«Forget Barcelona, stretching north from the city to the Spanish–French border, the Costa Brava (‘rugged coast’) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful.»

This wonderfully scenic region of Catalonia also unveils unspoiled coves, spectacular seascapes, wind-battered headlands, coast-hugging hiking paths, charming seaside towns with outstanding restaurants, and some of Spain’s finest diving around the protected Illes Medes. Delightful stone villages and the majestic Romanesque monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes nestle in the hilly backcountry, cloaked in the south in brilliant-green umbrella pine. Inland, wander northern Catalonia’s biggest city, Girona, home to a moodily atmospheric, strikingly well-preserved medieval centre and one of the world’s top restaurants. Neighbouring Figueres is famed for its bizarre Teatre-Museu Dalí, foremost of a series of sites associated with eccentric surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, who fell, like many others, for the wild natural beauty of seaside Cadaqués.