The region is also well-known for its gastronomy that includes the world-famous bomba rice grown in the Delta and  the renowned garnatxa wines and olive oils from the higher lands of the Terra Alta Its unique location also allows one to enjoy the freshest seafood in towns like Sant Carles de la Ràpita that offer tourists plenty to see before sitting down and sampling the local cuisine Through the Healthy Tourism Lab program, Airbnb will be collaborating with the Tortosa City Hall to develop a set of interventions with the city and the neighboring region, aiming to help open new economic prospects for the local community and governments. Taking the learnings from the Healthy Destinations Lab in Igualada the Tortosa program will consist of a series of workshops and events with Airbnb hosts entrepreneurs and the public administrations of the region The program will also include a co-creation workshop to allow local stakeholders to propose ideas that will feed the development of a city and regional tourism strategy Attendees will have the opportunity to debate the tourism model they want for their region and create experiences that leverage their knowledge and passions As part of our commitment to the region of Terres de l’Ebre, Airbnb will also collaborate for the third consecutive year with Terres Festival an event that aligns with the region’s sustainable destination orientation Igualada served as a test to generate a number of ideas to support a public-private model to promote healthy tourism that benefits everyone. This project allowed Airbnb to develop a methodology to promote healthy tourism in new destinations, which resulted in the White Paper on New Sustainable Tourism Destinations.  “Airbnb has worked with more than 500 governments and regions around the world We are proud now to work with communities in Tortosa and democratize the benefits of tourism we are providing digital tools in favor of a type of tourism that doesn’t need big infrastructures but instead leverages and optimizes the existing one promoting entrepreneurship at all levels.” Territory Manager of Airbnb Marketing Services Exploring the food and drink of the Ebro delta our writer follows sustainably caught tuna from sea to plate visits a ‘wine cathedral’ and samples Spanish sake and for a heart-stopping split second I’m eyeball-to-eyeball with my dinner – a 250kg bluefin tuna that shoots out of the deep blue abyss like a torpedo a metre below me Our group of 30 or so snorkellers is surrounded by hundreds of the fish they are moving so fast we feel the force of their wake and scream with excitement I’d heard of fishing for your supper before … but never swimming with it The Tuna Tour (adult from €25, child €15, tuna-tour.com) is a spin-off from a state-of-the-art fishery business run by a company called Balfegó in the small town of L’Ametlla de Mar enormous shoals of migratory tuna return from the Atlantic to their spawning grounds in the Med Once the fish get to this bit of the Costa Dorada two trawlers joined by a 2km-long net encircle thousands of them and divers corral them into netted pools 50 metres wide and 35 deep The tuna are fattened up on tons of fresh fish until the larger ones are ready to be caught They’re sold locally or packed in ice and flown to restaurants as far away as Japan a hybrid of traditional trawling and fish farming ensures smaller fish are released at the end of the season Dropping in … snorkelling with bluefin tuna on the Balfegó tourOn the catamaran ride back to shore I eat a plate of tuna sashimi the colour of rump steak and so deliciously fresh it melts on my tongue I’ll meet these same tuna later on my trip after I’ve explored more food of the Ebro delta (Delta de l’Ebre in Catalan) a large wetland area at the southern tip of Catalonia If electronically tagged tuna are at the cutting-edge of food production here the delta’s heartland is its ancient rice fields irrigated by a network of canals and ditches first introduced by the Moors Wedged between the sea and the Ports de Beseit mountains the delta is a serene flatland perfect for spotting dozens of species of aquatic birds – including black-winged stilts and hundreds of pink flamingos lazing in the marshes Paddy power … a rice field in the in Ebro delta near Tortosa. Photograph: Alessia Panfili/Getty ImagesI cycle the dry dirt paths of the Ebro Delta natural park on an electric bike (tour €35pp This is a first for me after a lifetime of proper cycling and I’m here in late spring and the rice fields are merely flat water – but in summer they’re a stunning patchwork of shimmering emerald At the end of the ride is another modern, delicious twist: Mediterranean sake. Kensho is only the second sake producer in Europe – and the first to use locally grown rice paired with fat delta oysters (this sake goes well with strong unami flavours) set up the junmai (premium) sake distillery three years ago to showcase the region’s paella rice and also “to try something different” They could really be on to something here: the punchy Genshu Rocks made from highly polished rice is so good our group can’t stop drinking it and I buy a couple of bottles to take home Pearl of the Costa Dorada … oysters at MusclariumThe food I try is hyper-local: in fact, I’m literally sitting on top of it at Musclarium an oyster and mussel farm a short boat-taxi