The Circus of La Bisbal de l'Empordà

La Bisbal de l'Empordà is the administrative centre of Baix Empordá and quite possibly the least interesting place in the whole region. No offense. No mountains, no beach, no Medieval streets, no Salvador Dalí footprints. That's right — nothing should distract from counting tourist money in the region (a hefty sum indeed). However — in the Costa Brava there is always a "however" — once a year this sleepy town is well worth visiting, especially if you've got kids.

Since 1996, every July, La Bisbal de l'Empordà hosts a street circus. The festival Fira de Circ al Carrer ("Circus Festival on the Street") traditionally takes place on a Friday evening, followed by two full days of performances on Saturday and Sunday in the second half of the month.

Circus artists perform all over the city. Apart from two dozen major stages assembled on main squares and along the river Daró shore, magicians, clowns and jugglers also perform in small and intimate venues like bars. Performances outdoors last for 40 minutes on average while bar shows are shorter, about 15 minutes in length.

A pleasant thing about a street festival is that it's usually free. In La Bisbal de l'Empordà, only three to four performances are ticketed — out of more than sixty! Get your wallet ready for refreshments and ice cream though. To have a great festival-going experience, all you need is a plan. Prepare to arrive about 15 minutes in advance before each performance to find a seat for you and your child(ren).

Visiting Fira de Circ al Carrer

The festival usually takes place on the third weekend of July, but do check the official website in May-June to confirm the dates.

La Bisbal de l'Empordà is found on the highway C66, halfway between Girona and the Costa Brava beach coast (Platja de Pals, Begur, Calella de Palafrugell, Sant Antoni de Calonge, Palamós).