A WEEK IN ROSES

We start our stay in Roses visiting one of the essential monuments to learn about the town history: the Citadel of Roses. Declared as a historical and artistic centre in 1961, the citadel is an open-air archaeological museum that concentrates remains from different periods (the Greek colony of Rhode, a Roman villa or Visigothic and medieval buildings) and where the Romanesque monastery of Santa María stands out.

We recommend the option of taking a guided tour, a fact that will help us understand the population’s past even better.

We leave the citadel and head towards the sea promenade, where the bay, a member of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, opens up at our feet.

On the same sea promenade, we can hire a maritime excursion and / or a land excursion to visit the Cap de Creus Natural Park . One option does not exclude the other, since the sensations, the experience and the perspective from the sea or the land differ greatly. From here, we recommend making both proposals.

After eating in one of the restaurants in Roses, we visit Cadaqués, one of the most picturesque places on the Costa Brava: a fishing tradition small town, with white houses and narrow streets and a beauty that captivated writers and painters. Among them, Salvador Dalí, of whom we recommend visiting his House-Museum (with prior reservation).

The Cap de Creus – the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula – and the place of Tudela – a space with whimsical geological formations that form a unique landscape that inspired Salvador Dalí – are a must – see.

Already in Roses, and before having dinner in one of the restaurants in town, we can enjoy the sunset from one of the places that we recommend.

Do you remember that yesterday we hired a maritime excursion and / or a land excursion to learn more about the Cap de Creus Natural Park? Well, it’s time to enjoy it/them!

After having experienced the sensations of discovering the CCNP, it is time to eat. And what better than a Fish Suquet, the typical dish of Roses, to savour the local cuisine?

Next, we recommend to visit one of our beaches, ideal for practicing water activities such as kayaking, sailing or paddle surfing.

When it gets dark, before dinner, we recommend to visit the Trinitat Castle, which complements the Citadel of Roses. In addition to knowing this military construction, fully musealized , you can enjoy the sunset from one of its terraces. We recommend the option of taking a guided tour.

The coastal path is a treasure for hikers. Good footwear, water, swimsuit and sunscreen (the last two, during the summer) are essential to enjoy a journey that recalls the guards who made the patrols to monitor contraband. Through an asphalt road for much of the urban section, the path is transformed and runs along a path that, surrounded by pine trees with impossible shapes due to the force of the Tramontana, typically Mediterranean vegetation and cliffs, gives access to each of the coves where to cool off.

Time must be well calculated, since there is only transport to the Almadrava beach.

In the afternoon, how about a guided tour with DO Empordà wines and DOP Empordà olive oil tasting? Once the wine tourism experience is over, we can relax on the sea promenade and on the breakwater, watching the sunset, while choosing where to have dinner tonight.

The Alt Empordà capital, Figueres, is known for being the birthplace of Salvador Dali and for hosting his Theater-Museum. Considered a work of art itself, many of his great works are on display inside. We recommend a guided night tour (only in August).

In Figueres, the Ancient Toy Museum, the Technical Museum or the Sant Ferran Castle, the largest monument in Catalonia and the largest modern fortress in Europe, also stand out.

After a morning of cultural immersion and having filled our stomachs, we suggest to unload adrenaline with some of the X- Trem! and activities.

To lower your heart rate, we suggest taking a travel back in time, between dolmens and menhirs, to discover the prehistoric Roses. Self-guided tours and dramatized visits (prior reservation at the Tourist Office) allow us to discover the legacy and know how the first known settlers of Roses lived. It is also a recommended place to enjoy the sunset.

The Romanesque heritage, of high relevance in the Alt Empordà, has as its highest exponent the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. It is located in the Rodes mountain range and it was the  main spiritual centre of the County of Ampurias (XI-XIV centuries).

The monastery location, which has the privilege of enjoying one of the best views of Cap de Creus, gives off a certain mystery and mysticism, especially on cloudy and / or foggy days. On the way, we find the remains of the medieval town of Santa Creu de Rodes, where the church of Santa Helena de Rodes stands out.

Next, we go to El Port de la Selva, a small and quiet town with fishing tradition, where we can enjoy a pleasant walk to the leisure port.

In Roses, we eat and have some relax in one of the coves and beaches. After cooling off, we go to the guided tour to the fishing port and the fish market (prior reservation at the Tourist Office), where we will learn the history of one of the oldest trades in the municipality, the species that they fish and the auction logistics, while we enjoy the impressive arrival of the boats and the fish unloading.

Once imbued with the seafaring essence of Roses, and taking advantage of the return to the center, we propose taking a walk through the streets of the historical centre, visiting the church of Santa María, taking a look around the shops and terraces and taking the chance to carry out some activity of the wide range that we propose.

Figueres is the current capital of the region, but Castelló d’Empúries was the capital of the County of Ampurias for many centuries. The Medieval History Museum of the Curia- Prison, the Puig Mercadal Synagogue, the Ecomuseum – Farinera and, above the rest, the Basilica of Santa María, known as the Cathedral of Empordà are the main places to visit in this medieval town. The renowned Medieval Festival Tierra de Trobadors is celebrated each and every September.

After having lunch, we invite you to spend a fun and refreshing afternoon in the best water park on the Costa Brava.

To end the day, we can crown the Puig Rom Visigothic Fortress. It is a little-known site, but with high scenic and strategic value, since it allowed its inhabitants to monitor the bay and the access to the port without being seen. Undoubtedly, one of the best views of the bay and the Empordà plain, from where we can think what we will have for dinner.

We rent a bicycle and visit the Natural Park of the Aiguamolls del Empordà, one of the natural spaces in Catalonia where a greater number of animal species can be observed. The track is simple and there is hardly any unevenness. To get there, we have to cross Empuriabrava, the largest residential marina in Europe, known for having 23 km of navigable canals.

Arrived at El Cortalet (information center of the park), we can choose between the different itineraries that are proposed to visit it. The observatories that we find during the tour allow us to stare at the birds, which make the aiguamolls their refuge and resting place. The return can be done the same way.

Next, we can choose between the many restaurants that we offer.

The icing on the cake is to spend the last afternoon in a quiet cove in the Cap de Creus Natural Park. After so many days of activity, you do deserve it.

Have a nice trip back!