We chat with author Christine Calella about Liar’s Kingdom which is a dark Cinderella retelling in the vein of Into the Woods Hello! I’m Christine Calella, and I’m a writer of both YA Fantasy and Adult rom-coms. My interests include musical theatre, chai tea lattes, sitcoms, and of course, all things book-related. LIAR’S KINGDOM is my second published novel, following my debut last year, THE FINAL CURSE OF OPHELIA CRAY I spend my days working in a creative field and gradually cozying up my NYC apartment until it officially qualifies as a hobbit-hole My mom started taking me to the local library really young so I have her to thank for this lifelong passion I would visit the children’s section and load up my arms with Magic Treehouse or Junie B Jones books until I physically couldn’t carry any more to check-out But I definitely found my heart in writing fantasy stories around fifth grade when I started reading Tamora Pierce (my signed copy of First Test is still a treasured possession!) and then I knew I wouldn’t rest until I was an author of fantasy books about feisty women who fight to make the world a better place Cue the voice of the narrating Grandpa from The Princess Bride: “Deception As I constantly rewound my VHS tape of the 1997 Cinderella TV-movie starring Brandy and Whitney Houston I could never shake the idea that it sure was convenient that no other person in the kingdom shared the same shoe size as our girl What would have happened if somebody else who fit the glass slipper had tried it on first that story about the fairy godmother and the pumpkin carriage and the rats is awfully convenient too… What if Cinderella was actually the fraud who fit the slipper by accident What if her magical fairy tale was a just cover-up for a lucky twist of fate?” So LIAR’S KINGDOM was born from that capitalizing on her first possible chance to escape her stepmother into a better life the rest of the book sprang from my desire to point out that a kingdom could do a lot worse in a future queen than a woman who’s used to rolling up her sleeves and doing some dirty work My favorite character in this book is actually Zita I’ve read a lot of fantasy books where the spunky princess ropes her maid into helping her with her shenanigans and I wanted to write something that explored the difficulties with that power dynamic I took a lot of satisfaction in crafting Zita to be a character who boldly sets boundaries with the aristocrats who employ her…but still has a soft See alsoQ&A: Khalia Moreau, Author of ‘The Princess of Thornwood Drive’ I actually wrote the first draft of LIAR’S KINGDOM way back in 2020 while we were all still quarantining in the pandemic writing this book helped me overcome the twin challenges of boredom and isolation 2025 is a big publishing year for me! After LIAR’S KINGDOM drops in January, I have an adult rom-com (written under my pen name Madeline Bell) releasing from St. Martin’s Griffin on September 16th. It’s called THE AUSTEN AFFAIR and it’s about two feuding co-stars on a Jane Austen film adaptation who accidentally travel back in time to the real Regency era and have to lean on each other (and ultimately fall in love) to survive their adventure in the past You can take a girl out of middle school but you can’t take a love of The Hunger Games out of the girl beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions The 2025 EurILCA Master ESP concluded today marking the end of the third regatta in the 2025 EurILCA Master Series the event saw 130 sailors from 19 different countries participate where participants shared experiences and memories and where the prizes for the 2024 EurILCA Master Series were awarded sailors woke up this morning to a quiet Calella de Palafrugell there was some uncertainty about the weather and whether conditions would be suitable for the races that the Committee planned to hold hoping for the wind’s intensity and stability necessary for the competition The sixth race for ILCA 6 started at 11:30 The trapezoidal course with a windward finish was It was a tense race as the wind died down dramatically and sailors crossed the finish line with barely a breath of air French sailor Sebastien Baudier overtook German sailor Alexandra Behrens at the line as Behrens was disqualified for being over the start line early (BFD) The third-place finish went to Mónica Azón despite not performing as strongly as in previous editions the ILCA 7 fleet had a general recall due to a start line infringement The new procedure was delayed due to a drop in wind pressure the Committee decided to cancel the seventh race Young Italian sailor Lorenzo Cerretelli continued his success at the EurILCA Master in Calella de Palafrugell winning the competition for the third consecutive year with a score of 2+ (13)+2+1+3+1 Olympic gold medalist in Seoul’88 in the Finn class took second place overall with a final score of (24)+10+1+3+2+4 tied on points with German sailor Roger Schulz The fleet’s high level of competition with numerous Olympians and world champions It’s also worth noting that the competitiveness in the ILCA 7 category is evident From José Luis Doreste in second place to José Maria van der Ploeg in ninth there were three ties and a triple tie in the rankings highlighting the fierce competition in the challenging waters of Calella de Palafrugell ILCA 7 results Carlos Martínez completed a brilliant performance achieving outstanding results despite the variability of the sailing conditions unlike the harsher conditions of previous days The tall sailor from Murcia crossed the finish line well ahead of the rest adding another win to his impressive record with a score of (1)+1+1+1+1+1+1 totaling 5 points in the overall standings Despite the clear gap between him and the second-place finisher Carlos acknowledged that this edition “wasn’t easy due to the unpredictable weather and the strong competition in the fleet” The Catalan sailor finished with a sequence of 3+6+2+2+10+(18) positions Third place in this category went to Italian Nicolo Elena who ended with 27 points after a series of 2+10+4+8+3 ILCA 6 results Photo gallery The 2025 EurILCA Master Series will now move to its fourth round in Ostend The event will take place from May 24-26 at Royal North Sea Yacht Club Ostend Entries for this event are open until May 17 Enter now! 2025 EurILCA Master BEL Photos by Òscar Torveo – Club Vela Calella Get the latest news from EurILCA in your inbox This Sunday, October 6, 2024, over 100 professional triathletes will converge on the 10th edition of the IRONMAN Calella-Barcelona triathlon which has not hosted professional athletes since 2019 will welcome a strong male and female professional field Elite athletes will be racing for a total prize purse of US$100,000 and one of three slots per gender to the 2025 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice (men) and Kailua-Kona (women) IRONMAN Calella-Barcelona is known for its fast course and festival atmosphere IRONMAN adds that Calella has welcomed over 30,000 athletes from around the world over the last nine years many of whom became an IRONMAN for the first time on Calella Beach more than 3,200 registered athletes will take to Spain’s eastern coast in a special 10th anniversary edition of the race The festival atmosphere will include a parade of nations as well as a special anniversary poster for all athletes Athletes will start their day with a 3.8 km (2.4 mile) lap in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea before embarking on a brand new bike and run course The cycle route will see athletes ride a two-loop bike course which takes athletes further along the coast with an elevation gain of only 750m+ The adjusted run course will consist of three laps from Calella to Pineda de Mar and back IRONMAN notes that the race remains flat and fast perfect for beginners or seasoned triathletes looking for a personal best www.ironman.com By We’re thrilled to share the cover of Liar’s Kingdom, a new twist on Cinderella from author Christine Calella—available January 14, 2025 from Page Street Publishing Ell has spent years toiling away for her cruel stepfamily So when Prince Bayard—who seems to have difficulty recognizing faces—shows up at her door with a glass slipper Ell allows him to believe she danced with him at the ball There’s just one problem: Ell didn’t attend the ball and she’s never met the prince before in her life But if it’s a