Calella de Palafrugell is a small fishing village on the Costa Brava, in Catalonia, part of the municipality of Palafrugell, with about 24,500 inhabitants, along with Llafranc, Tamariu and the inland town of Palafrugell. It has kept the feel of a fishing village, with white houses and voltes, arched porticoes facing the beach.
Beaches and coves
Calella's coast is a string of small coarse-sand beaches and rocks: Port Bo, with its boats and voltes, Canadell, the largest, Port Pelegrí, Platgeta and Sant Roc. Further north, Llafranc has an elegant bay and a marina, and Tamariu a quiet cove among pines. The water is clear, perfect for snorkelling.
The Camí de Ronda
The Camí de Ronda, the old coastguard path, links the coves along the cliffs. The stretch from Calella to Llafranc takes about half an hour and is one of the most beautiful on the Costa Brava; you can continue to Sant Sebastià lighthouse, with views of the coast, and on to Tamariu.
Cap Roig
The Cap Roig Gardens, created by a Russian colonel and an English aristocrat in the 1920s, are a terraced botanical garden over the sea, with Mediterranean plants and sculptures. In summer they host the Cap Roig Festival, with concerts by international artists.
The habaneras
On the first Saturday of July, on Port Bo beach, the Cantada d'Havaneres is held, Calella's most famous festival: thousands listen to groups singing habaneras, nostalgic songs brought back by sailors who traded with Cuba, while drinking cremat, flambéed rum with coffee, sugar and cinnamon.
Palafrugell and cork
In inland Palafrugell are the market, the church of Sant Martí and the Cork Museum, telling the story of the cork industry that made the area rich in the 19th and 20th centuries. The writer Josep Pla was born here.
Getting there
Calella is about 45 km from Girona, with its airport, and about two hours from Barcelona. Buses run from Palafrugell, Girona and Barcelona.