Cap Roig festival has announced its lineup for this summer’s cycle of concerts on the Costa Brava and Franz Ferdinand among some of the biggest names to perform.  and Simple Minds are also among the highlights to perform this year.  which is a series of concerts on different nights held in the seaside town of Calella de Palafrugell will be held between July 12 and August 18 this year who will play two shows on two separate nights complete the list of acts performing in northern Catalonia in the summer.  Director of Communications and Institutional Relations of CaixaBank and president of promoters Clipper’s and director of the Cap Roig Festival were present at the ceremony to unveil the details.  Guiu highlighted that triple Michelin-star chefs Hermanos Torres will be returning this year with a restaurant in the terrace of the venue while Gistau explained that one of the concert nights will see reduced prices and fundraising efforts for partnered charities and associations.  Tickets for the concerts go on sale on Monday on the Cap Roig Festival website. The Cap Roig festival lineup per day is as follows: Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone 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 Get the latest news from EurILCA in your inbox Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Photo Credit: Unsplash / Susan Flynn Learn More Visitor numbers have been steadily on the rise for Spain’s tourism sector since the Fall of 2021, in spite of Omicron and rapidly changing entry restrictions across the European Union. This picture is expected to improve further in 2022 as one of world's most visited countries keeps making strides to ease entry.  children between the ages of 12 and 18 who are traveling directly from the UK or Northern Ireland will no longer be required to be fully vaccinated to enter Spain and can instead present a negative PCR test This opens the door wider for family travel this upcoming spring and summer seasons But it’s not just about the recovery of visitor numbers from major source markets. Miguel Sanz Castedo, director general of Turespaña the tourism office in charge of promoting Spain told Skift that his destination is currently looking into ways to become more sustainable post-pandemic and that it wants to improve Spain is investing 3.4 billion euros just in the tourism sector with more than two billion going toward sustainability projects “We want to make sure that the tourist model that we develop with the help of these European funds but also with the help of the private sector is a model by which we can little by little say the impact of every visitor that comes to Spain has a net positive impact in terms of the environment in terms of of the social impact on local communities in terms of economic sustainability,” said Sanz Sanz discussed this and other developments — including Turespaña’s new “co-op” marketing campaign model, which has already generated two million euros in investment from different destinations across Spain within the first week of its launch — in the following interview ahead of Skift Forum Europe.  Skift Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length Lebawit Lily Girma: There have been projections that Spain's tourism is going to experience quite a bounce back this year to the tune of 80 plus percent of pre pandemic levels and that the recovery would start around April What does tourism recovery performance look like for Spain this year and what regions do you see picking up Miguel Sanz: Spain has destinations that are year round such as the Canary Islands and some parts of Costa del Sol; for the Canary Islands high season is Christmas until February and we are seeing that every month the recovery is stronger and stronger Data for January was just released and in terms of flights January 2022 was already over 80 percent recovery in domestic tourism over 74 percent recovery in international tourism And that figure is better than it was in December and in December it was better than it was in November We think that February is going to work better than January has been The trick is that of course March is a slower month than April But if the trend continues — and everything indicates that it will continue — and restrictions are easing all over especially in our main source markets like the UK that as from Easter numbers will start to look a lot like before the pandemic new research from the European Travel Commission shows that Europeans are eager to travel but they're also delaying the booking process because of so much fragmentation in rules out of the EU they had to have full vaccination to enter Spain causing UK families to reconsider going to Spain and instead going to other destinations Sanz: The European Commission has a recommendation for member states as to how to proceed with international mobility within the member states of the European Union and then how to operate the external borders of the European Union There is a common consensus that children under the age of 12 can freely come into any European country. So the problem is with children between the ages of 12 and 18 The consensus has been that these children when they travel with their parents can enter either fully vaccinated This was meant to be implemented later in the year but we advanced this decision and Spain will allow children between the ages of four and 18 with a negative PRC test Girma: I understand you’ve launched a “co op campaign” approach for marketing Spain — can you explain how you're shifting both your marketing messaging and how this new model works We do have a national government and then we have the regional governments and local authorities and they do work in promoting their destinations internationally as well So I think that Turespaña has a role of coordinating that effort that international effort to promote the Spanish destinations abroad because sometimes if you don't have this coordinated approach you can go different ways and have a non-coherent message when you are abroad.  