Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava, Spain
Popular Since the Dawn of Mass Tourism, Lloret is Still Costa Queen
Oct 24, 2008
Lloret de Mar on Spain's Costa Brava has an ancient history, rooted in traditions and customs that make it one of the most popular resorts in Spain. Back in the fifties when international tourism first began to transform Europe, Lloret de Mar changed forever.
For visitors from more northerly climes, Spain, and the Costa Brava (the Wild Coast), was a place of magic. Lloret de Mar was the unknown then, gentle hills and vineyards stretching away from a town of narrow streets lined with white houses that nestled around the enormous arc of sandy beach.
How Lloret de Mar has Changed
Today that once tranquil town has been transformed, but Lloret de Mar has retained its charm. In the race for the tourist dollar it hasn't lost its soul. The Plaça de l'Ajuntament (Town Hall) lends a solid air of gravitas to the place, and the elegant promenade flanked by palm-trees, offers restaurants, tapas bars, and cafés in which to while away a few hours. Some of the narrow streets of the old town have been converted into a lively market which attracts locals and visitors alike.
Who Travels to Lloret de Mar
The town attracts probably a wider variety of tourists than some of the resorts further south being more accessible by car for week-ends from countries like France and Belgium. With more than 200 hotels from 1* to 5*, apartments and campsites, Lloret caters for all ages from family groups to retired couples.
The José Luís Andrés bull-ring seats 5,000 people and has excellent corridas and novilladas (fights with young bulls and novice bullfighters) in the summer. At the other end of the spectrum there is the Casino offering French and American roulette, baccarat, chemin de fer, blackjack, boule – and Bingo!
What to Do In and Around Lloret de Mar
Touring in the Costa Brava is especially rewarding, and discovering the craggy, rocky coast by boat is one of the best ways to spend a day, enjoying a picnic on the beach where possible. The jagged inlets of pearly sands hemmed in by rocks, and a sea the colour of turquoise make this marine area one of the most alluring in Spain.
The little beach next to the main Lloret beach is called “Sa Caleta” and the decorative medieval style castle built in modern times towers above the sea, making a perfect photograph from the boat. During Fiestas – and Lloret de Mar has a considerable and varied calendar of festivals - a natural theatre is set up in this little cove where orchestral works, opera and ballet are performed to a 5,000 capacity crowd.
What to do Further Afield
Inland are medieval hill towns, their ochre coloured buildings honeyed by the sun, backed by woods of pine trees and fields splashed with scarlet poppies and yellow sunflowers. Nearby is Tossa de Mar, an exquisite medieval hill town with marvellous vistas towards the sea from many places. A couple of days can well be spent in this town alone.
The bars and restaurants in both Lloret and Tossa display tempting menus (nowhere can one find better, or fresher, prawns than along this coast), and sipping a glass of bubbly Cava with some local olives while waiting for the Gambas a la Plancha to arrive, just has to be one of the best things life can offer.
Barcelona is only 73 Km away - making it perfect for a day-trip. The famous monastery at Monserrat is 123 Km Away, Girona 40 Km. And Blanes with the famous botanical gardens, a mere 6 km. If it is too hot for touring and travelling, then the beautiful Jardins de Santa Clotilde set in an amphitheatre overlooking the sea, and quite nearby, are the perfect place in which to spend a tranquil afternoon.
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