choice between moving to the royal palace or staying home Ell finds that being royalty comes with its own problems The king is preparing for war against the fae Bayard’s treacherous (and handsome) best friend If Ell wants to keep this life she’s stolen she’s going to have to roll up her sleeves and rescue herself The Reactor newsletter is the best way to catch up on the world of science fiction “There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb For compliance with applicable privacy laws: Ironman has confirmed the death of an athlete participating at Ironman Calella-Barcelona on Sunday Here’s the official statement from Ironman: We are devastated to confirm the death of a race participant during Sunday’s Ironman Calella-Barcelona triathlon the athlete signaled for assistance to the water safety team who attended to the athlete quickly and extracted them from the water to the medical safety point The athlete was provided with immediate care by the on-site medical team before being transported to the hospital the athlete passed in the ambulance en route to hospital We share our greatest sympathies with the family and friends of the athlete and will continue to offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time medical personnel and volunteers who all worked quickly to provide the athlete with medical support Out of respect for the athlete and their family we will have no further comment at this time Smirnova finished Ironman 70.3 Bahrain last year in 6:13:13 and appears to have competed at the Rosa Run Festival, part of the UTMB series, in 2019. According to a report on the website argumenti.ru Petersburg “business woman” was in Spain alone “after three years of training in triathlon under the guidance of Moscow and St “She was a very good person,” Smirnova’s sister told Fontanka.ru, an independent online outlet based in St. Petersburg. (The story doesn’t identify her sister, but TASS, the Russian News Agency, reports that her name is Natalya Smirnova.) “She was like a ray of sunshine She had a very subtle sense of humour …  (and) was always pleasant to talk to She (was) intelligent and very beautiful.” Get the digital edition of Triathlon for your chosen platform: the club is preparing a comprehensive Sustainability Plan aimed at reducing the event’s environmental impact while continuing to offer world-class racing and hospitality Club Vela Calella is dedicated to making the EurILCA Master ESP a model of sustainable event management While participants and spectators can expect a top-tier competition on the water they will also witness meaningful efforts to minimize waste and raise awareness about environmental responsibility While the sustainability plan is a key focus the EurILCA Master Series regatta at Club Vela Calella will remain a prestigious and highly competitive event Sailors from around the globe will compete in one of the most stunning locations on the Mediterranean offering an exciting and challenging race course for all participants The club’s reputation for excellence in organizing events will continue and a community atmosphere for both competitors and spectators By combining a passion for sailing with a dedication to sustainability Club Vela Calella is setting a new standard for environmentally conscious sporting events and sustainability will come together in perfect harmony The 2025 EurILCA Master ESP will be the third regatta of the 2025 EurILCA Master Series and will take place from April 3-6 2025 at Club Vela Calella You can find the registration form and all event information here: Come and sail with us | 2025 EurILCA Master ESP – Calella, Spain Photos from last year’s edition. Stay tuned for more updates and prepare to experience a regatta that not only celebrates sailing but also contributes to a greener future Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Source information and pictures via Club Vela Calella | Cover photo by Torveo Bogdan Benyuk received the award for Best Male Role for his performance in the film "My Carpathian Grandpa" at the Calella Film Festival in Spain This was reported by the State Film Agency of Ukraine The actor thanked the festival jury for the award and expressed his gratitude to the people of Spain for their support of Ukraine "My Carpathian Grandpa" is a Ukrainian-Italian-Moldovan-Czech comedy Its premiere took place in the summer of 2023 at the Odesa Film Festival It was released in national cinemas just before the New Year and After his Ukrainian mother suddenly passes away he must fulfill her last wish — to take her ashes to her ancestral village in the Carpathians This leads to a generational battle that both the boy and his grandfather must go through — and come to terms with are played by Simone Costa and Bogdan Benyuk Liar’s Kingdom is a dark Cinderella retelling in the vein of Into the Woods in which the wrong girl fits the glass slipper and marries the prince to save herself from her cruel stepfamily but soon finds she is now princess of a kingdom on the brink of a war against faerie-kind including the prince’s treacherous best friend is desperate to reveal her secrets to protect their own Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Christine Calella’s Liar’s Kingdom, which is out January 14th 2025. Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. It’s powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Police were called to reports of a fight in Calella I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A British tourist has been killed with Spanish police investigating his “violent death” of the 31-year-old Catalan police said they were called to reports of a fight shortly before 4am on Friday in Calella, about 30 miles north-east of Barcelona. An injured man was treated by emergency services but died at the scene, police said. In a statement, the Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police) said: “Agents of the Mossos d’Esquadra of the criminal investigation division of the northern metropolitan region are investigating the violent death of a 31-year-old man in Calella de Mar.” A further statement said: “This morning there was a fight in a nightclub in the city. The result of the incident is one dead and one injured, who has been taken to a hospital. The attack was by knife.” The incident is understood to have occurred outside the Oxygen nightclub. Images shared on social media show a significant police presence, with the area taped off. Calella is a popular tourist spot in the Maresme region of Spain near Barcelona. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been approached for comment. govt and politics"},{"score":0.784429,"label":"/law govt and politics/law enforcement"},{"score":0.751147,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense/assault"},{"score":0.695106,"label":"/law Fed up with a lifetime of mistreatment from superstitious locals due to her infamous pirate queen mother the pirate queen’s illegitimate child decides it’s time to break free from the shackles of her mother’s legacy Rescued from a hostile crowd by a naval officer Ophelia sees an opportunity to join the navy hoping to step out of the shadow her mother has cast on her life at sea is far from the honourable escape she envisioned Ophelia’s timid half-sister with dreams of a peaceful life and love Devastated by a rejected marriage proposal and Ophelia’s enlistment Betsy’s world crumbles further when their father falls seriously ill Forced to bring Ophelia back to save the family business Betsy unravels a shocking secret: Ophelia enlisted under Betsy’s name to protect her sister from the authorities and a deadly crew Betsy must navigate treacherous waters during hurricane season risking it all to ensure their safe return home Set your sails and let’s ride into adventure Ophelia intrigued me from the very first page and I immediately connected with We learn that Ophelia is aroace (which was weaved well into the times that this book plays in) and just wants to get out of the shadow of her mother But nothing is as easy as it seems and Ophelia learns a whole lot more about the navy and what they consider to be honourable—which isn’t a lot more than a smoke screen for the wide public was someone I took a liking to straight away She is a fat young woman who also lives with anxiety (we love to see that in any book but in fantasy even more) and is incredibly talented at needlework but is often overlooked