Calella (Spain) is a resort town on the Costa del Meresme with an area of only 8 km2 and a population of no more than 18.5 thousand people. Due to its mild climate and convenient geographical location, the resort is popular among tourists. There are comfortable hotels, sandy beaches, bustling nightlife, restaurants, shops, while preserving a rich historical heritage and interesting sights. In addition to beach relaxation, tourists can visit theatrical performances, carnivals.
History and features of the resort
Calella has a rich centuries-old history – the first settlements appeared before our era. People were mainly engaged in agriculture-they grew grapes, wheat, and made olive oil. Since the settlement is located on the sea coast, its inhabitants, of course, caught fish and seafood, designed sea vessels.
The modern period of Calella begins in 1338, when Viscount Bernat II of Cabrera received an official document authorizing the construction of housing and trade on the territory.
Interesting fact! The tourist destination has been actively developing since the middle of the last century.
Calella is a versatile Spanish resort that will suit any tourist, perhaps the only exception – there are no wild beaches. First of all, those who want to combine a beach holiday and an excursion program come here. In the first case, travelers will find almost three kilometers of beaches, and in the second – a rich historical heritage and Barcelona, which is not difficult to reach.
Families who are planning a holiday with children should take into account the fact that the entrance to the sea is not too shallow, and a large depth begins after 4 meters.
The infrastructure is excellent – comfortable hotels with playgrounds, cafes, restaurants, a wonderful embankment, a lot of entertainment, including water sports for every taste.
Useful to know! The obvious advantage of the resort is the ability to find affordable housing (relative to hotels in Barcelona) and not spend a lot of money on travel.
Also appreciate the resort in Spain fans of a quiet, quiet holiday, away from the noisy tourist places that abound in Barcelona. There are many coves where you can relax and enjoy the peace. Even topless lovers will find a secluded spot if they walk a little further from the beaches in the center. And in Calella you can find great places for diving, snorkeling. It’s time to go to the sights of Calella in Spain.
Attractions
Attractions in Calella are available for every taste – natural, architectural. Be sure to take a walk through the old streets near Vila Square, admire the temples, mansions. For example, the Torrets towers, in addition to their architectural and historical significance, are also of practical importance – one of the best viewing platforms in Calella is located here. Undoubtedly, the symbol of the resort is the lighthouse, built in the middle of the 19th century. Go to the local history Museum and take a walk in the Dalmau coniferous Park.
Lighthouse
This is not just a landmark of Calella, but a symbol of the city in Spain. From the highest point of the lighthouse, tourists can view the resort and the seashore. The lighthouse appeared in the resort in 1837, it was built primarily to perform two important functions:
- ship path lighting;
- protection from attacks from North Africa.
The lighthouse remains active today. It is not difficult to see the attraction from anywhere in the city, as it is built on the Roca Grossa mountain.
Interesting facts:
- construction work lasted three years-1856-1859;
- the light was first lit with liquid oil;
- electric lighting was installed in 1927;
- the light of the lighthouse can be seen at a distance of 33 m;
- from the observation deck, you can view the city.
In 2011, a museum was opened in the building, where they talk about how the lighthouse works, what equipment is used, and what functions it performs. For many, it comes as a surprise that the lighthouse is also an optical telegraph, and the church bells turn it into an object of urban communication.
Work schedule:
- spring and autumn: Saturday and Sunday from 10-00 to 14-00;
- in summer: from Tuesday to Sunday from 17-00 to 21-00.
Ticket price:
- adult — 2€;
- a complex ticket for visiting the bomb shelter, lighthouse and museum is 3,50€.
Dalmau Park
This is the best place for a leisurely walk. Dalmau Park is well-groomed and green, with pines, oaks, sycamores growing here, and during your rest you can drink water in one of the fountains. The attraction is located in the very center of the city. The park is notable for the fact that there is no entertainment and attractions, trees are planted throughout the territory. The main reason why people come here is for walking and a calm, measured rest. There is a single children’s playground in the center of the park. The park offers scenic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Concerts and festivals are held in the park during the warmer months.
In the photo, the attraction of Calella in Spain is Dalmau Park.
There is another interesting place in the park that has been preserved since the Civil War — a bomb shelter. You can also visit it, watch an interesting exhibition and documentaries.
During the warmer months, the park is visited by locals who love to dance the sardana (Catalan dance).
The park has a botanical route for tourists-banana trees grow in the lower garden, while the upper one is dominated by Mediterranean vegetation.
Boardwalk
What to see in Calella besides historical sights? If you want to get to know the locals, see their everyday life, take a walk along the Manuel Puigvert promenade. The boulevard is named after the city mayor, and it was during his time that the embankment was built. The boulevard is more than two kilometers long, with beaches on one side and the city on the other. The promenade is decorated with palm trees and plane trees.
Interesting fact! The boulevard was designed in 1895, and already in 1904 the first trees were planted here, it is likely that the age of some palms and plane trees exceeds one hundred years.
On the embankment in the city of Spain, benches are installed, playgrounds are equipped, and a bicycle path is laid. In general, there is an atmosphere of calm here, since there is no loud music, the smells of shish kebab and fast food do not interfere. In summer, it is pleasant to relax in the shade of trees, and in the evening tourists come to the boulevard to observe the local population – residents of Calella walk their dogs on the embankment, take a leisurely walk, admiring nature. And on weekends, the embankment is filled with the sounds of sardana, the local population comes here to dance. By the way, there is even a monument to this dance. An interesting and colorful place is the flea market, which operates on the boulevard. Festivals, fairs, and theatrical performances are held on the embankment.
Useful to know! To get to the city, you need to go through the railway crossing, there are several of them along the boulevard.
