Lloret de Mar

Lloret de Mar (Catalan: [ʎuˈɾɛd də ˈmaɾ], locally [ʎoˈɾəd də ˈma]; Spanish: [ʎoˈɾe(ð) ðe ˈmaɾ]) is a Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia, Spain. It is 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Girona and 75 kilometres (47 miles) northeast of Barcelona. With a population of 39,363 in 2009, it is the second largest town in the Selva comarca of Catalonia.

Lloret de Mar attracts summer visitors on package tours. Its main beach (length: 1,630 m; width: 45 m; small, gravel-like stones) is one of the most popular Costa Brava beaches, and is consistently awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness.

Geography

The town of Lloret de Mar covers 48.9 km (30.4 miles) has 9 km (6 mi) of coastline and 27 km (17 mi) of forest. It borders Vidreres and Maçanet de la Selva to the west, the Mediterranean Seato the east, Tossa de Mar to the north, and Blanes to the south.

Climate

Climate Lloret de Mar has a climate that is on the border between a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) and a coastal Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa), with the former very rarely seen anywhere in Southwestern Europe; temperatures are always much softer due to thermal effect moderator of the sea. Nevertheless, it should be taken into account that the Mediterranean is a warm sea all year round, which means that the characteristic moderation of temperatures is more noticeable in winter than in summer. The summer dry period normally lasts three months and the maximum rainfall occurs in the autumn months.

History

There are historical remains of Iberian and Roman civilisations at various archeological sites. The first written references to Lloret de Mar can be found in documents from 966 as Loredo from the Latin word “lauretum” (bay laurel). Like many Mediterranean coastal towns, Lloret was frequently invaded by the Saracens in the Middle Ages. It is said that the traditional Ball de Plaça (the Dance in the Town Square) dates from this era.

Until the 15th century, the town’s centre was located one kilometre (0.6 miles) inland, next to the Chapel of Les Alegries (the town’s main church before the Church of Sant Romà was built) to protect itself from attacks from English, French, Turkish and Algerian pirates. Lloret’s port became commercially important in the 18th century. It no longer exists but the Garriga Houses built by Indianos(Indians), rich returning Spanish immigrants to the Americas, remind us of this affluent era.The high economic level that had been achieved in certain sectors of the population of Lloret led to the demolition of the old houses and the rise of small neoclassical palaces, modernist or eclectic. The houses of the Paseo del Mar, San Pedro Street and the Plaza de España.In the first decade of the twentieth century, the first holiday makers arrived in Lloret. In 1918 the first summer villas began to be built, such as the Indian house of Emilio Heydrich 1921, the first hotel was opened in 192, the hotel “Costa Brava” . But the Spanish Civil War and the postwar period brought economic restrictions and difficulties and stopped the incipient tourist activity of Lloret. All in all, the first vacationers who came from the Barcelona area soon arrived and were generally well-placed textile manufacturers or similar occupants.

Sites of cultural interest

• Church of Sant Romà: Gothic church finished in 1522 built as a refuge from attacks from Turkish and Algerian pirates. Large-scale restoration work carried out in the early 20th century with money from the returned Americanos has converted it into a building with Byzantine, Moorish, Renaissanceand Modernist influences.
• Castle of Sant Joan: Medieval castle from the 11th century used to defend Lloret against any attacks from the sea such as that of the Genovese fleet in 1356 and during England’s war on Spain and France in 1805. The fortress is said to have been operational until the 17th century. Only the castle’s tower remains (restored in 1992) and offers an excellent view of the surrounding area.
• Monument to the Fisherman’s Wife: Bronze sculpture found at the end of Lloret beach erected in 1966 to commemorate Lloret de Mar’s Millennium. It is considered to be one of the town’s most emblematic symbols. Legend states that touching the sculpture’s foot while looking out at the horizon will make your wishes come true.
• Santa Clotilde gardens: Gardens designed in an Italian Renaissance style by Nicolau Rubió i Tuduri. Situated on top of a cliff offering impressive views over the sea.
• Modernist cemetery
• Iberian settlements at Puig de Castellet.
• Iberian settlements at Montbarbat.
• Sanctuary of Sant Pere del Bosc.
• Angel monument.
• Oratory of the Mare de Déu de Gràcia.
• Chapel of Santa Cristina.
• Chapel of Les Alegries
• Chapel of Sant Quirze
• Maritime Museum — Can Garriga

Nature

Beaches and coves

Lloret de Mar has been awarded the Blue Flag seal of quality for Lloret, Fenals, Sa Boadella and Santa Cristina beaches.