Though we don’t get to see Ophelia and Betsy interact as much as I would have liked their love for each other rang true throughout the story you could tell it came from a place of love and worry for each other rather than actual anger The way they fight for each other will make you want to hug your sibling (or at the very least be nice to them for a whole five minutes before antagonising them again) What I also enjoyed was how heavy this book was on the dialogue Often in fantasy we have quite a lot of worldbuilding happening in retellings or inner monologue but here we get tidbits of the world and how it works (and how Ophelia is seen by the wide population) through dialogue which gave everything a more dynamic feel that paired well with the plot While the secondary characters could have used a bit more fleshing out I still had a great time with following Ophelia and Betsy on their journey The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a fun fantasy tale with sisterly bonds that will make your heart soar The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble Synopsis | Goodreads See alsoWhat To Read Or Watch If You Enjoyed ‘Little Women’ (2019) Storms and pirates are nothing compared to the evil within men’s hearts After a lifetime of abuse at the hands of superstitious townsfolk a bastard child of the notorious pirate queen is tired of paying for the sins of her mother Despite playing by the rules her whole life she’s earned nothing but spite and suspicion So when a naval officer saves her from the jeering crowd at her mother’s hanging Ophelia hatches a new hope of enlisting in the navy to escape her mother’s legacy and redeem her own reputation for good But Ophelia soon discovers that a life at sea isn’t as honorable as she hoped Betsy Young is as different as she could be from her half-sister Ophelia She’s a nervous homebody who wants to keep her family safe and longs to be in love she’s devastated when the son of their family’s business partner rejects her hand in marriage and her sister joins the navy But when her father contracts a life-threatening illness as well Betsy has to bring Ophelia home to save the family business Betsy trying to get Ophelia recalled reveals that Ophelia enlisted fraudulently under Betsy’s name a secret which Ophelia struggles to keep from crewmates who would kill her if they knew she was the pirate queen’s daughter To save Ophelia from the naval authorities Betsy will have to board a ship during hurricane season and brave all the dangers of the sea to get them both home safe The third regatta of the 2024 EurILCA Master Series concluded today in Calella de Palafrugell allowing all 130 Master sailors from 19 countries to enjoy their time on the water and complete 7 races per fleet The event also featured the EurILCA Master Series Annual dinner during which all the overall champions of the 2023 edition were awarded their prizes After four memorable days filled with action here are the winners in all the different categories Full results – ILCA 6 Full results – ILCA 7 Next step of the 2024 EurILCA Master Series will be the 2024 EurILCA Master BEL in Kinrooi organised by Zeilvereniging Noord Limburg Maas Save the dates for all the upcoming events; Full calendar – 2024 EurILCA Master Series Check the Overall results after 3 events – 2024 EurILCA Master Series Don’t miss the ILCA Master’s sailing fun and join the Telegram group with latest updates and information about the EurILCA Master Series regattas; Telegram group – EurILCA Master Series Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Photos by Torveo – Club Vela Calella The 2023 EurILCA Master ESP concluded this weekend at Club Vela Calella in Spain after 3 days of competition and 9 races held The decisive day took place with an excellent NE wind of between 9 and 12 knots which has allowed the entire regatta program to be completed The Italian Lorenzo Cerretelli has been unstoppable in today’s hard day and has maintained the lead since the start of the regatta With his sets today (2-4-5) he has closed the table with 22 points and has left no option to his most direct rivals who had the best chance of beating the Italian finally he finished second overall with 39 points In third position was Leandro Rosado with 45 points beating José Luis Doreste who finished fourth Carlos Echávarri from Santander completed the top 5 with 57 points only one point behind was the British Tim Law 38 ILCA 7 Master sailors participated of this competition ILCA 7 Full results We must highlight the women´s dominance in the ILCA 6 class The duel Mónica Azón versus Miriam Carles-Tolrà has decided in favor of Monica Azón and where she has shown her competitiveness at all times The third on the podium was the Valencian Luis Eduardo Fernández who finished the competition with 57 points In fourth position was the Irish Sean Craig closing the top 5 with the Dutch Jack De Rijk with 89 points ILCA 6 Full results The 2022 EurILCA Master ESP concluded the last weekend in Calella de Palafrugell 62 ILCA 6 and 34 ILCA 7 participated of this regatta the local sailor Monica Azon ESP was the overall ILCA 6 champion followed by Max Hunt GBR and Wilmar Groenendijk NED The ILCA 7 fleet was dominated by the Spanish representatives Javier Echavarri ESP Jose Maria van der Ploeg ESP and Leandro Rosado ESP Full results here. The next 2022 EurILCA Master Series event will be the 2022 EurILCA Master BEL in Ostend, Belgium, from May 21-23. And after it the 2022 EurILCA Master NED in Braassemermeer, Netherlands, from May 26-29. Entries for both events are open so register now here: https://eurilca.eu/euromasters/venues A BRIT tourist has been stabbed to death outside a nightclub in Spain Cops have made an arrest after a 30-year-old man was killed outside the Oxygen nightclub in the popular resort town of Calella - around 30 miles from Barcelona According to El Caso the Brit died at the scene at around 4am on Friday It's understood he was stabbed during a row with another group of tourists outside the club Another person was injured in the brawl and rushed to hospital Local police launched an investigation after the fatal stabbing with the suspects being from North Africa and the Dominican Republic It was later taken over by the Mossos d’Esquadra regional force who gave more detail on the ruthless attack. They said: “At 4 o'clock in the morning today, the Mossos d'Esquadra received an emergency call about an apparent fight in the town’s Benavente Street. “On arrival at the scene, the first Mossos d'Esquadra and local police patrols found an injured person and activated the Medical Emergency System to assist the victim, who eventually died." Mossos d’Esquadra cops added: “A few hours later and as a result of the initial investigation detectives arrested a man allegedly linked to the violent death.” Detectives have been scouring CCTV footage and speaking to club-goers as they hunt for anymore attackers Pictures from the scene on Friday morning showed the club taped off as cops combed the area There is a "significant police presence" in the area Calella is a popular tourist spot in the Maresme region of Spain near Barcelona A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.” Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) have arrested a woman over the death of a man found with signs of violence in the early hours of Monday morning in a bar in Calella – a coastal town 50km north of Barcelona – as reported by Spanish newspaper El País and confirmed by the Catalan News Agency (ACN).  The police received a call at around 4am saying there was a dead man in a bar in the town.  The victim is 42 years old, and is said to have had an argument with the assailant in the bar, located on Vallderoure Avenue.  Mossos d'Esquadra officers from the Criminal Investigation Unit (AIC) in the North Metropolitan Region have taken charge of the investigation to determine the involvement of the woman and to examine whether it was a homicide.   Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone Another person is reportedly in hospital after they were also injured in the knife attack News | World A British tourist aged around 30 has reportedly been stabbed to death outside a nightclub in Spain The man was reportedly knifed following a fight at the Oxygen nightclub in Calella a coastal resort town around 30 miles north of Barcelona The knife attack happened around 5am on Friday, according to Spanish news outlet El Caso. The man died at the scene from his injuries, while another person was also reportedly injured and was taken to hospital, Photos on Friday morning showed the club taped off, and police officers standing guard. El Caso said the perpetrators are thought to be “young foreigners resident in the municipality” but this has not been confirmed. Calella police said, according to the Sun: "This morning there was a fight in a nightclub in the city. "The result of the incident is one dead and one injured, who has been taken to a hospital. The attack was by knife." Police are understood to be examining CCTV footage and speaking to other people who were at the club. They were reportedly contacting officials in the UK, to pass the news to the victim’s loved ones. Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Lady Victoria Starmer VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close VE Day veteran recalls bumping into his father during Normandy invasion Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker ‘Havaneres’ are a traditional music genre in Spain dating back to the 19th century hundreds of so-called ‘Indians’ traveled to the Spanish overseas colonies of Puerto Rico and Cuba.  These ‘Indians’ sailed to what they called the West Indies or the Americas to do business it merged with local music of indigenous and African origin especially with the nobility," Jordi Turró from the Ernest Morató foundation in the northern town of Palafrugell The foundation focuses on researching and promoting this music genre.  "Havaneres were popular as they were catchy and very popular songs especially among the economic and social elites in Cuba," Turró explained.  a kind of newspaper that was sold in towns by blind people Topics varied but the vast majority of songs are about women and fishermen - and the vast majority are sung by men "One of the reasons women didn’t use to sing ‘havaneres’ is because women in the Calella de Palafrugell beach and nearby towns It was the social and cultural mentality of the time," Neus Mar one of the few female ‘havaneres’ soloists said in an interview with Catalan News on the beach.  If you want to hear Neus Mar performing an ‘havanera’ press play below to listen to the Filling the Sink podcast episode on ‘Indians’ and ‘Havaneres’ "I wouldn’t have ever considered singing ‘havaneres’ because there are few female singers or none at all But it was fate so I went for it," she explained "I started singing ‘havaneres’ because it’s a genre that I’ve heard since I was a kid we had plenty of cassettes and my parents took me to listen to Port Bo and Peix Fregit the two main ‘havanera’ groups at the time," Mar recalled the town hosts one of the most important ‘havaneres’ performances in Catalonia with hundreds of attendees that is broadcast live on television.  "I believe the ‘Cantada d’Havaneres de Calella’ has gained importance over the years When it started it was a very simple activity that was transmitted organically and it is its enthusiasm that has made it one of the most important ‘cantades’ in Catalonia," Neus Mar said She is getting ready to perform for the fourth time on July 2 and the song she sang for Catalan News named ‘Mariner de Terra Endins’ by Mestre Josep Bastons is in this language Bastons is one of the founders of the Peix Fregit ‘Havaneres’ group the 2022 Cantada will honor his legacy.  But ‘Havaneres’ actually used to sung be in Spanish.  "When tourism became commonplace in Catalonia in the 1960s the ‘Havanera’ became a tourist attraction," Jordi Turró It was then that some singers started performing in the Catalan language while some experts complained because the pure ‘Havanera’ was supposed to be sung in Spanish the language spoken in Spain’s Caribbean colonies.  v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. A group of four Isle of Man triathletes, Jamie Quaye, Luke Saunders, James Read and Alex Malley, took part in the 10th anniversary edition of Ironman Calella-Barcelona recently.   Competing alongside more than 3,000 athletes from around the world, the event tested their endurance with a 2.4-mile open water swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run.  For 19 year olds Quaye and Saunders, it was their first Ironman to date.   The race began at sunrise with good sea conditions, perfect for the long swim along the Catalonian coast.  But both Quaye and Saunders had to overcome a stinging challenge when they encountered jellyfish during the swim. Despite the pain, they powered through to complete the first leg of the race.  The cycling discipline saw competitors race along the stunning coastline from Calella to Badalona, covering two laps over 112 miles.   While the scenic route offered breath-taking views, there was little time to admire the sights as the athletes were pushed to their limits.  The final leg, a 26.2-mile marathon, unfolded in mostly sunny conditions with temperatures hovering around 25 degrees Celsius. The route, comprising three laps between Calella and Pineda de Mar, featured a mix of beach and urban sectors, providing plenty of space for family and friends to cheer on the triathletes.  Read was the fastest of the Isle of Man competitors overall, finishing in an impressive, combined time of 10 hours one minutes and 51 seconds in the 18-24 age category.  Quaye completed the race in 11hr 56m 53s followed by Malley who finished in 12hr 16m 10s in the 30-34 age category, while Saunders crossed the line in 12hr 43m 12s also in the 18-24 age group.  Tel: 01624 695695[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Published: Invalid Date A LESSER-KNOWN holiday destination in Spain has been dubbed one of Europe's "best-hidden gems" by a team of travel experts Every year, millions of Brits head to Spain for their holidays But there's one lesser-known Spanish seaside town that's tipped to be big in 2024 According to European Best Destinations Calella de Palafrugell has been named one of Europe’s most beautiful hidden gems to fly to in 2024 They wrote: "This is one of your best-hidden gems in Europe Calella de Palafrugell is a perfect destination for those who want to escape from the city and enjoy an afternoon of idleness in a sublime old fishing village also famous for the beauty of its coves and small beaches "With its intact architecture Calella de Palafrugell is one of the most beautiful villages in the Costa Brava." Located in the Costa Brava, Calella de Palafrugell is an enticing spot for holidaymakers thanks to its whitewashed houses One of the town's main draws is Cala de Sant Roc - a small beach with granulated sand and crystal-clear waters The beach has been praised by visitors on Google with a 4.6/5 star rating from more than 290 reviews. One person wrote: "One of the best ones to have privacy even in August. It has one shower and enough space to get your paddle board ready."   this beach is absolutely breathtaking!" Another popular beach is Playas de Calella, a pebbled beach that's home to coves and a coastal path There are a range of restaurants along the beachfront too Other nearby beaches include La Platgeta and Platja del Canadell there are several hidden coves tucked away along the coastline Surrounded by rocks, the tiny cove is located a few kilometres south of Calella de Palafrugell The entrance to the beach can be found on a small road in a residential area of the town holidaymakers will need to head down around 100 steps to reach the beach The tiny cove has been hailed as a "gem" by visitors - although many recommended wearing water shoes In addition to the town's beaches and the tiny coves there are plenty of other tourist attractions worth visiting too The botanic gardens first opened in the 1920s and it's home to over 1000 different plant species as well as a tiny castle Calella de Palafrugell is a 90-minute drive from Barcelona and it's a 50-minute drive from Girona Girona Airport is the closest airport to Calella de Palafrugell, with Ryanair and Jet2 both operating direct flights from the UK Flights start from as little as £18 for a one-way ticket Calella de Palafrugell isn't the only Spanish destination set to be big with tourists in 2024 After a huge volcanic eruption caused chaos in La Palma two years ago the Canary island is set to be popular with Brits once again According to Enrique Luis Larroque del Castillo-Olivares a member of the family that owns The