Costa Daurada

The 'Golden Coast' of Northeast Spain, could just as easily be described as the 'Rainbow Coast' - as every colour seems richer and more lustrous in the summer light.

Each season shows off it's own characteristics and although winter can be a little cool there are plenty of diversions.

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Light is the unifying motif of the contrasting landscapes of the Costa Daurada. The forested mountains and valleys of the interior and the fine sandy beaches of the coast share the same golden hue under the bluest, most limpid Mediterranean sky.

Extending southwards, from Barcelona to the marshes of the Ebro Delta, this part of Catalunya is deservedly known as the Golden Coast, attracting to its beaches many thousands of visitors every year. People come to these sunny shores to enjoy the lovely climate and pleasant lifestyle, the hospitality of the Catalan people, their history and traditions. They come to benefit from the extensive sporting facilities in the ports and marinas, leisure centres and golf courses, set in delightful surroundings.

Sitges, Calafell, Salou and Cambrils
All along its coastline, well-developed, sophisticated resorts alternate with little villages and ports, where the traditional life of fishermen continues almost unchanged. Miami Playa, Sitges, Calafell, Salou and Cambrils are popular holiday destinations, famous for their well-kept beaches and lively nights, while localities like Torredembarra, Altafulla and L'Ampolla offer the attraction of a calmer, more peaceful lifestyle.

Catalunya to Tarragona
Only a short drive inland will take you to medieval monasteries nestling amongst vineyards and groves or perched on solitary hilltops. Ancient towns, proud of their heritage, yet modern and prosperous in their daily life, dot the landscape and express the character of this province. Tarragona, the bustling provincial capital, displays a wealth of roman and medieval monuments almost unrivalled in Spain, its wide ramblas ending breathtakingly on a balcony over the Mediterranean Sea. Tortosa, on the heights overlooking the Ebro, surrounded by olive groves and maize fields, is steeped in Catalan history, an icon of the region's sense of identity. The monastery of San Carles de la Rapita marks the southernmost limit of the Costa Daurada, where the Ebro Delta forms a unique, flat landscape of reedy marshes and lagoons, now a vast nature reserve.

Spanish holidaymakers have always favoured this part of Catalunya and many have acquired second homes in the coastal resorts, where families may return every year to spend the summer months. Discerning visitors from the north are coming too, in increasing numbers, drawn by the quality of life as much as by the fine golden sand and clear skies. Easy access to the area is an extra attraction to foreign travellers, who can take advantage of the fast road network linking it to the rest of Spain and Europe beyond, as well as the two International airports at Barcelona and Reus.

In the last two years, the Costa Daurada has seen the value of properties increasing at a rate consistent with that of the rest of other, better known, coastal areas of Spain. The upward movement in prices is unlikely to stop, given the obvious advantages offered by the region in term of access and services, pleasant lifestyle and appealing environment. As the more discriminating buyers begin to discover those areas, which, up to now, the Spaniards have wisely managed to keep for themselves, the Costa Daurada is due at last to fulfil the promise hidden in its name.