Spanish Property in Girona - Maps and Towns - Costa Brava - Spain

La Bisbal d’Empordà
A medieval market town, La Bisbal is the capital of the region with a population of 8000. Situated by a river, La Bisbal has been involved in the production of ceramics since the 17th century and there are numerous pottery shops in the town selling locally produced goods. There is also a pottery museum in the town. A large Jewish quarter was once situated in the town, the remains of which can still be seen today and the old quarter contains some upmarket mansions as well as the ruins of the medieval castle which is acknowledged as an important example of the Catalan Romanesque style. There are numerous shops and other amenities in La Bisbal. These include several small supermarkets, a couple of excellent butchers, vegetable stalls, bread shops and fishmongers. A street market is held in there on Fridays when the whole of the centre of La Bisbal is taken up by market stalls selling local produce such from peaches and local olive oil to honey and snails as well as clothes and kitchen equipment.
La Bisbal is 18km from Girona.

The Costa Brava

Sant Feliu de Guíxols
The most southerly coastal town of the Baix Empordà, Sant Feliu is a large tourist resort with 18,000 permanent residents. On the plus side, its hotels are fairly low-rise but the long curve of coarse sands next to the Mediterranean brings busloads of visitors here in the summer. The Passeig del Mar is attractive, lined with pavement cafés and palm trees, whilst away from the beach the old town can be a pleasant place. Sant Feliu grew up around a 10th century Benedictine monastery whose remains can still be seen in the town. The narrow streets of the old town are shoulder to shoulder with café-bars and tourist shops. Sant Feliu prospered in the 19th century due to the cork industry and this is evident in some of the buildings that exist in the town. Sant Feliu has all the requisite tourist amenities and activities. The town is easily reached by road and bus and is 20km from Girona’s airport.

Castell-Platja d’Aro
The high-rise mass of concrete blocks at Platja d’Aro make the town an unattractive place, although its 3km beach attracts thousands of visitors. Another resort with ample tourist amenities, the town has 5200 inhabitants.
There are 2 golf courses near to Platja, the Mas Nou d’Aro and the Costa Brava course. A market is held in the town on Fridays.
Platja d’Aro is 5km north of Sant Feliu.

Palamós
The fishing town of Palamós is the next resort north along the coast. The town’s harbour is full of yachts and each day, the local catch is auctioned off to the best bidder by the quayside. The old part of the town is to the east of the bay and it dates from the 13th century. A residential town of 15,000 people as well as a resort, Palamós’ facilities stay open all year round.
The weekly street market takes place on Tuesdays.
Palamós is 7km north of Platja d’Aro, 40km southeast of Girona and 125km north of Barcelona.

The next town along the coast is Vall-Llobrega, a small place of 300 inhabitants set back 2km from the sea.
Palafrugell (1700 people) is also inland, 4km away from the sea. The old town is a collection of old streets and shops gathered around its 16th century church and it has managed to retain its old charm, despite the numerous tourists who visit the town. The coast at Palafrugell tends to be quieter since there is no real coastal road. The small coves at Calella, Llafranch and Tamariu are backed by pine trees and the development along the beach has been less frenetic than at other places along the Costa Brava. There are quite a few weekend villas in the area belonging to wealthy Barceloneans.
The town itself has a number of restaurants and bars, there is a morning market each day in the town and a street market is held on Sundays. On Friday nights, the traditional Catalan Sardana is danced in the Plaça Nova main square.
Palafrugal is 30km from Girona.

Begur
Three miles away from the coast, Begur is a dusty town of 3000 people, situated seven hundred feet above sea level with an old-style atmosphere. Less visited than the other coastal towns, the remains of Begur’s 17th century castle can be seen here and from the castle there are wonderful views of the surrounding area. The medieval streets surround an old church and it can feel as though time is has stood still in this tranquil town. There are a number of bars and cafés in the town spread around its cobbled pedestrian streets. South of Begur is the town of Aiguablava which also has magnificent views.
There are a couple of nightclubs in Begur, restaurants and cafés, boutiques, art shops and specialist food shops. Live music is played in the town square during the summer. A morning street market takes place on Wednesdays, selling clothing and fresh produce. Begur is 40km from Girona.