ride fromSant Carles de la Ràpita where the molluscs dangle in the water on ropes hanging from pontoons and Musclarium surely serves the freshest – the chefs simply pull them out of the water then shuck the oysters and throw the mussels into a pan cloudy day this is a great place to kick back with a dozen oysters and a glass of cava With gorgeous seafood (paella plus the catch of the day) and chilled drinks a mile offshore sea breezesand the water only steps away for a cooling dip – it must be a heavenly retreat in the Spanish summer heat While the beaches north and south of here are busy in summer the four-mile Playa del Trabucador is one of the Spanish Med’s finest beaches but the gnarled tree was planted in the time of the Emperor Constantine when Rome ruled Spain – yet it is still producing olives departing from the disused railway station at Horta de Sant Joan Viorigen’s main line of business is wine tours of the Terra Alta vineyards (from €15pp) so our leisurely (mostly downhill) ride through tunnels and dramatic green valleys finishes with a wine tasting and picnic lunch at La Fontcalda (hot spring in Catalan) one of the most beautiful spots on the route – a narrow river at the bottom of deep limestone cliffs There’s only thing on the menu here – no prizes for guessing what Even the beautifully designed interior is a homage to tuna – hundreds of handcrafted frosted glass fish hang from the high ceiling and spiral around the deep blue columns and curtains The seven- and ten-course tasting menus (a reasonable €52 or €72 given the ambition of the cooking) use every part of the Thunnus thynnus Japanese-style tuna at Tunateca Balfegó restaurantThe menu is a mixture of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine The first few courses are prepared in front of diners by two sushi chefs Dishes then switch from red slivers of choice cuts to meatier I’m gobsmacked at the variety of flavours and dishes that can be created from one fish– and by the rich culinary heritage of this beautiful A tuna mayo sandwich will never hit the spot again Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays now to find a range of fantastic trips Cristina Tomàs White | Barcelona The Ebre River Delta is one of Catalonia’s most spectacular natural landmarks home to unique flora and fauna as well as an important site of economic activity in the form of agriculture and environmental scientists fear for its future.  researchers believe the delta will be one of Catalonia’s regions most affected by climate change in the 21st century with bouts of extreme weather occurring more frequently—and as last year’s Storm Gloria and this year’s Storm Filomena would suggest these dire predictions are rapidly coming to fruition Coupled with rising sea levels and temperatures this is already upsetting the area’s rich ecosystem comprised of 22,000 hectares of rice fields as well as hundreds of plant and animal species But it is not only climate change that is putting the area’s survival at risk; there is also a severe lack of sediment supply that is needed to prevent erosion near the river mouth. Large dams and hydropower plants, such as Endesa’s Mequinenza or Riba-roja were built along the river mainly in the 1960s to provide the population with water and cheaper electricity.  with scientists now reporting a near-total drop in load and environmental groups like Ecologistes en Acció or Campanya pels Sediments calling for it to be transferred to the delta to stave off further land destruction altering the fragile habitat’s salinity levels.  One of the delta’s most prominent features is a sandbar known as the Barra del Trabucador a narrow strip of land connecting the mainland to the Punta de la Banya peninsula and protecting the Alfacs Bay where the small town of Sant Carles de la Ràpita is located.  the firm that operates the Salines de la Trinitat salt pans has already gotten to work restoring the Trabucador with truckloads of sand being brought into the area But company representatives lament having to carry out what they describe as what should be the work of the government.  an environmental assessor and bird expert who works for Infosa “Is the company responsible for climate change Other company employees agree the sandbar should be strengthened highlighted just how drastic the changes have been in his own lifetime I’d burn my feet on the sand and cry when walking from one side to the other,” he said recalling just how wide the isthmus used to be Although the Spanish government spent 2.2 million euros on urgent repair work after Storm Gloria no further work is expected before 2022 when a Spain-wide plan is set to be completed Catalan authorities have pledged 6 million euros but are yet to take action.  