of Catalonia,” claims the court’s plans threaten “the democratic maturity of a pluralistic Spain,” and warns that Catalans would take to streets en masse over the court’s decision.

The newspapers were supported by Catalan radio and TV stations, political parties, unions and civic associations.

Separatism

Analysts believe the row plays into the hands of Catalan Separatism, a political movement that promotes complete independence from Spain, is on the rise.

On December 13 more than 150 Catalan municipalities are holding symbolic, unofficial referendums on independence.
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Originally Llançà was divided between the original tenth-century settlement — built inland as a defense against pirates — and the harbor of Llançà.

However, the tourist boom brought lots of urban growth, and the village and harbor soon joined together to create one resort.

By all accounts this is still a relatively quiet town when compared with larger destinations such as Lloret de Mar or Playa D’Aro.

Yet during the summer months both the interior village, Llançà Vila, and the Puerto de Llançà are home to countless foreigners.

As with so many seaside resorts along the Costa Brava, Llançà originated as a fishing village.

The port area is flanked by Passeig Marítim — a modern boulevard that stretches along the beach, Platja del Port — and Carrer Castellar, where you’ll find many shops and restaurants.

The small Vila is centered around the Plaza Mayor, which is shaded by a huge plane tree — named, as in Colera, Arbre de Libertat (Tree of Liberty). The tree was planted in 1870 to commemorate freedom from the French.

The Beaches of Llançà

The coastline between Llançà and El Port de la Selva, a little further north, is not as rugged as in other places along the Costa Brava — but it is irregular and varied enough to awe tourists and locals alike with the same natural beauty that has drawn visitors for decades.

Llançà itself is blessed with an excellent range of small and quiet beaches and coves.

Watersports

Facts about Llançà

• Almost 5,000 people live yearround in the village of Llançà, which covers 28.625 km²

To be continued…

Catalonia, the English term for the Catalan Catalunya, is an Autonomous Community (Comunidad Autónoma) in Northeast Spain.

Its 32.000 km² is home to nearly 7.5 million people, and ranges from the sandy beaches via the wild cliffs of the Costa Brava to the slopes of the Pyrenees in the North.

Barcelona, Catalonia’s capital, is considered one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

The entire region attracts millions of tourists each year.

Political power in Spain is divided by a central government and 17 Autonomous Communities. “The autonomous communities have wide legislative and executive autonomy, with their own parliaments and regional governments,” Wikipedia writes, noting that these “regional governments are responsible for schools, universities, health, social services, culture, urban and rural development and, in some places, policing.”

In many ways, Catalonia is a country within its own rights, and there are plenty of Catalans who either want more autonomy or even outright independence from Spain.

See Also:
• Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) – Wikipedia
• Autonomous Communities of Spain – Wikipedia

Costa Brava Tourist Guide

This website, the Costa Brava Tourist Guide, will focus primarily on the seaside resorts along Catalonia’s Costa Brava, or Wild Coast.

Along the way we hope to share with you concise information about Catalonia — anything from its customs to its cuisine, and from its history and art to its folklore and language.

By the way, this is a labor of love, and we’ve only just started. If you’re looking for information that’s missing right now, just stay tuned and visit us again in a little while. New articles will be added on a regular basis, and current articles will be edited and updated as well.

CostaBravaTouristGuide.com — Some 7 km north of Llançá is the small village of Colera, in the Catalan county of Alt Empordà.

It is listed in some guidebooks as San Miguel de Colera. That was the official name given when, in July 1770, King Charles III authorized the establishment of the village.

Nowadays San Miguel refers to the residential area. Too, San Miguel is the town’s patron saint.

Colera is said to come from the Latin word for ‘hill,’ refering to the foothills of the Albera mountain range that provides a magnificent decor to the West.

About 600 people live here (2008 figures) spread out over 24 square kilometers.

Tourism is Colera’s main industry, but even during high season (August) the place remains uncrowded.

• Colera, which can be reached by train from Figueres, Girona, Llançá and Portbou, is built along a riverbed.

• Colera is located 74 km from Girona, and 28 km from Figueras.

• The village is serviced by the N-260 road, which is in the process of being upgraded to the A-26 Autovia.

Uncrowded Village

Perhaps due to its tiny size the tourist trappings seen elsewhere along the Costa Brava have largely bypassed this village.

With few typical tourist amenities, Colera is a great place to escape the crowds.

The center of Colera, the PlaçPi i Margall — referred to by locals simply as ‘Plaza Mayor’ — is about 200 meters from the beach.

It features a pair of outdoor cafés shaded by the Arbe de Libertat (Liberty Tree) — a banana tree planted at the town’s centennial in 1898.

Here is where you’ll also find the townhall, as well as Colera’s two oldest shops.

There are a few restaurants and simple bars. Colera also has a three simple hotels and some holiday apartments, as well as a camping site.

Uncrowded Beaches

Colera has two large, pebbled beaches set in a horsehoe-shaped by with a small fishing harbor at one end.

Even during the height of the summer season there’s plenty of space at the beach.

• Playa de Garbet: 650 meters long and 140 meters wide. Consists of large and small pebbles. Showers and drinking water available.

• Playa d’en Goixa: This beach, near the train station, consists of large river pebbles. Showers and drinking water available, as well as access for the disabled.

• Punta d’Es Borro: At a short distance from town this isolated beach, 100 meters long and 7 meters wide, is popular with nudists. There’s a 200 meter walk from a car park. In recent years some houses have been built nearby.

Most other beaches in the area can be reached by car or on foot, while some are accessible only by boat — and thus a bit more private.

A road from the train station leads to the small bay of Calle Rovellada.

The more adventurous continue on to windblown Punta de L’Escala, where the sure-footed take a public footpath of sorts to the rocks below.

Attractions

• The town’s large, quiet beaches — as well as the many smaller beaches.

• The tiny tourist office provides information about a number of walking routes in the area, as well as The Albera nature preserve.

• Art Parc at Playa d’en Goix, in front of the train station, consists of a collection of sculptures by Joan Padern.

• Castle Mills, the ruins of a castle that dates to the Middle Ages, and located near the abandoned village of Mills (8 houses).

• Built in the eleventh century, the chapel Ermita de San Miguel de Colera is worth a visit.

Feasts & Festivals

• Mel Novella: during the weekend of San Juan (June 24), Colera hosts a Mel Novella (New Honey) market with more than 30 stands in the center of town.

• San Miguel: the ‘Festa Major’, on September 29, is in honor of the town’s patron saint.

Boating

• Club Nàutic Sant Miquel de Colera can be contacted if you wish to moore your boat in the sports marina: Badia de Colera, s/n. 17496 Colera, Girona. Tel : (+34) 972 38 90 95 Fax: (+34) 972 387 001.

Diving

• Diving Center Colera is an official Catalonian Government centre; it is a Beuchat diving centre and Naui school, Cmas, EDA. It is located at the San Miguel Camping (below).

The center’s boats take divers to one of two diving areas: the Banyuls-Cerbère reserve, off the coast of France, and Cap de Creus — between El Port de La Selva and Cadaqués. Both diving spots are reserves, said to have kept their wild and natural nature.

The diving school offers courses of level I-II-III ACUC, daily outings and special group packs.

Camping

• El Càmping San Miguel A tranquil, family-orientated campsite for tents, caravans and vans. Also offers bungalows.

Colera City Hall

Colera’s official website: Ajuntament de Colera (Catalan)

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