TRAVEL GUIDES DIRECTORY: COSTA DORADA SPAIN

The color of gold - soft, warm and sparklingly bright - is prevalent along the shores of the southern part of Catalonia. This beautiful part of the province has rightly been given the name Costa Dorada which means Golden Coast. Undoubtedly another favorite Spanish holiday destination, the Costa Dorada lies beneath Barcelona, and stretches from the south of the Costa Brava to Tarragona. The region is quite different from its northern neighbor, the Costa Brava . The coastline is less rugged, with endless miles of flat golden sandy beaches.

The Costa Dorada , otherwise Daurada in Catalan, is about 6,283 square kilometers in land area and has 10 counties and 183 municipalities. Its capital is the city of Tarragona. Costa Dorada is composed of twelve zones namely Altafulla, Calafell, Cambrils, Coma-Ruga, El Vendrell, Hospitalet Infant, L Ametlla de Mar, La Pineda, Miami Platja, Montbrio del Camp, Salou, and Tarragona.

It covers a marine littoral of 216 kilometers long, with 786 hectares of expansive beaches with immaculately clean and fine sand, and crystalline, shallow water. A handful of the towns here are established around the silhouette of an olden castle. Their propinquity to each other balances the ambience, of old and modern, natural and artificial. Each unique town lends a lively feel to the entire surrounding, and increasing the possibilities of enjoyment are of course, the availability of all sorts of complimentary services for tourists.

Amid the sea and the mountain range are wide areas dotted with quaint, peaceful towns and cheerful farmlands, where olive groves, hazel, carobs, and almond trees flourish, plus several vegetable patches too. The entire area, with a wealth of hotels, campsites, villas and apartments, has a capacity for more than 500,000 tourists. The piece of paradise called Costa Dorada, receives an average of 3,500,000 visitors per annum.

Vineyards can be seen practically everywhere, as this region is home to some of Spain's finest wines, in particular the strong reds from the Priorat.

The old fisherman's quarters in ancient towns are mainly dedicated to agriculture, and are typically located atop the hills and near the sea, in order to safeguard themselves from attacks by pirates and corsairs in the earlier centuries. This rustic atmosphere stand out against the urban feel of the historic city of Tarragona.

The large tourist centers along the beaches of the Costa Dorada have developed in recent times. Inland one can easily reach places and towns offering unique and interesting personalities and historical interest. Do not miss exploring the towns of Reus, Valls, Montblanc, and Tortosa, as well as the great medieval monasteries: Poble, Santes Creus and Scala Dei. The pretty landscapes of Prades and Siurana plus the rugged mountain ranges brimming with big game reserves (Tivissa, Cardo and Ports de Tortosa), are also attractions to reckon with. The adventurous will also enjoy the unique delta of the Ebro river, with its labyrinth of lagoons and ditches, plus their facilities for wild fowl hunting. For a taste of culture, check out Tarragona, a historic city with a great personality.

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