against the rise of the sea,” Jensen told the Catalan News Agency Infosa's environmental assessor attributes his change of heart to having learned more about the dangers of doing nothing and the importance of what he describes as "soft interventions" “Putting more sand out into the sea… it won’t last,” Margalef contends What exactly needs to be done to save the delta’s plants and industries is hotly debated even by those who seek the common aim of preservation a sense of both Catalan and Spanish government inaction in what is who like Andreu also drives tractors for Infosa feels they have been “a bit abandoned,” as he describes it they don’t care about us that much.”  who says his company made an effort to quickly transport salt to parts of Spain affected by the snow and icy roads Filomena left in its wake but is not assisted in return “Governments are responsible for [protecting nature] and they cannot turn their backs on it Sant Carles de la Ràpita’s mayor agrees that unless current environmental trends are reversed the Ebre River Delta’s situation will remain critical Spain’s Ecological Transition Ministry and Catalonia’s Territory Department have not acted firmly and decidedly when that is what they should do,” explained Josep Caparrós Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. SPAIN - The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural Environment (DAAM) has confirmed the presence of puffer fish on the Catalan coast. Throughout the year, there have been 10 capture notices of this species, one in Blanes, one in Montgat, two in Vilanova i la Geltrú, two in Cambrils, one in Hospitalet de l'Infant, two in L'Ametlla de Mar and one in Coma-ruga. The Ministry first received news of this species being captured on the Catalan coastline in the year 2009 in Sant Carles de la Ràpita. From 2009 to 2013, the Ministry received capture notifications for five more puffer fish (2011: one in L'Hospitalet de l'Infant, 2012: one in L'Ametlla de Mar, one in Cambrils and one in Blanes; 2013: one in Palamós). The puffer fish belong to the Tetraodontidae family, a pelagic species that is found in open waters and normally lives at a depth of 10 to 100 meters, though they can be found at depths of nearly 500 meters. They are a blue-greyish, brown or greenish colour on their backs and white on their bellies. The stomach is covered with lots of small spikes, and they inflate it when they feel in danger, so they take the appearance of a bristly puffer fish on their lower part. It has no visible scales. According to the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, this species has entered the Eastern Mediterranean via the Suez canal, and has established itself and reproduced to the point where it is even affecting local populations of other fish and fishing operations. This species is poisonous, as it contains Tetrododixne, a toxin that paralyses the nervous system. As such, it is dangerous if consumed. In fact, on our coasts there have been sightings of two species from this family, the Lagocephalus lagocephalus and the Sphoeroides pachygaster, both are venomous and should not be consumed. Spanish government declassified information from the defense and the interior ministries related to the August 2017 terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils The documents include all the information regarding the attacks and their authors, including the visits of Spain's national intelligence agency (CNI) to Imam Abdelbaki Es Satty, the operation's mastermind, in prison Among the other declassified documents are videos of testimonies tests performed in Es Satty's van in Sant Carles de la Ràpita PM Pedro Sánchez and former PM Mariano Rajoy's cabinets have consistently ruled out any relationship between the CNI and Es Satty nor as an informant nor collaborator for Spain's national police nor Guàrdia Civil," José Antonio Nieto The cabinet decision comes a year after a deal between the Socialists and pro-independence Junts agreed on the declassification to see Socialist Francina Armengol elected Congress speaker Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a press conference after the last cabinet meeting of the year on Monday that the cabinet he leads is "following" all the agreements reached with its different Congress partners "I do not have any problem" with meeting up with former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and Esquerra Republicana leader Oriol Junqueras "Catalans and Spaniards are leaving 2017 behind," he said about the peak of the independence push seen in 2017 with the referendum on October 1 of that year Puigdemont is currently based in Belgium after leaving Catalonia in 2017 and briefly returning in August this year. He is pending an amnesty law although the Constitutional Court still needs to rule on its legality Sánchez's statement follows a similar position to Catalan president Salvador Illa, also a Socialist, who is open to meeting with Puigdemont. Round-the-world yachtsman Sir Chay Blyth is recovering in hospital after breaking his leg while sailing in Spain was holidaying on a friend’s yacht in Sant Carles de la Ràpita when he lost his footing on deck and fractured his femur His daughter Samantha Blyth said: ‘We had had a great holiday and were all packed up and ready to leave for the airport for an early morning flight when my dad slipped on morning dew on the deck and broke his femur ‘It was apparently a bad break to mend but everything is fine and dad is doing really well Dad has broken loads of bones in his body throughout his life the first person to sail around the world against the prevailing tides and currents so he could be treated at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary family-run Casamar does simple extremely well and does sophisticated right where it counts – in the Michelin-starred kitchen sitting area and dining room are nattily designed but the modest bedrooms are all about the view When the