• Lloret beach: Lloret beach is located in the municipal district of Lloret de Mar (county of La Selva), on the southern Costa Brava. This coarse, white sand beach is 1630 metres long with a 10% gradient. It is situated in Lloret de Mar town centre and can be reached by the GI-682 (Blanes-Lloret) road, the C-32 motorway (Malgrat-Blanes-Lloret exit) and the AP-7 motorway (Lloret C-63 exit). The beach is a single unit but is divided into three sections with names inherited from the local fishermen: “Es Trajo de Vilavall” (towards the Fenals side), “Es Trajo d’en Reiner” (the central section) and “Es Trajo de Venècia” (towards the Sa Caleta side). The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag seal of quality.
• Fenals beach: Fenals beach is located in the municipal district of Lloret de Mar (county of La Selva), on the southern Costa Brava, between Sa Boadella cove and Lloret beach. This coarse sand beach is 700 metres long with a 10% gradient. It is situated in a semi-urban area of Lloret de Mar and can be reached along the GI-682 road (Blanes-Lloret). There is an inter-urban bus service that stops at the beach. On the side of the beach closer to Sa Boadella there is a pine grove that begins at the Racó d’en Sureda spot. On the other side of the beach, in the form of a very open bay with deep water, stands the Castle of Sant Joan on a promontory that is the highest point on the Lloret coastline. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag seal of quality.
• Cala Boadella: Sa Boadella cove is located in the municipal district of Lloret de Mar (county of La Selva), on the southern Costa Brava, between Santa Cristina and Fenals beaches. This coarse sand beach is 250 metres long with a 10% gradient. It is situated in the outskirts of Lloret de Mar and can be reached along the GI-682 road (Blanes-Lloret). Vehicle access to the beach is not allowed; parking facilities are located 200 metres from the beach. The beach is surrounded by cliffs and a thick pine grove. Santa Clotilde Gardens are situated at the top of the cliffs on the left-hand side of the beach, with views of the coastline. At the foot of these cliffs, between Des Bot island and En Sureda point, there is an area scattered with islets that is used by scuba divers. The cove is split by the Sa Roca des Mig formation, forming two beaches: Sa Cova (the Cave, although there is no cave there) and Sa Boadella. In fact, the name Sa Cova (on the side closer to Santa Cristina beach) is barely used today and the entire beach is known as Sa Boadella. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag seal of quality. A few decades ago there was a small designated area in the northernmost part of the beach for nudists. Today, the entire beach is used by nudists although non-nudists are also welcome.
• Santa Cristina beach: Santa Cristina beach is located in the municipal district of Lloret de Mar (county of La Selva), on the southern Costa Brava. This fine sand beach is 450 metres long with a 10% gradient. It is delimited by the Punta de Llevant (Eastern Point) and by the Es Canó rocks. The Es Canó rocks form a small gulf that serves as a shelter when the south-westerly wind blows. This spot, known as Es Racó de Garbí, is situated at the start of the curve that forms Sant Cristina beach, ending up at the Racó de Llevant spot, at the foot of some pine-filled crags. The path that leads to the beach ends up at the chapel of Sant Cristina. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag seal of quality.
• Treumal beach: Treumal beach is located on the boundary of the municipal districts of Lloret de Mar and Blanes (county of La Selva), on the southern Costa Brava. This fine sand beach is 400 metres long with a 10% gradient. It can be reached along the GI-682 road (Blanes-Lloret), the C-32 motorway (Malgrat-Blanes-Lloret exit), the AP-7 motorway (Exit 9 Lloret) and the C-63 (Vidreres county road). The closest parking facilities are at Santa Cristina beach. This beach is a prolongation of Santa Cristina beach and is surrounded by a leafy pine wood. The two beaches are separated by a rock formation called La Punta des Canó.
• Canyelles beach: Canyelles beach is located in the municipal district of Lloret de Mar (county of La Selva), on the southern Costa Brava. This coarse, white sand beach is 450 metres long with a 5% gradient. It can be reached along the GI-682 road (Blanes-Lloret-Tossa), the C-32 motorway (Malgrat-Blanes-Lloret exit), the AP-7 motorway (Exit 9 Lloret) and the C-63 (Vidreres county road). An inter-urban bus service operates in July and August. The beach is situated outside Lloret de Mar town centre, next to the Canyelles housing development. On the right-hand side of the beach there is a small marina run by the Cala Canyelles Yacht Club. The beach is divided into two sections by a rock formation called Ses Roques des Mig. The section that stretches from these rocks to the left-hand side of the beach is called Sa Somera.
• Sa Caleta: It is located next to Lloret beach and stretches below a castle.
• Cala Banys: This rocky cove is commonly used for fishing and snorkelling. It can be reached on foot from Lloret beach or by car, parking at the Castle of Sant Joan.
• Cala Morisca
• Cala Gran
• Cala Tortuga
• Cala d’en Trons
• Cala dels Frares

