Costa Brava Tourist Guide

El Port de la Selva is a seaside village in the comarca of the Alt Empordà in Catalonia, Spain.

Overlooking a bay by the same name, the village is situated on the northern coast of the Cap de Creus and is an important fishing port and tourist center.

A Costa Brava photo souvenir book, available at shops in all the tourist districts up and down the coast says it’s the only natural harbor in this area,

for in this part of the coastline the mountain masses drop drown to the sea in sheer cliffs, majestically impressive and rugged, forming de Cap de Creus with the islands of Massa d’Oros and L’Encalladora before them.

Then there are Isla Culleró, Punta de Moli, Isla Poraló, Punta dels Farrallons, Penyas Roges, Cap Gros, Punta Blanca, Punta de la Creu and many other steep rocks and islets.

In the midst of all this ruggedness — remember, Costa Brava means ‘Wild Coast’ — El Port de la Selva is a haven of calm.

You guessed it: El Port de la Selva started life as a fishing village, but the fishersmen from this part of the coast have for centuries lived in the village of Selva de Mar — three kilometers inland — where they alternated fishing with farming activities. Port de la Selva developed from this village.

Fishing is still the village’s main source of income, but tourism also brings in a lot of money.

El Port de las Selva is popular with wealthy Barcelonians, and — owing in part to its proximity to the border — to visitors from France as well.

The population of about 1.000 people is swelled in the summer months by tourists, many of whom return so often than they have bought a house or apartment here.

Beaches

Platja Perabeua is a nice, pebble-stone beach in a natural setting of rocks and cliffs. The sand is clean and the blue water is crystal clear.

Some houses and tents are visible, but there are no amenities. Bring a picnic basket.

The beach can only be reached on foot and is somewhat of a climb down and later back up again. No lifeguards, no first aid post, and no toilets available.

The main beach of El Port de la Selva fronts the village. The clean beach consists of a mixture of fine sand and pebbles.

This beach includes a wide range of amenities and facilities. It is popular with wind surfers, and has on offer boat tours, jet skis, and para-sailing.

First aid post, toilets and showers are available.

This blue flag beach has plenty of nearby shops.

The water at the beach is, for the most part, shallow making this an ideal beach for children.

Things to do

Aside from the usual beach activities, hiking in the area around town is very popular.

There are numerous historical sites to see.

Hotels

• Hotel Cap de Creus

CostaBravaTouristGuide.com, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 — 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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