Hacienda de Abajo hotel on the island more people are now going to La Palma than in the last few years He told The Times: “La Palma is the least known of the Canary Islands but also the most diverse in its geography and nature — it truly has more to offer "And because the volcano was worldwide news La Palma finally has a greater recognition." Meanwhile, this is a list of the top 10 holiday destinations to visit this year This jet lag-free holiday destination has 30C winters The new Etias fee is set to be introduced from November 2023 Spain’s tourism industry has warned it risks losing millions of British holidaymakers if the European Union proceeds with the introduction of a new “tourist tax” later this year which is the most popular holiday destination for British travellers has continued to attract tourists since the pandemic with data from June 2022 finding that one in four international visitors to Spain were British But a new fee for non-EU visitors, which includes British tourists since Brexit, has caused alarm across the sector. The charge, called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), is expected to be implemented from November 2023. Prospective visitors from any third country (one outside the EU) must complete an online form with details of health, education and any criminal convictions, and pay €7 (£6.20) for a three-year permit. Those aged under 18 and over 70 will be exempt from the fee. President of the Spanish tourism group, Mesa del Turismo, Juan Molas, has called the fee a “threat”, stating it risks undermining the country’s tourism sector. In a statement following its first General Assembly of the year, the board said: “The Tourism Board is especially concerned about the impact of this tax on British tourism, our main issuing market with 18 million arrivals in 2019. “It must also be taken into account that the measure – if it goes ahead – will be added to the rest of local taxes that the tourist is already paying to visit certain European cities.” Mr Molas stated that the tax constituted a “potential threat to the competitiveness of the Spanish tourism sector”. Etias, which was first confirmed by the EU in 2021, will apply to visitors from 63 countries – including Britain – outside the European Union. Visitors will be allowed visa-free entry for up to 90 days, during which they must not work or study, but can “engage in business and tourism activities”, according to the Schengen visa information website. The European Commission in Brussels has insisted that Etias is not a visa, however, saying: “There is no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data is collected and significantly less information is gathered than during a visa application procedure.” But with the need to apply in advance and pay a fee, it is widely regarded as an “e-visa”, similar to the Esta scheme used for tourists to the US. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics","score":0.890794},{"label":"/travel/business travel","score":0.862185},{"label":"/law govt and politics/immigration","score":0.829367},{"label":"/finance/financial news","score":0.665088},{"label":"/society/work/unemployment","score":0.651944},{"label":"/travel/specialty travel","score":0.625788},{"label":"/travel/specialty travel/adventure travel","score":0.609154},{"label":"/travel/specialty travel/ecotourism","score":0.607933},{"label":"/law Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain The man is believed to have gone for a swim at Sant Roc Cove and when he didn’t return Police and medical teams were deployed to the beach location surrounded by rocks and cliffs with old fisherman’s cottages perched on top His body was eventually found by the emergency services A post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding his death police sources revealed that early indications suggested that it was an accident and he tragically drowned A local judge has reportedly taken charge of the investigation It has not been verified whether the woman who initially raised the alarm was the man’s wife or just a person visiting the beach Neither has it been revealed if the deceased was on holiday or was a British resident of the area Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish protesters in Calella march on hotel housing Spanish police Like much of Catalonia the Hotel Vila in Calella was shuttered on Tuesday morning its doors locked and a sign reading Hotel Tancat (hotel closed) stuck to a window But on Sunday night, hours after the Spanish police’s attempts to halt the Catalan independence referendum exploded into violence the hotel became another frontline in the skirmishes between locals and Spanish police; a further manifestation of the furious disbelief that has triggered strikes across the region and which brought thousands of people on to the streets of Barcelona and Girona on Tuesday to protest against an unaccustomed brutality Calella, a seaside resort town 36 miles north-east of Barcelona, the Catalan capital, has long served as a billet for Spanish police officers who stay there when they are deployed to keep order at large-scale events in the city. However, the Guardia Civil officers lodged in the Hotel Vila over the weekend soon learned that they were no longer welcome. At around 10.30 on Sunday night, incensed by the scenes of police brutality in nearby Sant Cebrià de Vallalta and around many parts of Catalonia, a group of local people headed to the hotel chanting: “Out occupation forces!” A video of the protest also shows some people shouting “fascists!” and calling the officers sons of bitches. Read moreA group of officers – some carrying batons – emerged and despite the intervention of members of the Catalan police force “We’ve had Guardia Civil and national police staying here for years before big football matches and nothing’s ever happened,” said one local business owner All the bars around here used to be full of them to complain that officers were “fleeing from hotel to hotel; they are like rats who have to hide” The Unión de Guardias Civiles went further saying the “harassment” of its officers in Catalonia was “more like Nazi Germany than what you see in any other country where democracy reigns and rights are guaranteed” With Madrid under growing international pressure to resolve its worst political crisis in decades, crowds gathered in Barcelona on Tuesday repeating the cries of “occupying force” and urging Spanish police to leave the region Municipal police said about 15,000 people had stopped traffic as they rallied yellow and red Estelada flag used by Catalan separatists shouting: “The streets will always be ours.” The protest came as several small labour unions and grassroots pro-independence groups urged workers throughout Catalonia to go on partial or full-day strikes Schools and universities were shut and most small businesses were closed after unions called for the stoppage to “vigorously condemn” the police response to the poll, in which Catalonia’s leader said 90% of voters had backed independence from Spain Metro stations in Barcelona that are usually busy were deserted as services were cut back sharply the response to the strike call was patchy There were no reports of disruptions affecting big industry or Barcelona’s airport a self-employed worker who had travelled to Barcelona from a nearby town to participate in the protest outside the Catalan headquarters of the Spanish national police They have beaten people who were holding their hands up some 300,000 people took part in the various demonstrations held in the city A further 30,000 marched in Girona and there were protests in virtually every Catalan town and village Spain’s attorney general insisted the police action to prevent the referendum on Sunday didn’t affect “normal life of citizens” and criticised the Catalan government for “irresponsibly” summoning people to vote in “tumultuous” gatherings But the continuing presence of thousands of officers from the Guardia Civil and national police has angered the Catalan government and highlighted tensions with the Mossos d’Esquadra and Catalan firefighters some of whom formed human barriers to protect voters on Sunday While all three police forces were under a judge’s orders to stop the referendum going ahead, several national police and Guardia Civil groups have accused the Mossos of failing to do their duty and demonstrating both “clear disobedience” and an “unacceptable passivity” when it came to halting the vote One Guardia Civil association lamented the fact that some Mossos had been involved in “confrontational situations with Guardia Civil officers who were only trying to obey orders” It also tweeted a video of an angry encounter between members of the two forces and later wrote: “A lot of people thought that the difference between a guardia civil and a mosso was about salaries Now they know it’s also about professional dignity.” A Catalan police union responded to Sunday’s events with a statement reading: “The police are always on the side of the law. But to treat Catalan citizens, in their entirety, as a mass of criminals and act against them with disproportionate violence can also be considered criminal – or seen as a measure of the poor democratic quality of the [Spanish] government”. Anna Comas, a 54-year-old interior designer who took part in Sunday’s protest in Calella, said she and others had gone to the hotel spontaneously. “They’d been brutal in Sant Cebrià de Vallalta, where there were old people and kids,” she said. “They came and beat the first people they saw. People were crying over what they did. It was a show of brutality and hate. It was in their eyes.” Calella, she added, had now had its fill of Spanish police. “We’re used to having them here and there’s never been a problem,” she said. “But now we don’t want to see them here again.” Another Calellas resident was blunter. “If they come back,” he said, “they’ll get beaten.” A 63-year-old Brit drowned in Costa Brava's Calella de Palafrugell on Saturday while swimming. His wife warned emergency services as her husband had not returned from the water, as Spanish Guàrdia Civil police, in charge of the case, said to the Catalan News Agency (ACN). Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police, medical emergency services, and firefighters were deployed. Last year, the 112 emergency hotline received 2,739 phone calls regarding 1,865 accidents on beaches. Each year, before the summer campaign starts, civil protection calls on residents to be extremely cautious during their baths and sunbathing. Catalonia in Spain will be the place of the Butterfly International Training Camp 2013 with the assistance of Petr KORBEL and 2nd coach Joaquim MALLORQUÍ will work with the players during two week with the assistance of Petr KORBEL and 2nd coach Joaquim MALLORQUÍ will work with the players during two weeks: from 29th July to 2nd August and on 2nd week between 5th to 9th August Click here to read/download the programme The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations and the organization of continental table tennis competitions Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Barcelona Sant Pol de Mar is the Cadaqués of the Maresme region a town lapped by the sea waves and in which the white of the houses stands out in a landscape of narrow stepped streets So don’t think twice about spending the first few hours of your getaway here You have an appointment to prepare homemade jams In the second part of the getaway you’ll explore the region’s tourist town par excellence IN COLLABORATION WITH BARCELONA ÉS MOLT MÉS OF THE DIPUTACIÓ DE BARCELONA which produces jams using 100% natural and local products you can join a workshop to learn how to make your own jams ask them why toast always falls on the buttered side.. If you want to have lunch in Sant Pol de Mar, check this link to discover the culinary delights in the town one of the three built in Calella to provide shelter from air raids during the Spanish Civil War The Parc Dalmau shelter is open to visitors and provides information about the site It has a main gallery measuring 66 metres long by 2 high and 2 wide and three cross-galleries of 20 metres long It forms part of the Xarxa d’Espais de Memòria de Catalunya Also very interesting in Calella is the multidisciplinary Museu-Arxiu Municipal J. M. Codina i Bagué with over 15,000 items that reflect the history and heritage of the town Perhaps the most outstanding parts are the Pinacoteca Gallart And, as we told you, the tourism sector has for a long time been one of the economic drivers of the town. That’s why a few years ago it was decided to open the Museu del Turisme which through new technologies and using a participatory and educational approach shows the history of tourism from the early travellers until the present and its socio-cultural and economic effects at a global scale You’ll also find many places to eat in Calella. The range, as you can see here Bon appétit and safe journey back home Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterspotifytiktokAbout us Contact us Time Out Worldwide Aparece muerta en la playa de #Calella una #tortuga de 200 quilos gigante pic.twitter.com/IIXSngFQKh An invasion of thousands of British students at a small Spanish resort for a sports tournament has left locals reeling from their drunken antics Students from 37 universities including the London School of Economics Manchester University and King's College London descended on the town of Calella to compete in games including netball But so many spent their days drinking instead of competing that locals said the tournament was more about being drunk than sport revellers kept them awake until the early hours road signs were vandalised and hotel furniture wrecked said: "These students do not behave like civilised human beings and we don't want them here." The games' organisers flew to Spain late last week for an emergency meeting with town hall officials But that was a point lost on many students as they embraced the all-you-can-drink deals advertised with the £300 travel packages They had free entry to four nightclubs and with a 150 euro wristband could drink all they wanted from 9.30pm to 4.30am The town spent an extra £4,000 on policing and £4,000 clearing up rubbish Some £1,200 in police fines was handed to those who damaged road signs "They start first thing in the morning drinking beer on the beach "Then they get more drunk in the discos until the early hours when they return to their hotels before starting all over again." Students boasted about their antics on social networking site Facebook One from Derby University wrote: "I havnt been so s***faced for soo long in my life! of Derby University's American football team admitted he and the team never went to play sport This year two hotels banned students during the tournament ripped up towels and stole security cameras," he said Some 500 students this year stayed at the Oasis Park hotel "They threw tables from their balconies." It is unclear which university teams were responsible for wreaking the damage and ill-feeling said it was aware of unruly behaviour and had in the past disciplined students over it said: "The Calellafest is one of the best organised festivals "But it does not promote responsible drinking It's the minority that spoil it for the majority." communications officer at Manchester University's students' union said: "We have never heard of any problems in Spain with our students." No one was available for comment from the London School of Economics or King's College London said the mayor's comments were shocking and that he had met him on Friday to negotiate the festival's future "Some of the quality of the events such as cheerleading women's football and hockey is at the top end," he said The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Buch Speaks Clearly About the Reality of Squatting | @marc_buch POLITICS VIDEO | Marc Buch (Junts) Raises His Voice Against the Trap of Squatters and the VulnerableThe Mayor Buch Denounces That 'It's Not Normal to Be Whitewashing Squatting'05/04/2025 05:30:00h by Redacción has once again raised his voice against the phenomenon of squatting in Catalonia which accounts for 40% of the cases in Spain During an intervention at the Calella City Hall He recalled that while there are vulnerable people there are also many who take advantage of the situation to "live off the system." Buch presented a motion at the Calella Municipal Plenary The mayor emphasized that squatting can't be seen as a legitimate solution to access housing The mayor denounced that many residents of Calella have to endure squatters for years without effective measures being taken this situation has led many citizens to lose patience while the squatters benefit from the system He also criticized the parties that