Portal to the Costa Brava

Coordinates: 41.6708690000, 2.7909350000 (map)

A rugged coastline, steep cliffs hiding cozy beaches, dense forests hanging above the sea are all distinct features of the Costa Brava, the principal Catalan coast. Sailing from Portugal to France, you would start seeing the typical Costa Brava landscapes right after leaving the port of Blanes behind. This spot is considered the southern portal to the Costa Brava.

This boundary exists unofficially, in conversations, books and guidebooks. Despite that, the Costa Brava brand is strong and has only gotten stronger in the last several decades, especially internationally, so the Blanes residents would likely consider it an insult if the public opinion suddenly shifted and the invisible border moved, say, more to the north.

Not that such a reverse would be possible after a monument shaped like an arch with a plaque "Portal de la Costa Brava" was installed on the city beach next to the rock Sa Palomera. The importance of this spot is reaffirmed every year during a whole week of fireworks shows in July—Sa Palomera is where the pyrotechnics participating in the international fireworks competition Focs de Blanes install their cannons to take part in the loudest and brightest summer event in the Costa Brava.