The Costa Brava, 160km of rugged coastline, in the north east corner of Spain, stretching from Blanes, north of Barcelona, to Roses, near the French border.  Barcelona is not only the Catalonian region's capital but also Spain's second city, and arguably one of the most exciting cities in Europe with its long history, Gaudi architecture, baroque style buildings, Pablo Picasso museum, the restaurants, cafes and markets of the Ramblas, and the vibrant beach and port area.

While part of the Costa Brava coastline lent itself to tourist developments on a very large scale, other parts have retained a more traditional look and have become "hidden gems" for visitors who want a little more than sun, sand and sangria. Small towns like Cadaqués (close to the French border and close to the foothills of the Pyrenees) have attracted artists such as Salvador Dalí (Dalí's Museum at Figueres is one of the most important and visited museums in Catalonia) and you can also visit his house/museum in the tiny coastal hamlet of Port-Lligat near Cadaqués.

There are many delightful small towns on the coast between Roses and Tossa de Mar, such as Pals, Begur, Tamariu, Empuriabrava, L’Estartit, Calella de Palfrugell and Sant Feliu de Guixols, to name a few. The Pyrenees are an easy drive inland from this coast, and skiing facilities near the mountain town of Lleida are some of the best in Spain and just a few miles from the principality of Andorra.

In 1998 coastal towns of the Costa Brava signed a charter the Carta de Tossa which undertook to pursue environmental protection along with tourism. This recognised the value of the region's wide range of natural habitats and micro-climates. The Illes Medes off the coast of L’Estartit is Spain's first maritime nature reserve and it provides a home to a wide range of fish and aquatic flora. The nearby wildfowl reserve at l'Emporda also saved land from the potential ravages of development. Inland the province of Girona is green and lush and ideal country for keeping horses.

Climate: A Mediterranean climate with relatively short mild winters and long hot summers.  micro-climate, with 320 days of sunshine a year.  Average Temperatures: summer months range from 21°C to 28°C. Winter temperatures range from 6°C to 10°C.

Language. Catalán is the main language with Spanish also spoken everywhere.

Airports : Barcelona and Girona

Schooling:  Very good national and international schools.