we inspire people to come to Spain as a whole and then we have to coordinate that with the different destinations within Spain to see that the messages that we launch are coherent across the funnel that they are transmitted and they reinforce each other What we want is to have a coherent message for our potential visitors.  which involves in one part digital platforms such as TripAdvisor or OTAs we’ve partnered with them to launch a campaign promoting Spanish cities we are negotiating with different Spanish destinations to  participate in this campaign and strengthen the campaign while promoting their destination So it will be a campaign that promotes Spain as a city destination but then promotes the specific cities to be visited And then within the cities we will promote things to do in those cities.  We incentivize destinations in Spain to participate we will match the funds that you put into the campaign to promote your city and on top of that we will do a branding campaign of Spain as a city destination and TripAdvisor will give the special conditions and rates to participate with us.  So we think it's a win-win situation by which you have a coherent and coordinated campaign You can also benefit from not betting on or pushing for the same place And then we give the choice of someone expressing interest interacting with our general campaign to say okay this person is interested in Spanish cities so there you go our partners — you can retarget those people by offering a particular product saying OK you’re interested in Spanish cities and then we can also help the specific businesses to join the campaign and target those people that have expressed a double interest in those products we will promote how wonderful Spain is as a destination — but there's something that we are working on right now that has to be with the work of the moment which is sustainability We are very concerned about not doing just a marketing campaign to greenwash our message and we do not want to use greenwashing just because it's a fad and it's trendy to say So what we want to tell our visitors and our potential visitors is that we're working on it and that we have a strong commitment to make Spain a sustainable destination not just environmentally but also socially speaking Before the pandemic we were all worried about mass tourism and turistifcation. We're working on OK we need to make sure that every visitor that comes to Spain has a positive impact in local communities that everyone that comes not just in terms of employment and income but also in terms of accessibility to culture.  Wanderlust follows the latest stories in tourism and experiences from across the globe you agree to receive email communication from Skift Subscribe today to keep up with the latest travel industry news Already a subscriber? Login New users get20% offtheir first year of Skift Pro Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Sally Pederson is an internationally renowned writer and consultant and joined International Living as Spain Correspondent in 2023 Llafranc is a small beach community 80 miles from Barcelona The town in the Costa Brava area of northern Spain gets very busy with Spanish and Catalan tourists during the month of August when all the locals go on their holidays I think the best time to visit the area is April to June or September through October January to March is a great time to visit as there are few tourists in the town I wouldn’t recommend just a day trip there You will enjoy it more if you spend at least two or three nights you will want to check out these 10 things to do in Llafranc The promenade in Llafranc has been completely revamped a couple of years ago It is now an excellent space to enjoy the weather along with Ernest Hemingway and Salvador Dali all enjoyed spending time along the promenade Continue to walk along the promenade to the north until you reach San Sebastià Lighthouse and Sa Guarda Mountain you will walk on the "Camí de Ronda," reaching Calella de Palafrugell You will enjoy stunning views of the beaches and towns along your walk in both directions The Botanical garden here is considered one of the most important botanical gardens in the Mediterranean The beautiful gardens were created in 1927 More than 1,000 domestic plant species from the Mediterranean region are living here and botany to produce a relaxing ecosystem spanning 42 acres Towering above the 574-foot cliff above the sea The 15th-century watchtower was built to protect the region from invaders and pirate attacks It was a strategicposition for ships traveling in the sea especially those that were going to Barcelona Spend some time in the area enjoying the surrounding views to Calella de Palafrugell Just like all towns and cities throughout Spain local markets are the best places to make your purchases These markets have everything from fruits and vegetables and some will have clothing and household items There is a weekly market in the summertime Palafrugell has a daily market open from 9 a.m No trip to a coastal area is complete without spending some time at the beach The Costa Brava area has the most beautiful beaches in Northern Spain; some say they are the nicest in all of Spain If you want to be in the heart of the beach action If you prefer beaches that are quieter and perhaps have no people then pack a picnic and walk a short distance north or south of the center until you find your ideal spot There are many beaches and coves along the pathways and trails next to the sea Often, we don’t think about the history of a place or the people that lived there. All of Spain has a very long history of sieges and being conquered. The Romans defeated the Iberians in 206 BC in present-day Seville They moved north from that location and colonized the country for approximately 700 years You can walk around to see the remains of the Roman archaeological civilization there today The area is known for countless hiking trails connecting the small