weather allows – which is most of the time – breakfast is served on the restaurant's terrace Carrer del Nero 3, +34 972 30 01 04, hotelcasamar.net SpainThe long and winding road down to the cove of Sa Tuna makes this a relaxing place You'll find just a couple of restaurants and a handful of houses The Hostal Sa Tuna taps into this simplicity with its Balearic chill-out vibe which is a little more glam and a little more youth-oriented than most hotels on the Costa Brava The five rooms and their adjoining balconies are decked out to look like something from a French home decor mag Platja Sa Tuna, +34 972 62 21 98, hostalsatuna.com SpainBook early for one of the coveted five rooms at the century-old Sa Rascassa which sits in splendid isolation at the end of another winding road but the real attraction is the seafront terrace where – particularly at night – you'll hear nothing but the waves breaking on the sand The beach is a little gritty and there are few attractions except for the location itself – a small cove flanked with pine-covered headlands This really is a place for those looking for utter relaxation Cala d'Aiguafreda 3, +34 972 62 28 45, hostalsarascassa.com SpainFour generations of the same family have made this no-nonsense seaside hotel the kind of place to which visitors return its decor is simple – the focus is on the view which in this case is the captivating beach at Tamariu an unspoilt fishing village an hour's stroll up the coast from Llafranc with a splash of colour in the striped bedspreads Passeig del Mar 2, +34 972 62 00 31, tamariu.com SpainCalella de Palafrugell (not to be confused with the insalubrious Calella 'de la Costa' an hour or so south) is the most seductive of the decent-sized towns along the Costa Brava but its beach and waterside promenade can get very crowded in summer Slightly away from the action is the hugely welcoming Casa Dos Torres Sitting in a leafy garden with a pool and barbecue area the villa is unusually cosy for a beachside hotel and its library and log fire make it an appealing out-of-season option Carrer Chopitea 59, +34 972 61 70 19, casadostorres.com who use it for a weekend out of Barcelona in this sleepy town but friendly owner Jaume can supply hairdryers Each room has a balcony looking out either over Canet's ample beach or the little courtyard garden and it's a pleasant place to nurse a late-afternoon drink Carrer Riera de la Torre 20, +34 93 794 29 03, hotelmitus.com and the Utopia is a fine model of the move from institutionalism to hedonism Gardens front and back are dotted with bamboo chairs and tables a "music corner" with a 200-year-old piano the rooms range from en suite singles with private balconies to dorms for six Be warned that although it's a relaxed place it can get kind of noisy – youth hostels have moved on Carrer Socias 22, +34 938 11 11 36, utopiasitges.com SpainBigger and brassier sister to nearby Sitges as well as some great hotels and restaurants where you'll find Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost chairs next to an ornate Modernista doorway There's also a rooftop terrace with a splendid view out over the Med The small plunge pool is a godsend in summer and in winter you might want to book to use the sauna (free to guests but needs reserving) or simply curl up in the book-lined snug Carrer Isaac Peral 4, +34 93 815 11 25, hotelcesar.net SpainThe Ebro delta teems with birdlife (including flamingos) not seen elsewhere in Spain The Llansola is the cheeriest of its hotel options and most of its rooms have been refurbished with bold colours and discreet murals The affable members of the family that have run the hotel for four generations can provide information on the region and rustle up some fine dishes using rice grown in the delta Carrer Sant Isidre 98, , +34 977 74 04 03, llansola1921.com Photograph: AlamyOne of the charms of unsung Altafulla is its preserved 18th-century fishing quarter but this means there are few restaurants and no hotels overlooking the sea a short walk down towards the castle and hidden cove of Tamarit lies this lively campsite with space for more than 400 guests in its plots but it's perfect for families and anyone who values creature comforts – including Wi-Fi Ctra N-340, km 1.172, Tamarit, +34 977 65 02 49, campingtrillas.com, pitches from £8.60 per plot, plus from £3.60 a day for adults ACN | Amposta An area of Catalonia that has been hit hardest by the effects of Storm Gloria since Sunday is the Ebre Delta one of the largest wetland areas in the western Mediterranean and a region that is rich in flora and fauna as well as being a major center of tourism and rice growing the strong winds and heavy rain caused by the storm had on Wednesday left a third of the Delta's rice fields swamped with salt water which has led local representatives to call for the area to be designated a catastrophe zone With the areas of the Delta that were most affected by the storm still not accessible the damage done to rice fields could be even more serious the local pumping systems used to drain the land of water are out of action.  