downplay the problem based on the vulnerability of the squatters "It's not normal for a country to be whitewashing squatting," the mayor of Calella stated bluntly the "excuse of vulnerability" of the squatters has been used to create a system that allows abuses Buch made it clear that society can't continue to allow these types of practices that Marc Buch | @marc_buchUsers Applaud BuchBuch who from the beginning has shown a firm stance on the issue has been one of the clearest municipal leaders in his denunciation of the growing insecurity His intervention not only highlights the extent of the squatting problem but also the lack of consensus on such an incomprehensible issue the mayor once again distances himself from the well-meaning discourse that still prevails in the political class These words from Mayor Buch have been very well received on social media Many users applaud a politician speaking about this problem without whitewashing it mayor," "thank you for protecting the residents," users said Subscribe to be the first to get new family travel inspiration Sign up today! Can you really keep travelling with a child in tow Subscribe to be the first to get new family travel inspiration It’s hard to know which of Calella’s claims to fame to focus on first: perhaps the fact it’s an official ‘Catalan Family Holiday Destination’ one of the earliest to get the coveted title Or perhaps its importance among the beach resorts of the Costa Barcelona given city status after being granted a licence to hold a market back in the 14th century press trip* Maybe it’s because of the fascinating lighthouse high above the centre still functioning and one of only four in Spain where the city has the authority to look after it Or it could just be the mix of everything – history, tradition, family-friendly atmosphere and lovely beach – which made it so enormously appealing, one of my favourite stops in our tour of the Costa Barcelona here’s why you should spend a lot longer the lighthouse is still the symbol of the city you can walk along the beachfront and up the hill to discover a communications museum inside but the computerised system is still functioning its own special combination of three short and one long flash beaming out onto the Mediterranean and visible up to 35 miles away You’ll probably come for the views: of the lighthouse itself or the panorama of the wooded hills on one side and the golden sands along the other But while you can’t go up into the tower itself Here you’ll discover that the lamp was originally lit with olive oil and that pirates once plagued the coast of Spain while the lighthouse keeper and his family were still consigned to an isolated existence despite being a short walk from town rather than marooned on a sea-battered rock The exhibits inside are even more fascinating looking at the different means of communication from a burning light to optical towers which ran up the coast to France as well as the different chimes of church bells with their variety of messages including storm warnings and the death of an archbishop so it’s great for kids as well as adults If you’re staying in Calella, there are also regular concerts at the lighthouse with a small train running up from the tourist information office The price varies but it’s rarely over 10 Euros and kids are always free Entrance to the lighthouse and museums costs only a couple of Euros with opening hours depending which month you visit The city takes its family-friendly status seriously as you’ll see if you take a wander through the streets of the old town Lampposts have regularly changing pictures for children to spot the library has storytelling and activities with its existing play areas and Spanish civil war air shelter is scheduled for renovation to update the facilities further keep an eye out for the cactus house – so called because the owner has grown enough cacti to decorate the outside – as well as the picturesque historic buildings around the Ajuntament Vell de Calella now a cultural centre with a fantastic huge old door while the 14th century chapel of St Quirze and Sta Julita doubled as an even earlier town hall we visited during September’s Festa Major – the city’s biggest celebration when traditions dating back to medieval times still continue The ‘Capgrossos’ or giants of Calella are the focus of processions the gigantic figures towering over the people and children clustering around.  happy to pose for photos in what must have been a pretty warm costume on a sunny September day there was a huge market showcasing local arts and crafts and more food than you can shake a cured sausage at along with some imaginative and creative areas for kids and generally lots of temptations to wander and spend money The biggest temptation for most visitors is the beach. Strictly speaking, several beaches, including the Blue Flag Platja de Garbi which is adapted for wheelchairs and the ‘big’ beach or Platja Gran with its watersports centre and beach clubs After ditching the idea of canoeing or sailing a catamaran (and not having chance to parasail), we all headed out on a banana boat ride – one of my 13 things to do on the Costa Barcelona It’s open to children aged five and up… with the staff giving a much gentler ride if there are kids on the inflatable No such chance for us: we whizzed along behind the boat as they grinned, videoing away until inevitably we all ended up in the water (this being the Mediterranean it was still pretty warm and our lifejackets had us bobbing back up straight away The hardest part was getting back on again!) there are free family activities every day and evening during summer as well with several beach clubs dotted along the seafront – keep an eye out for the lunchtime menu of the day with paella normally on offer on Thursdays.  Don’t make any energetic plans for the afternoon though We settled down at Nui Beach club which manages to be chic and chilled out at the same time and a restaurant indoors which makes you understand why lunch takes three hours in Spain there’s a baked rice version and fideua made with noodles instead of rice: so good we tried all three along with addictive bread rubbed with tomato and garlic there’s a kids’ menu too for less enterprising eaters like my daughter Go for a ‘vermouth’ – an aperitif with snacks before dinner cockles and crisps accompanied by a refreshing drink made with red martini Honestly, one day isn’t enough – you’re around an hour from Barcelona on the train if you fancy a journey along the coast and a taste of Gaudi (or the zoo and aquarium) Or you’re around an hour’s drive from Montseny natural park, a biosphere reserve, plus the organic wines and vineyard at Alta Alella We stayed at Camping Roca Grossa on the outskirts of town sports facilities and play area (all on a very steep hill if you’re travelling with a buggy) although there are plenty of hotels in Calella itself if you’d rather be in the heart of everything Check out my video review of Camping Roca Grossa Back to Calella’s claims to fame… The biggest was that from all our stops on a hugely fun trip this is the place I could see myself wandering with my daughter eating ice cream as we amble along cobbled streets claiming a spot on the beach and building a gigantic sandcastle then coming home with the kind of happy grins that I saw on everyone else that day Disclosure: My trip was courtesy of Costa Barcelona tourism All opinions and ability to eat three different kinds of paella in one sitting are my own Award-winning family travel blogger and mum to the mini traveller Lovely pics – enjoying the series of costa Barcelona posts #citytripping I love Spanish food and your photos are enough to make my mouth water It is lovely – wandering around the old town and then ending up at the beach is perfect I’ve never heard of it so great to hear about these hidden Spanish cities and even more of a bonus that it has a family-friendly reputation to protect I was slightly impressed that I’d managed to capture myself twice after being dunked in the water in a single video Up until reading this post I had never heard of Calella (Or maybe it’s better known in Europe?) I could see how Calella would be a great day trip It’s actually not very well known even in Europe – I went on a trip with the tourist board to look at what there is to see in the area beyond Barcelona itself (lots I love how every different town still breathes