Southern Baix Empordà
The south of Baix Empordà takes in the Gavarres forest zone where the tree-covered hills are interrupted at intervals by dispersed hamlets and farmhouses.

Cruïlles Monells I Sant Sadurní de l’Heura
These three villages together constitute one municipality with a population of 1100. The region’s Medieval heritage is evident in this area, with old village squares and crumbling medieval walls. The villages are situated in the hills 8km south of La Bisbal.

The beautiful, tiny medieval village of Torrent with a population of 180 is situated 5km east of La Bisbal and the village of Mont Ras (1500 people) is just south of Torrent on the C-66 road.

Calonge
A few kilometres inland from the coast, Calonge, with a population of 6000, has a medieval old centre with narrow streets, a church and a castle. There are several restaurants and bars in this quiet place which is a traditional Catalan town. A labyrinth of streets surrounds the old church with a couple of small shops and a few restaurants.
Calonge is 25km from Girona and 8km from La Bisbal.

North Baix Empordà

North of La Bisbal on the road towards Girona is the village of La Pera with 350 inhabitants. Rupià is few kilometres from La Pera. It is beautiful, unspoilt village with an excellent restaurant and 200 inhabitants. Just north of Rupià is the village of Foixà (300 people), another extremely pretty village with a good restaurant. These villages are about 15km from Girona.

In the northwestern corner of Baix Empordà, the villages of Jafre (300 people), Colomers (200 people), Vilopriu (160 people) and Garrigoles (150 people) are all situated in between the sea and the mountains, off the major roads but within easy reach of Girona.

The medieval village of Ullastret, with a population of 250, is notable for the ruins of an Iberian settlement which can be seen just outside the village. Nearby is a particularly beautiful village called Peratallada with its ruined castle of pre-Roman origins, a fortified church and elaborate houses. Ullastret is a few kilometres north of La Bisbal on the quiet C-31 road.

Further north on the same road, the village of Verges (population 1100) is another medieval village. It has a pleasant town square and the vestiges of the wall that once encircled the entire medieval village. Near the town square is a well-preserved entrance gate. In February, “La Sopa” festival takes place. Huge pots of soup are cooked over burning logs and distributed amongst the villagers, a tradition stemming back to the time when the feudal lord would give a meal for all of the townspeople. South of Verges are the villages of Ultramort (200 people) and Parlavà (350 people). Just north of Verges are La Tallada d’Empordà (350 people) and Albons (500 people). Verges is about 15km from Girona.

Pals
On top of a hill a few kilometres from the coast, Pals is a picturesque town of 1800 residents. The remains of the city wall can be seen around the old part of the town, the Vila Vela. Its quiet streets are peppered with lots of ceramic shops. There is a fine, 18-hole golf course, Pals Golf Course, in the town and the Serres de Pals Golf Course is outside Pals.
Pals is 8km from La Bisbal.

Palau-Sator 300
West of Pals is the village of Palau-Sator, an agricultural village that is becoming increasingly involved in tourism. There are numerous restaurants in the village and a few shops. The Festa Major is held on the last weekend in July.
It is 15 minutes to the coast from the village and La Bisbal is 6km away.

Just north of Palau-Satar is the small village of Fontanilles with a population of 120, the village of Serra de Daró (population 200) and the village of Gualta (population 300).

Torroella de Montgrí
To the northeast of Baix Empordà is the town of Torroella de Montgrí, which used to be an important Medieval port located on the Ter River. The port is now dry and Torroella is 5km inland, due to the receding of the Mediterranean sea. Located beneath the remains of a massive 13th century castle, Torroella is a characteristically Medieval town, its narrow alleys and streets wind their way through old houses, splendid old mansions and a 14th century castle. A small town with a population of 8000, Torroella receives a number of tourists, mostly on day trips. There are several hotels and restaurants in the town and a number of shops. The weekly market is held on Mondays. The 18-hole Emporada Golf Course is located at Torroella.
Torroella is 20km from Girona.