Not far from the embankment there is another attraction of Calella – a three-story house wrapped in cacti.
Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Nicholas
Built in the 18th century, during its existence the church was destroyed several times for various reasons – an earthquake, then the bell tower fell on the building, then the cathedral was severely damaged during the civil war. The church was fully restored only in the second half of the 20th century. Initially, the cathedral was not only a religious building, but also a protective structure. The project provided for a powerful wall, cannons, and the bell tower was used as an observation post. Despite numerous destructions, it was possible to preserve the ancient bas-reliefs dating back to the 16th century.
Today, the temple is included in the list of the most significant sights of Calella and Spain. This is a functioning cathedral, where services, liturgies, and weddings are regularly held. The cathedral building is recognized as one of the most beautiful in the city.
Interesting fact! The interior decoration is amazing because there are no icons, and sculptures tell about the life of Jesus.
The entrance to the temple is free for everyone, but during the service it is necessary to turn off mobile phones.
Les Torretes Towers
The attraction today looks like the dilapidated ruins of a medieval fortress, but it certainly makes sense to see the towers. They were built in the middle of the 19th century and were used as a signal structure and for communication with other defensive structures-signals were given by means of flags and fire. Such an alert system was seen in the cities of Blanes and Areniz de Mar.
With the advent of electricity, the towers were no longer used for their intended purpose, and were abandoned. Today, tourists come here to see the ruins and climb the mountain. Visually, you can see that one tower is lower and the other is higher. The first was occupied by the military, while the second was used for telegraph communication and officials were based there.
Beaches of Calella
The length of Calella is about three kilometers, with the largest concentration of people in the northern and central parts,but in the south there are fewer tourists. Of course, tourists prefer to stay in the center of Calella, where the longest beach is located and there is access to the promenade. Within a quarter of an hour of walking, secluded coves appear, and there are frequent visitors – lovers of relaxing holidays and nudists.
Important! The beaches of Calella are all municipal, respectively, free, with good infrastructure, well-maintained. The beach is sandy, the entrance to the water is gentle, there are sun beds, umbrellas – their cost is about 6 euros.
Calella has two central beaches, its length is 2.5 km, and you can swim and sunbathe almost anywhere. The surface on the shore is coarse sand, some tourists believe that it is too large, but this is even a plus – the water remains clean.
On the central beaches of Calella in Spain – Gran and Garbi – there are volleyball courts, cafes, bars, water sports equipment rental points. Gharbi is located west of Gran and ends in cliffs.
Useful to know! The beaches of Calella have been awarded the Blue Flag several times.
Les Roques is a beach that is sure to appeal to lovers of noisy parties and crowded places. You can reach it in the following way: walk along the sea, climb the steps and go ahead to the bay between the rocks. The beach here is quite noisy and crowded, there is a bar equipped right in the rock.
Accomodation
All hotels are located not on the shore, but across the embankment and railway, so there is no point in booking a hotel room on the first line. No matter what hotel you are staying in, the beach will be right next to you.
As in all resort towns, the most fashionable hotels are located on the first line. If you go a little further from the beach, you can find affordable housing, including in hostels.
If you are traveling with a child, pay attention to the children’s infrastructure in the hotel – a shallow pool, a playground with slides and attractions, and babysitting services.
If you wish, you can rent an apartment, in which case you will have a kitchen at your disposal.
Useful to know! During high season, book your accommodation a few months in advance, as there are so many tourists in Calella.
Hotel accommodation during the tourist season starts from 45€. A three-star hotel room starts from 70€. But for a room in a five-star hotel you will have to pay from 130€
Weather and climate
A resort with a typical Mediterranean climate, precipitation occurs throughout the year, but not often. On average, there are only two rainy days in two weeks. The highest probability of precipitation in autumn.
The temperature in summer is from +24 to +29 degrees, the water warms up to +24 degrees. In winter, the day is up to +16 degrees. The best time to travel to Calella is from mid-spring to the end of October. If you are only planning a beach holiday, book a hotel for July or August.
How to get to Calella from Barcelona
The distance between the Catalan capital and Calella is 75 km. The fastest way to cover this distance is by train. On average, you will have to spend about 2 hours on the road, but if you catch the next train, the time will be reduced to 75 minutes.
Of course, you can take a bus, but they run less often – once an hour, so you will have to wait at the airport.
A tip! If you are interested in how to get from Barcelona airport to Calella cheap, pay attention to the group transfer. You will have to pay a little more than € 17, but the tourist spends more than three hours on the road, because transport stops at each hotel.
Practical recommendations:
- In Barcelona, the metro is not air-conditioned, so it is recommended to go directly to the train.;
- if the plane arrives in Barcelona late at night or you are traveling with children, book a car with a driver.
By train to Calella
From the airport you need to get to the railway station, for the convenience of tourists, a separate branch line is laid. Here you should change to an electric train that goes in the direction of Blanes or Macanet-Massanes.
The train service interval is 30 minutes, the last flight is at 22-54. The ticket price is 5,1€. If you want to save money on travel, buy a T-10 ticket valid in zone 5. The validity period is 30 days.
By bus to Calella
Barcelona-Calella buses depart from the airport, with a ticket price of€9,5. For those who appreciate comfort and service, the shuttle bus is more suitable, the fare costs 17€. Public transport in Calella makes two stops:
- on St. Josep Mercat;
- on Pl. de les Roses.
If you are planning a trip from Barcelona, you need to get to the Barcelona Nord Bus Station. The ticket costs 5€, if you wish, you can buy a ticket for 10 or 12 trips.
Calella (Spain) – a holiday resort for every taste. You will enjoy a relaxing beach break, an interesting excursion program, a rich historical heritage, and the opportunity to actively spend your time playing sports.
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