This southernmost resort of the Costa Brava is undeservedly forgotten by tourists. Most of them immediately rush to Lloret de Mar - where there is a casino, a bus station, a lot of entertainment and picturesque rocks. But Blanes also has attractions, and even what! Maybe it's not so striking, but it's worth getting to know them. Blanes is the only point on the Costa Brava where the train stops. The rest of the resort villages are accessible only by car. So it's easy to get here. There is a bus from the railway station to the city center, and, as a rule, its schedule is "adjusted" for the arrival of the train. So, let's go to see Blanes.
Sightseeing begins immediately from the sea. Along the coast stretches a huge boulevard Del Paseo Maritimo. It is beautiful in itself, like any embankmentCatalonia. But here you can immediately see that the city is divided into two conditional parts - the old one, with narrow shady streets, as well as the resort - with a chain of hotels by the sea, with parks and gardens. It stretched all the way to the river, which serves as the border of the Costa Brava. In fact, at the intersection of these two urban areas, right into the sea, there is a rock that in the old days served as a customs tower. There you can climb, walk, take pictures. The rock is surrounded by pebbly beaches with deep blue clear water. From it you can see all of Blanes. The historical sights of this town do not end at all on this rock.
Directly above the resort you will see a rather high, almost two hundred meter hill San Juan, on which there is something like the ruins of a castle. If you are by car, nothing is easier. But if you go on foot, you will have to sweat - there are a lot of steps, and they are all steep. But nothing, you will be rewarded with a stunning view of the mountains, the sea and Blanes, the sights of which you are visiting, but also of the entire Costa Brava. You can even see Barcelona if you're lucky. Once upon a time there was a Roman fort, and then a fortified settlement with a castle built in the twelfth century by the freedom-loving Viscount de Cabrera, the local lord. Now the tower and the remains of the walls remain from the castle, and even a small chapel was attached to them (hence the name of the mountain).
The vicissitudes have led to the fact that Blanes is no longer independent. Spain, the sights of which, as a rule,reflect the Castilian desire for luxury, has left its mark on the harsh Catalan customs. Therefore, palaces and gardens appeared here. Fans of all kinds of parks will have a place to walk in the city. Right on the spurs of San Juan is the beautiful Marimutra Botanical Garden, founded by Karl Schmidt. And a little further from the city itself, towards Lloret de Mar, you can visit a real cactus museum, Piña de Rosa Park.
After walking through the gardens, return to the embankment again. On Sundays, Catalan dances are held here - the locals love to dance. And walking along it from one end to the other, you will inspect all the beaches and choose the one that suits your taste. From wide sixty meters in width and four kilometers in length - to small bays, indented with rocks and built up with white villas. But all of them are great for relaxing, and every year they are awarded "blue flags" for quality and cleanliness. By the way, if you decide to stay here, you may need a map of Blanes with attractions. So ask for it at your hotel. It's completely free.