medieval towns and inland hills towards the Pyrenees Mountains You can pack a lunch and spend the day hiking you can hike to different towns and enjoy a drink and bite to each in each of them If you don’t want to walk or want to see more The annual La Garoinada Festival is a great time to be in Llafranc The name Garoinesis what they call the Sea Urchin; it comes from the Palafrugell dialect If you like cooler temperatures and to travel off-season then Llafranc is best to visit during the La Garoinada Festival This is the best time to eat the sea delicacy as the season for them is very short Many restaurants have unique dishes based on the purple spiky exoskeleton Other festivals throughout the year in the area include: Fiesta Mayor de Calella – Calella Main Festival Cantada d’Havaneres de Calella de Palafrugell – Habanera Singing There are several seafront terraces in Llafranc along the promenade Many of them offer beautiful views of the sea and enjoy some delicious local Catalan cuisine Esqueixada (salted cod salad with tomato and onion) is a popular Catalan dish grilled and served as a "Calçotada") are excellent dishes you should try and enjoy the stunning sunrise with a coffee or a mimosa You can always have a nap later in the day if you are tired it has many options available for water sports A refreshing swim in the sea is always nice You should also enjoy some time out on a boat There are several options available for an afternoon at sea or a sunset cruise If you want to get some exercise while on the water 10 Things to do in Sitges, Spain Dénia: A Beach Town for Food Lovers on Spain’s Mediterranean Everything You Need to Know About Retiring in Spain 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 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/ It’s nearly 1am in the creeper-covered courtyard of Can Bach restaurant near Palau- Sator where are happily playing with local Spanish kids on a slide and climbing frame."},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Just yards away my wife and I are washing down a memorable T-bone steak with a stonking bottle of Roig Parals Cami de Cormes from the owner’s historic vineyard It’s more than five hours since CBeebies would have finished but this is all going rather well."},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"It may be unusual timing for toddlers on holiday in Cornwall or Cumbria but they keep slightly different hours in Catalonia’s Baix Emporda with its"},"children":[]},{"name":"paywall","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":" theatrical cliffs safe sandy beaches and surprisingly lush interior has long been a favourite destination of Barcelona families."},"children":[]}]}]},{"name":"paywall","children":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"“This is how we do summer holidays,” says Paloma Molins late next evening as her four children calmly look after my boys on the neighbouring restaurant table above the Calella de Palafrugell waterfront In the evening we eat and drink until late while the children play — the older ones are organised childcare.” In short this is the fine art of doing very little; one of the more relaxed holidays you’ll take."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Helped by teenage cousins letting go of the reins so Johnny and Felix can enjoy Llafranc’s curl of honey-toned sand swaddled by vertiginous hills of umbrella pines On the third day we head 15 miles up the coast to where the Ter River slices through rice paddies and fruit orchards to join the Mediterranean."}}]},{"name":"ad","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"At the point where an immense beach we join other families paddling or floating past on inflatables there’s the occasional nudist doing sunset yoga — the downward dog is particularly alarming — but la Gola del Ter is pretty damn perfect."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"If there’s a downside it’s that the beaches can be heaving in high summer The Spanish solution is to sail off in a small private or hired boat for siesta In fact it’s the only way to explore some inaccessible parts of Costa Brava’s rugged rocky coastline."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"We hire a rigid inflatable from the Llafranc beachfront cruising south to anchor beneath the burnt ochre cliffs of Cap Roig the neo-medieval mansion and botanical gardens created in the last century by an exiled Russian colonel and his English aristocratic wife are home to a popular summer festival — one night’s black rice seafood risotto is tainted by the distant crooning of James Blunt."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"After swimming through caves and snorkelling among bream and clouds of grey we discover the little one is quite happy to float unassisted in a life jacket Farther south we stop at the western tip of the gloriously undeveloped Castell beach diving down to pluck surprised starfish off the rocks."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"If you don’t fancy skippering your own boat A drive past a wonderfully symmetrical domed hill topped by the fort of Montgri — to Felix a perfect Peppa Pig castle to adults a perfect erect nipple — reveals the aptly named port of L’Estartit From here huge glass-bottomed catamarans take you around the spiky creamed limestone of the Medes Islands but we’re mesmerised by shoals of sargo fish shimmying across underwater meadows of seagrass."}}]},{"name":"inlineAd1","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Yet this holiday isn’t just about the Mediterranean A few miles inland you can enjoy the sun-kissed rituals of Spanish family life cafés and the innocent pleasures of Coqui Park an old-fashioned local amusement park that’s the antithesis of the region’s huge tourist waterparks."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"It also has a daily fish market that’s guaranteed to widen younger eyes Mostly sourced from the Costa Brava’s prolific fishing grounds brine-scented riot of everything from sharks and spider crabs to huge Palamos prawns requiring a second mortgage and bluefin tuna which a fellow customer describes as “the sea’s jamon iberico”."