HOLIDAY HOME ANEXA   A CHARMING VILLA NEAR BARCELONA

The Costa Brava/Catalonia region

The Costa Brava is rightfully famous for its breathtakingly beautiful coastline, where wide beaches of golden sand and crystal clear waters alternate with rocky promentories and little coves backed by sheer cliffs topped with pine and oak forests. The interior of the Costa Brava is every bit as stunning as the coast (and far less affected by tourism), with pristine medieval villages set in lush, typically Mediterranean landscapes.

A short drive to the east and you are in the wooded hills of the pre-Pyrenees, with trout-filled streams feeding environmentally protected lakes - like the one in Banyoles - offering a welcome alternative to the coastal beaches.

Barcelona / El Masnou area

The town of El Masnou is known locally for its Marine and beach nearby Alella, a scenic wine-producing village with its own "denomination" and many fine buildings. Allella is right on the coast, just up from El Masnou, about 20 kms north of Barcelona. Alella and Masnou would be listed on any decent map of the area. Masnou has commuter trains in to the center of Barcelona every 15 min, a fun train ride which runs along the coast, with views of the beaches for much of the 20 minutes the trip lasts. You can also drive into Barcelona in about 20 minutes from the coastal highway, the C-32 from Masnou. Masnou is also important for the quality of its beaches, the good terraced restaurants on its pleasure port, the old world charm of the town center, and the good supermarkets just outside of town.