Blanes - Costa Brava Holidays

Blanes is located in the extreme south of the province of Giron close to Lloret de Mar. It is within an hour by car from Barcelona airport and is even closer to Girona airport.

There is a direct train from Barcelona to Blanes (with one connection to Barcelona airport) so visiting the city is very easy.

The maritime situation of Blanes governs its climate, which is temperate, with an annual average temperature of about 16º C with infrequent rain. In summer tempratures go up to 35ºC

Like most coastal towns Blanes has grown from a picturesque fishing village to tourist boomtown. The resort has a two-mile (3km) long stretch of coastline offering sandy bays and rocky coves, the main beachfront lined with high-rise hotels and apartment blocks. Behind the seafront the town still retains some reminders of its past, like the medieval castle of St Joan, several churches and other ancient buildings. Pride of the town are two renowned botanical gardens, which boast thousands of plant species. Along with all the trappings of modern tourism, Blanes also prides itself in giving visitors a taste of the real Spain, offering traditional street markets, several fiestas and folk dancing fairs.

Blanes has a 3 km (2 mile) long stretch of coastline offering sandy bays and rocky coves.

Between Blanes and Lloret de Mar, there are gardens set on an impressive balcony overlooking the Mediterranean and they bring together both native plants as well as tropical plant species.

The gardens of Santa Clotilde, in Lloret de Mar, were designed in 1919 by the architect Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí, and are characterised by the absence of flowers which clearly contrasts with the great variety of plants. The mansion, that is set in the gardens, houses four important collections of paintings, embroideries, miniature boats and Catalan pottery. Pinya de Rosa, between Blanes and Lloret, has the particular feature of having adapted plant species that are characteristic of the tropics to the Mediterranean setting.

Marimurtra, in Blanes, is home to one of the most important biological stations in the Mediterranean and has not only native plants and trees, but also plant species from all over the world.