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Naturally it’s the uglier specimens that attract most attention: sinuous hake with angry eyes and lethal teeth John Dory-like jowly old politicians and spider fish with savage spikes “Touch them and the poison turns your whole arm black,” warns stallholder Marc Zajur responds with his one word of Catalan: “increïble.”"}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"At dusk we relax outside the ornate façade of the town’s Centre Fraternal with its wrought-iron balconies and Catalan flags the boys join an entranced crowd of children and dancing old ladies watching live music in the pedestrianised Plaça Nova restful."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Palafrugell is also home to the wine outlet It might not sound like a family attraction but this is no ordinary off- licence its coolly linear stone and purple building displays 130,000 bottles with a further five million in its adjoining warehouse."}}]},{"name":"inlineAd2","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"It’s Spain so Grau also has a kids’ zone While I try to decide between a 2005 Romanée-Conti for £18,820 or a Federico Paternina rioja for £3.48 the boys play table football and watch Tom and Jerry cartoons on the large screen From the play area they can gaze down on the warehouse where forklift trucks motor along canyons of wine: the Amazon of alcohol."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"According to Paloma the Spanish summer holiday is not about culture — that’s for a city break at another time of the year but if you’ve been raised on National Trust visits you can’t resist forcing the odd bit of history on your brood There’s Palafrugell’s fascinating cork museum — no really — housed in a slick contemporary renovation of the Catalan modernist factory that once produced more cork than anywhere else in the country Its regular cork-themed play event whiled away an entertaining hour or so."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Equally compelling is the photogenic palace and moated walls dating from the 11th century and with two large squares and a labyrinth of car-free alleys it’s ideal for children My fascinating explanation of its past as the home of Bishop Berenguer de Cruilles is ignored in the family rush to the Artesa de Peratallada gelateria."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"I don’t blame them Angelo Corvitto’s ice cream has been declared the best in the world by the Roca Brothers the restaurateurs behind Girona’s El Celler de Can Roca The gazpacho and crouton flavour is extraordinary the vermouth with olives sorbet just sublime loves it."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"On our final day we splurge on a meal at Llafranc’s Casamar Restaurant a glass-walled dining room high above the shimmering emerald bay is almost as peachy as the locally sourced menu of the chef My energetic — that’s being polite — boys aren’t a natural fit with Michelin-starred food Will they let us down?"}}]},{"name":"inlineAd3","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"As it turns out Casellas and his staff openly welcome children At one point he comes out of the kitchen to tickle Felix’s tummy “I wanted to create a restaurant that families come to,” he tells me “I will leave somewhere that doesn’t accept children.” Over a relaxed four-hour lunch The occasional foray among other diners is met by smiles rather than scowls B&B."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Fly to Girona from £115 return with Ryanair Seven days’ car hire costs from £130 ("}},{"name":"link","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"europcar.com"}}],"attributes":{"href":"https://www.europcar.com/"}},{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":")"}}]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":200})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Normal bedtimes be damned are happily playing with local Spanish kids on a slide and climbing frame.Just yards away among tables crowded wi","slug":"holiday-like-the-spanish-on-the-cool-costa","categoryPath":"/travel/destinations/europe-travel/spain/holiday-like-the-spanish-on-the-cool-costa-whwnp652n","__typename":"Article"},"Image:3a3f2a4e-0ef3-4f39-ab6a-5890a8be95dc":{"caption":"Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava","credits":"ALAMY","title":"The picturesque sea village of Calella de Palafrugell The TimesCalella de Palafrugell on the Costa BravaALAMYIan BelcherSaturday January 05 2019 are happily playing with local Spanish kids on a slide and climbing frame It’s more than five hours since CBeebies would have finished but this is all going rather well It may be unusual timing for toddlers on holiday in Cornwall or Cumbria has long been a favourite destination of Barcelona families “This is how we do summer holidays,” says Paloma Molins late next evening this is the fine art of doing very little; one of the more relaxed holidays you’ll take On the third day we head 15 miles up the coast to where the Ter River slices through rice paddies and fruit orchards to join the Mediterranean there’s the occasional nudist doing sunset yoga — the downward dog is particularly alarming — but la Gola del Ter is pretty damn perfect In fact it’s the only way to explore some inaccessible parts of Costa Brava’s rugged rocky coastline We hire a rigid inflatable from the Llafranc beachfront are home to a popular summer festival — one night’s black rice seafood risotto is tainted by the distant crooning of James Blunt After swimming through caves and snorkelling among bream and clouds of grey diving down to pluck surprised starfish off the rocks If you don’t fancy skippering your own boat but we’re mesmerised by shoals of sargo fish shimmying across underwater meadows of