CALELLA
Area: Costa Brava
Country: Spain


Location:
The most southerly main resort on the Costa Brava (here actually called the Costa Maresme), 12 miles SW of Lloret de Mar, 35 miles NE of Barcelona, 35 miles S of Gerona, 31 miles S of its airport.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Position:
On flat land that gently slopes towards the sea, with a backdrop of tree-clad hills.

Description:
A long, straggling resort with straight streets parallel to the beach and separated from it by a railway embankment. Most hotels lie between this and the main coastal highway, with more recent development spreading from the inland side of the highway. Some character remains in Calella's older streets and around the tranquil Pla?a de l'Esglesia, despite the resort having developed a speciality of providing good-value holidays for groups. Not to be confused with Calella de Palafrugell, which is a much smaller village farther N on the coast.

Suitability:
Teenagers and families with young children. Many groups arrive overland by coach as well as by flights into Barcelona and Gerona. The road and railway are potentially hazardous to children.

Accommodation:
Predominantly 2- to 3-star hotels; not much variety in style or standard.

Shopping:
Carrer de l'Esglesia, the main pedestrianised shopping street, is crowded with boutiques, jewellers, shoe shops and souvenir outlets. The commercial centre is open every day and offers a wide range of similar goods.

Beach:
At 2 miles long and 200_250 yds wide, the most remarkable aspect of this coarse-sand beach is its ability to accommodate large numbers of people. Scattered kiosks serve snacks and drinks.

Entertainments:
Daytime: in July and August entertainments laid on for children by the local authorities on the sea front; some popular festivals at night for adults. Sports complex and water-sports club on the beach with volleyball, windsurfing and canoeing. The town council has initiated a "Calella Active" programme of sporting and cultural events for tourists. A German-style beer festival in October. Nightlife: rather lively, with a high concentration of bars, restaurants and over a dozen discos at the SW end of the resort.

Eating:
The restaurants nearly all cater for tourists, consequently German and British food is common. Some more traditional choices can be found in the older part of town.

Public-transport:
A tourist minitrain circulates the town every 25 minutes. Three bus stops on the main coastal highway (no buses circulate the town), with service to Blanes seven times a day and Barcelona two to three times a day. Six boats a day to Tossa via various coastal destinations. Trains every 15 minutes to Barcelona until 10 pm.

Local-excursions:
See Lloret de Mar.