Barcelona: A day trip to Costa Brava

Jan. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Whenever you're traveling to Barcelona it's also great to spend one day in Costa Brava area.

The Costa Brava is a coastal region in the North of Barcelona. It stretches from Blanes (60 km from Barcelona) to the French border. The public transport between Barcelona and Costa Brava is well organized and fast. Let me mention some interesting places to visit in the Costa Brava area.

Ruins of Empúries
The Ruins of Empúries are situated near to the fishing village named L’Empúries, in Sant Marti. As it was a Greek and Roman City, these ruins are as singular as unique, a fusion of the two great European cultures. Before it was called Paleápolis by the archaeologists or old city, on the presently called San Martí d’Empúries on the peninsula of the first Greek foundation. Secondly, the Greek city on the mainland, just by the sea, called Neapolis ( new city). Finally the not yet located Iberian town; Indica. Empúries was founded around 575 BCE by the Greeks of Focea, for reasons of security, originally established on the island Paleápolis. Emporium, ie, market, as the Greeks called themselves, was an ecxellent post for trading. The remains of the city, which was established in the end in 100 BC, can be visited nowadays. The original city was destroyed in 218 BCE by the invasion of the Romans and a military camp was imposed there by force. One of the most enormous engineering works of ancient tiems in the Iberian Peninsula is the breakwater of the harbor. The overall site of 40 hectares is the most importanat archaeological site in Catalonia. Because it was considered as an entry spot for the Greeks to the peninsula, Empúries was the place designated to receive the Olympic flame for the Olympic Games Barcelona in 1992. You can visit all the premises in about two hours and find out how was the lifestyle in the Ancient Greece by seeing their houses, temples, markets and shops. So as to be close to these ancient ruins and wonderful site on this magnificent coast we provide you comfortable apartments for a very reasonable price at rental apartment Costa Brava Ok, where you can feel yourself at home: http://www.costabrava-ok-apartment.com/en

The Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodesí
Built in the tenth century, the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes is the best testimony of Romanesque art in the area of Girona. The monastery was increasing its power until it dominated territories on both side of the Pyrenees, almost since its founding in the tenth century. Of this jewel of Roman Area the church bell tower ( twelfth century) and the defense tower from the same period are also worth to visit. The year 1697 marks the beginning of the declination of the monastery. Since that time prominent pieces such as the Bible of San Pedro have been lost as a consequence of the decreasing influence and having to suffer a subsequent looting of the place. The Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes houses the Centre for Studies with the same name. One of the offices of Cap de Creus Natural Park carries out its activities inside the above mentioned architectural complex presently. A true experience for the senses is created by the magnificent architecture and the beauty of a place which dominates the whole peninsula of Cape Creus. Without doubt, it is an fabulous place that exudes preciousness.

Castelló d'Empúries
Castelló d'Empúries lies about 17 m above sea level and covers an area significantly larger: 42.3 km ², including the Natural Park of "Els Aiguamolls de l'Emporda", a wetland area consisting of coastal lagoons brackish, freshwater ponds, coastal dunes, floodplains, riparian forests and rice paddies. Vast reedbeds with yellow lilies and chestnuts vary the sight of the ponds and flooded meadows. Castelló d'Empúries has two towns: the medieval town of Castelló d'Empuries in the centre and the coastal area of Empuriabrava. Castelló had its heyday during the Middle Ages. The Counts of Empuries installed here their residence in the eleventh century so it became the county seat. An important festival (the Terra de Troubadours festival) held in mid-September, and the Festa Major (Festival) held at around 10th August are just few of those great traditions that made the city well-known by these days. Its important assets are the Guildhall, which preserves its structure of the late fourteenth century, the Prison and the Church of Santa Maria de Ampurias, which the writer Josep Pla described as "the parish church”, dedicated to Candelaria, the cathedral of the Empordà. The Church of Santa Maria de Ampurias is the mainchurch of the miter, after the cathedral. It is a Gothic church in the district of Puig Salnes, which the old town regarded as the main religious monument on lands of Girona (Gerona), after the Cathedral of Girona, and notable for its size and dimensions for being a cathedral. The first floor of the bell tower and a large font of the early Roman temple, on the remains of which the church was built, are still remained.

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Intrested in tourism in Northern Spain and general interest in Barcelona. Have a look at the Website of OK Apartments Barcelona for more information.