seagrass Yet this holiday isn’t just about the Mediterranean an old-fashioned local amusement park that’s the antithesis of the region’s huge tourist waterparks It also has a daily fish market that’s guaranteed to widen younger eyes which a fellow customer describes as “the sea’s jamon iberico” Naturally it’s the uglier specimens that attract most attention: sinuous hake with angry eyes and lethal teeth responds with his one word of Catalan: “increïble.” At dusk we relax outside the ornate façade of the town’s Centre Fraternal Palafrugell is also home to the wine outlet with a further five million in its adjoining warehouse From the play area they can gaze down on the warehouse where forklift trucks motor along canyons of wine: the Amazon of alcohol Its regular cork-themed play event whiled away an entertaining hour or so is ignored in the family rush to the Artesa de Peratallada gelateria On our final day we splurge on a meal at Llafranc’s Casamar Restaurant Need to knowLlafranc’s Terralet Hotel (terraletllafranc.com) has adjoining family rooms from £113-£162 a night Fly to Girona from £115 return with Ryanair. Seven days’ car hire costs from £130 (europcar.com) 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 Why Baix Empordà is the perfect Spanish spring getaway plus a kayaking trip to the wilds of Scotland and Slovenia by car of Palafrugell. Photograph: Calle Montes/Getty Images/Photononstop RMJewel of the Costa Brava: the lovely beach town Follow the Observer Magazine on Twitter @ObsMagazine This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025. The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media. ‘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 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. By Jeff Koehler Can Gelpí (with the green awaning) is one of the beachside bars in Calella de Palafrugell to serve garoines.In January sea urchin season opens on Spain’s Costa Brava Catalans flock to a trio of picturesque fishing villages along the Baix (Lower) Empordà near Palafrugell—Calella de Palafrugell and Tamariu—to devour these unlikely delicacies From calçots (fat spring onions) to snails and chestnuts the gastronomic calendar in Catalunya is replete with feasts and festivals celebrating the region's seasonal offerings Fittingly for a place that appreciates nearly any sea creature that can be caught the first of the year focuses on the seemingly inedible sea urchin On January 13th, the seaside village Palafrugell and its neighbors kicked off the 26th edition of their annual garoinada or gastronomic festival centered around sea urchins So on the first sunny weekend of the temporada (season) my wife and I made the 90-minute trek north from our home in Barcelona for our annual sea urchin binge urchin go by a handful of names on the Costa Brava Cleaning sea urchin at El Didal in Calella de Palafrugell.After cutting away the flat underside of a fresh sea urchin with a pair of sturdy scissors or specially made table-mounted cutter the dark viscera gets cleaned out and the shell dunked in a bucket of seawater Clinging to the inside of the globular shell are five brilliant orange strips Cleaning sea urchin at El Didal in Calella de Palafrugell.But along this stretch of coast it is traditionally enjoyed alone and unadorned—raw a mere spoonful packs a wallop that can only be likened to an underwater white truffles sea urchins are intense distillations of the Mediterranean: briny "The season started poorly," said the waiter at Can Gelpí with its triangular terrace hovering just above the sand "But now"—two weeks in—"it is really good." and demand on that brisk but clear Sunday soon outstripped supply A plate of sea urchin at El Didal.Can Gelpí brought in two big sacks in the morning and halfway into the lunch service they were already gone The garoines at El Didal didn't even last long At one o'clock they started cleaning them on the square and within 15 minutes there were none to be ordered "All reserved," the waiters kept repeating to prospective customers Expect to pay about 20 euros for a dozen cleaned garoines ADVERTISEMENTADADWant more SAVEUR?Get our favorite recipes Articles may contain affiliate links, which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use. preserving the natural topography of the landscape together with the conservation of the site’s existing vegetation the team further enhances its bucolic character with a variety of new mediterranean plantings in this way the environment is preserved and the impression given of a place that remains unchanged after the intervention of the homes all images by josé hevia lópez rivera arquitectos organized the interiors as a collection of intimate spaces which link to one another without corridors each room within the interconnected sequence is defined by its relationship to the outside the structure is comprised of radiata pine timber this finish allows for vapor dispersion through the facade the first layer of cork is mechanically anchored to the wood while the second is attached with lime mortar the interiors of the houses are heated through a system of underfloor heating installed beneath a flooring of ceramic tiles this system serves to increase the buildings’ thermal mass the adjustable casement wood windows provide constant ventilation while the shade given by the surrounding pines protects the windows from the direct rays of the sun both houses have obtained a class a energy rating architect: lópez rivera arquitectos  photography: josé hevia happening now! partnering with antonio citterio, AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function, but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style, context, and personal expression. The new Etias fee is set to be introduced from November 2023 I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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 Sharpe’s literary legacy preserved through a bibliography and foundation The creator of ‘Wilt’ and resident of Catalonia