Blanes

Why go

Sa Palomera gives the long beachfront a clear landmark and marks the symbolic start of the Costa Brava. Beyond the main seafront, Marimurtra Botanical Garden and Cala Sant Francesc offer distinct reasons to extend the visit. The appeal lies in combining an established coastal town with gardens or a smaller bay.

What to look for

• Sa Palomera rock divides the long beachfront.
• Cala Sant Francesc is also known as Cala Bona.

The full story

Blanes has a history that reaches beyond its role as the southern gateway to the Costa Brava. The Roman settlement was known as Blanda or Blandae, and the town later developed important medieval buildings, including the Palau Vescomtal and the parish church. War then changed that fabric: during the seventeenth-century Catalan Revolt, Blanes was devastated and the palace destroyed. Reconstruction and agricultural expansion followed further conflict in the War of the Spanish Succession. The town’s cultural calendar brings another connection with the sea. Its international fireworks competition is associated with the Santa Anna celebrations, and the beach is a traditional place to watch. That relationship between town, celebration and shoreline adds context to the broad waterfront, even on a visit outside the festival.

Useful to know

• Choose between Marimurtra and Cala Sant Francesc before leaving the main seafront; each is a separate stop.
• For the Santa Anna fireworks competition, check the current programme before choosing a visit date.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.