While salt water encroaching on the rice fields is nothing new "What we might see happen in a space of a dozen years has happened in a single night," said a leading representative of the rice growers many of the local beaches have been seriously affected by the storm while the isthmus known as the Barra del Trabucador Another landmark in the Delta that is causing concern is the Illa de Buda a natural island that is the result of thousands of years of sedimentation and home to over 300 species of bird and which can only be visited with special authorization The mayor of the nearby town of Sant Jaume d'Enveja warned that when the waters subside "Buda will be cut off by the sea The damage to the next rice harvest and the paddy fields is just part of the concern in the Ebre Delta as almost 8,000 hectares is occupied by a natural park that has protected wetlands and estuaries providing habitats for many species the region is also a stopover point for more than 300 species of migratory birds as well as being famed for its population of wild flamingos while also having the world's largest colony of Audouin's gulls Call for "forceful" and "effective" action While the damage to the area's delicate natural environment waits to be seen the Delta's human population has also been hit hard with homes and other buildings flooded and with over 70% of residents still without power "There are no precedents," said the mayor of Deltebre "we are experiencing a situation of total emergency," he said calling for the Catalan and Spanish authorities to provide "forceful" and "effective" action for the area Delta needs solution "here and now," says president It was also the message from president Quim Torra on Wednesday who said the area "needs a solution here and now an immediate action plan is required," after a meeting with local councils in the Delta Torra added that government heads would meet in the evening with the heads of the relevant departments to discuss the "genuine natural catastrophe" in the Delta in order to analyze the situation and evaluate the risks ACN / Nell English First published: November 18, 2014 09:57 PM The Port of Palamós closed the season with its last cruise ship, the Seabourn Soujourn. It arrived at half past eight on Sunday from the French port of Marseille, and continued to Palma de Mallorca. The large vessel has 438 passengers onboard, mostly Americans and British, who spent a few hours in this part of the Costa Brava. The cruise, with a 341 strong crew, has made six stops this season in Palamós. In general, the Girona port which began last season in April have the following profile among their cruise ship passengers: nearly half of them are British (49%), followed by French (32%), Americans (9%), Irish (2%), Australian (2 %), Belgian (1%) and Canadians (1%), among others. Regarding their interests, 31% of the passengers decided to go hiking in the area while 69% opted to stay aboard or walk through town. The most popular tourist destinations chosen by visitors were Girona, Figueres, Púbol, Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Pals, Peratallada, La Bisbal d'Empordà, Castelló d'Empúries, Platja d’Aro, Begur and Barcelona. As for the companies with the highest presence at the Girona Port, the season began with cruise companies Zenith, MSC Sinfonia and Star Flyer. In addition, the companies Gaughin Luxury Cruises, Express, Thomson Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, Crystal Cuirses, Azamara Cruises, and Star Clippers have also been present. The Ports of Roses and Sant Carles de Ràpita also end season with positive figures The Port of Tarragona plans to build new terminal to attract 50,000 passengers Past-time traditionally associated with pirates and sailors kept alive by association in south Catalonia ACN | Sant Carles de la Ràpita Morra is a game dating back thousands of years It became traditionally associated with sailors and pirates along the way but over the years it has grown popular beyond port bars and taverns As is the case in the southern coastal town of Sant Carles de la Ràpita where the Morràpita association keeps the past-time alive As well as taking part in Morra competitions at home and away the group is often invited to schools and colleges in order to spread the virtues of this age-old game A minimum of two players go head to head in a battle of wits they call out their guess of what the total number of fingers is the game’s simplicity is the key to its survival over millennia and only 2 people and their hands are needed the game has survived so long in the Mediterranean and elsewhere,” explained Rafa Balagué the group discovered that Morra was still popular throughout many places in the Mediterranean This led to them travelling overseas and taking part in international Morra competitions such as Murramondo the quintessential tournament for the game the game became so popular it eventually came to be used in order to settle disputes over merchandise sales however this practice was ultimately banned It is still played these days in Catalonia watching a game of Morra may seem like a more complex version of rock making it a real spectacle leaving no doubt as to how it has stood the test of time the game can be just exciting as playing on a playstation “The game’s addiction is as important as it is for people who watch football or video games tournaments but you are playing face-to-face against the other person,” he said that he has also co-authored a book about Morra alongside writer David González published last month The title takes the name of the game with a hint of wordplay