Art and culture

Museums and collections

The Maritime Museum, which focuses on the history of the Indianos and Lloret de Mar’s seafaring and fishing past, is housed in Casa Garriga, an old Indiano house that was acquired by the town council in 1981 in order to turn it into a local museum. It is divided into five areas: Sons of the sea, Mediterranean, Gateway to the ocean, Lloret after sailing ships, and Beyond the beach. The route through the museum takes in everything from coastal trading in the Mediterranean to high-sea sailing across the Atlantic.

Castle of Sant Joan

Situated at the top of the hill that separates Lloret de Mar and Fenals beaches, it dates back to the turn of the 11th century. The castle served as a watchtower to warn of possible attacks from the sea. The origins of the Castle of Sant Joan are the origins of the town of Lloret. Back in the 11th century, the area of land delimited as Loredo was ruled over by Sicardis of Lloret (1031–1103). According to the terms of Sicardis’ will, the feudal land was to be shared between two of her sons: Bernat Umbert, Bishop of Girona, and Bernat Gaufred, a secular lord who became Lord of Palafolls. This shared jurisdiction lasted until 1218, when Bishop Bernat Umbert died and his fief passed exclusively to the See of the Chapter of Girona Cathedral. In 1790, the Comú (Town Council) and the inhabitants of Lloret asked the Royal Council of the Treasury (“Real Consejo de Hacienda”) to make the castle and its land royal property in exchange for the payment of 8,000 pounds to the Cathedral Chapter for its loss of ownership rights. The legal dispute, which lasted until 1802, was decided in favour of Lloret’s inhabitants, bringing almost eight centuries of feudal rule to an end, although the Castle of Sant Joan belonged to the Chapter until 1807. The Third Coalition War that pitted Great Britain against Spain and France, and which concluded at the Battle of Trafalgar, had disastrous consequences for the tower of the Castle of Sant Joan. In 1805 the British Navy bombed the tower, destroying the fortified enclosure once and for all. The castle remained in disuse throughout the 19th century and was reduced to ruins. The restoration of the keep, which is now open to visitors, was completed in 1992. Meanwhile, the excavations and the museological project were completed between 2000 and 2001.

Modernist cemetery of the Indianos

Architects such as Enric Monserdà, Bonaventura Conill and Puig i Cadafalch built modernist buildings including the Sanctuary of Sant Pere del Boscwith the small chapel of Mare de Déu de Gràcia (Our Lady of Grace), or the chapel of the Baptistery and the chapel of the Santíssim Sagrament (Holiest Sacrament), both of which belong to the church of Sant Romà, and, last of all, the pantheon of the Costa Macià family, one of the most complex and sumptuous modernist structures in Lloret de Mar cemetery.