Sport & Culinary:
1) In Ampuriabrava, near Rosas is one of the world-famous sky-diving airports. You can also fly ultra-light aircraft there. 2) Especially Cala Montgó but also other nearby areas are known diving paradises. You will find several diving centres for professionals as well as Amateurs. 3) There are many good restaurants with Mediterranean food. Try the famous paellas at Can Miquel directly on the beach of Cala Montgó or the restaurant Miryam in the centre of La Escala for fine dining out. Haute Cuisine lovers will be delighted to know that El Bulli restaurant by famous 3-star Chef Ferrán Adriá is only 25 km away. Drive to Cala Montjoi, through Rosas. If you can get a table reservation, then rest assured it will be an once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience for you. The price, however, will also be hard to forget.
Culture & Art:
The extensive ruins of the Greco-Roman town Empuries occupy an imposing site beside the sea, just outside La Escala. Three separate settlements were built between the 7th and 3rd centuries BC, inhabited first by Greeks (600 BC) and then by Romans (218 BC). If you are interested in art, you should visit the famous Salvador Dalí museum in Figueres, where he was born in 1904 and where he also mounted his first exhibition at age 15. The artist embraced surrealism in 1929 and established himself as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Besalú, located in the lush and green volcanic area of La Garrotxa (spelled 'Garrot-cha'), is a magnificent medieval town with a striking approach across a fortified bridge over the river Fluviá. It has two fine Romanesque churches, built in the 10th Century. However, the town is now famous for the accidental discovery in 1964, of a mikah, a ritual Jewish bath built in 1264 and which is one of only 3 of that period to survive in Europe.
Family-friendly holidays:
La Escala / Cala Montgó are ideally suited for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday with children. There are many ice-cafes on the beach promenade where cars are not allowed to drive. Parents are able to keep an eye on tehir children playing on the beach while they enjoy themselves to a treat of sangria or ice cream!
Golf:
Golf players will be delighted to know that there are six 18 hole golf courses in the vicinity of La Escala: Empordá (27 holes) is my personal favourite, due to its combination of Scottish-like links with long fairways buried deep in pine tree woods, with sloping greens fiercely protected by bunkers and water! Nearby are Pals GC, another technical course, and Serres de Pals - all within 20 km of Pinamar. Torrmirona GC near Navata/Figueres is located in the green volcanic area of La Garrotxa (pronounced 'Garrotcha') at the base of the Pyrenees mountains. If you want to play a true championship course, actually owned by the PGA, try the PGA course in Salt/Girona (36 holes) - only for long-distance hitters! Not for the faint-hearted (Empordagolf Tel. (+34) 972 760450, Pgacatalunya Tel. 972 472577, Golfplatjadepals Tel. 972 667739, Golfserresdepals Tel. 972 637375, Torremirona Tel. 972 553737).
marks the location of the property in Costa Brava - Girona
