Blanes

Blanes is a built-up area and from the south it’s the start of the Costa Brava region, for this reason its known as “The Gateway” to the Costa Brava.

Blanes is a popular holiday destination and one of the Costa Brava’s largest holiday resorts, but with a population of more than 20,000 it has managed to absorb the tourists without losing its identity.

The Old town, just behind the seafront, has survived almost unscathed, with Gothic chuches, medieval houses, fountains, shrines and a lively daily produce market.

Just above the town (a fairly steep hillside) is the Mar i Murtra botanic garden, situated on a clifftop the gardens are home to more than 4,000 species, dedicated primarily to Mediterranean and sub-tropical flora. It has wonderful collections of cacti and other beautiful plants from arid regions of southern Africa and Central America, as well as plants endemic to Catalonia. The garden has steep slopes and a lake, as well a long flight of steps leading to the Linnaeus temple, which offers stunning views out over the coast and sea with olive, pine and tamarisk trees dropping down towards the sea.

The road beyond the gardens continues to the small beach and former tuna-fishing port at Cala Sant Francesc, where there is a beach bar in the summer months. Castell de Sant Joan, an 11th century castle and 15th century hermitage is also a short distance from the gardens.

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