a Spanish charm all its own I do love a lighthouse too – and you’re right everywhere had its own individual charm even in a relatively small area I never knew much about this area of Spain – looks like definitely a place to visit Great pics and I want to see the cactus house now -sounds brilliant Definitely – and the catcus house was very fun green prickly plants growing across the balcony and all round bookmarking and pinning for future reference It was great – the perfect day to happen upon the city Looking forward to seeing what you get up to on your Spanish adventures It’s always fascinating to see such old traditions carrying on today I was in Spain the same time as you and eagerly following along on your adventures and still only managed to drag myself away from the beach for a quick visit to Barcelona This tiny town looks gorgeous I’m definitely pinning this in hopes that I’ll explore more on my third trip It was really lovely – I hadn’t realised you were there at the same time Definitely a good reason to go back again and explore further I think the train journey along the coast would be a big hit with my daughter as well Love the idea of making Calella our base and popping in to Barcelona for a day Calella sounds like the perfect family spot and so fun you could go during the festival I have to say – your photos of food are amazing I have such a hard time photographing food but you have made me really hungry now;) we actually had to keep asking for smaller meals 🙂 Looks like a lovely place for a family holiday Cathy I was particularly interested to read about the lighthouse Definitely – they seem really to have thought through what works for families and the lighthouse history was fascinating This looks like a perfect day spent in a lovely beach town We haven’t yet made it to coastal Spain Definitely one for the list – was such a lovely day exploring Was very fun – I knew when we all climbed on that there was no way we would be getting back without at least one dunking… That’s a lovely balance of fun water sports I still drool a little whenever I remember it all It really was – even being dunked in the sea You got a lot out of your trip to the Barca coast 🙂 #citytripping Really looks lovely – nice to see a more traditional bit of the coast Very lovely – definitely worth heading out of the city I do love the Barcelona coastline and have heard great things about Calella from family I’d wander the lighthouse and the old town whilst the kids did the banana boat Enjoyed reading this via BritMums Spain travel round up the lighthouse was fantastic especially but lovely to wander round too Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. I’m Cathy, an award-winning travel-obsessed writer who’s never knowingly underpacked I’m also mum to the mini traveller – aka 12-year-old Minnie* – and trying to work out how to cling on to normal life by my fingernails Privacy policy Disclosure policy As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases If you had to name one of Europe’s top city breaks, you’d probably pick Barcelona – no surprise really as it’s only a short flight from the UK But how many people venture further outside the city to the Costa Barcelona press trip/contains affiliate links* When I was invited to explore by the tourist board I discovered it’s great for families too – here’s my guide to the Costa Barcelona and why it should be on your holiday list for Spain A string of airlines fly directly into Barcelona El Prat airport from both London and regional airports – too many to list You can also take the Eurostar and connect to high-speed trains across France and in to Barcelona spending less than nine hours on board (plus a connection in Paris) is you pick the right trains The train from Barcelona runs along the seafront to destinations including Calella although if you want to explore further afield We spent our trip at various campsites along the coast near Calella and Malgrat de Mar with safari tents at Camping La Tordera as well as lodges to choose from But you’re not short of choices with seafront hotels Check out some of my favourite accommodation if you’re travelling with kids or my review of Camping Roca Grossa Considering how much there is to choose from, it’s astonishing that this area gets overlooked for its more popular neighbours. To start off my guide to the Costa Barcelona, here are 13 things to do on the Costa Barcelona to inspire you including if you’re travelling with kids head to Castelldefels where you can try cableskiing or canoeing at Canal Olimpic, created for the Barcelona Olympics – it’s also home to some very stylish beach clubs (keep an eye out for footballers) and the old fortress which has withstood pirates and the Spanish Civil War If you’d rather discover more about the region’s Cava one of the vineyards should be on the list – we sipped ours at Alta Alella which has fabulous views down to the sea If you simply want some beach time, try Malgrat de Mar, also home to a gigantic playground, or to Calella which was one of my favourite parts of the trip We visited on one of the big feast days but there are events running year-round as well as being named an official Catalan Family Holiday Destination with plenty to entertain kids and help keep them safe with some fascinating history and great views onto the water There are more beach clubs to discover there and the chance to work up an appetite out on the water first – high-speed banana boat optional Here’s what I got up to in one day in Calella If you’d like a complete contrast to the coast, Montseny Natural Park was another favourite – the pretty village high in the hills is worth a stop but the woods themselves have something from gentle strolls along the river to more intense hikes taking you through a range of scenery And while the activities our guide showed us were intended for kids Caldes de Montbui should also be on the list The Romans knew about the hot springs here and you can still bathe in the thermal waters today while various springs in the town pump out steaming water and the museum is a great introduction to life here over the centuries The imposing church has its own stories and legends, along with some beautiful stained glass – check out my photos from Costa Barcelona for a taste And the city itself? Definitely worth a day trip – whether you’re travelling to Barcelona with kids or without If you’re travelling with football fans, check out this review of the Camp Nou Experience from the Family Adventure Project soaking up the views of the sea and scenery you suddenly start to understand why lunch in Spain is a major event addictive ‘Pa amb tomàquet’ bread rubbed with tomato and garlic traditional Catalan dishes including ‘canalones’ – similar to cannelloni but with a distinctive twist – and rabbit And check out the Spain Travel Guide from Lonely Planet, as well as their Pocket Barcelona guide for more on the city Disclosure: My trip was courtesy of the Costa Barcelona tourist board suggestions and tomato bread addictions are my own This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission Although I was very stiff after – glad the guide is useful I would love to give cableskiing and canoeing there a go – finishing off with that foodie feast of course It was very fun – and the food was wonderful My in laws lived up the coast line from Barcelona in Roses It was mainly French coming from over the border and Dutch flying in for a quiet getaway It was a bit more of a drive than the places you mentioned but worth a visit to see the real Spain but on the coast We did an amazing drive once to get there from France across the Pyrenees It was a scorching day but there was snow over the mountains One minute we were driving behind a snow plough The next we were wearing our summer gear down in Roses Sorry I’m going on aren’t I lol That sounds gorgeous – a bit further into the Costa Brava than the coast I visited but the idea of a quiet Spanish hideaway on the sea sounds wonderful Your guide to Costa Barcelona brilliantly captures the essence of this lesser-known gem The detailed tips on the best beaches and cultural spots provide a perfect blend for travelers looking to explore beyond the usual tourist paths Your personal insights and family-friendly recommendations make this guide a valuable resource for anyone planning a visit Thanks for shedding light on the diverse attractions of Costa Barcelona