Graffiti artist and street art guide Javier Garcia lives in the Catalan city of Blanes, also known as the “Gateway to the Costa Brava”. Here he shares his favorite travel tips in the small, quiet town that’s perfect for slow travel.
1 Natural beach outside the city center
Between Blanes and Lloret de Mar lies the beautiful bay of Cala s’Agulla, which is made up of rocks and stones – the result of erosion caused by the action of water and wind.
I love walking there from Blanes. It’s a 45-minute walk along the sea, rising 100-200 meters until you reach the top of the cliff. From here you can walk down to the stand, which has no sand but large stones. That’s why you can’t throw in the towel and lie in the sun. On the other hand, it’s great for swimming and snorkeling. And you’ll almost always have the place to yourself. In high season, the maximum occupancy is 5-6 people. Be aware that this is a nudist beach and the rocks are slippery when swimming.
I love watching the sunrise at Cala s’Agulla and it’s incredibly beautiful when the sun sets behind the mountains in the evening.
You can take a taxi from Blanes to Cala s’Agulla if you want a more relaxed trip there, where you still get beautiful views. The taxi stops at the Botanical Gardens and then it’s a 10-minute walk to the beach.
Cala s’Agulla Blanes
2 The best views in Blanes
The best view of Blanes is from the Fort Sant Joan Blanes, built between the 11th and 13th centuries and located on a hill 173 meters above sea level.
One of the most emblematic buildings in the city, the castle was built to defend the city from pirate attacks by sea. The castle has a remarkable tower and it’s from the walls that you can enjoy views of the city. In the 15th century, the castle was tasked with protecting Barcelona from the North. After that, it lost its strategic importance until, for a short period in the 1800s, it had an optical telegraph station installed. During the civil war, the Sant Joan Blanes castle served as a refuge.
If you follow the route from the city center, it takes about 30 minutes to walk to Sant Joan Blanes.
Castell de Sant Joan Blanes, Carrer Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer, s/n
3 Santa Maria de Blanes Church
The church of Santa Maria del Blanes is Gothic in style with a main nave and two side naves. Two pulpits were created by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí in 1912. In 1936, the building collapsed during a violent fire during the Civil War and was subsequently rebuilt.
I’m not religious, but I visit the church where I light a candle for my late grandmother, who was very Catholic.
Iglesia Santa Maria del Blanes, Carrer Nou 22
4 Blanes’ biggest folk festival
Every year at the end of July, the whole of Blanes gathers for the Festa Major (the big party), held in honor of the town’s patron saint Santa Anna.
The festival lasts for three days, where locals take part in parades with giant puppets, concerts, the Catalan dance, the Sardana, magic shows, concerts and foam parties. The highlight is the five-day fireworks festival, which is the most beautiful fireworks display in all of Spain. The fireworks begin at 10pm and are huge in both sound and light, and can be seen over the water.
There are also concerts in the city. The biggest venue is Enxorrat by the beach, which has concerts until 3am. Corre Focs parade with torches while playing music.
5 The local market
Every Monday is the local market Mercadillo de Blanes, also known as Mercadillo de lunes (Monday market), which is a great place to blend in with the locals when they’re out shopping. The market has a lot of clothes, but there are also toys, jewelry, local fruits and vegetables, some of which are organic. The market has over 100 stalls and begins by the sea.
Mercadillo de lunes, Passeig Cortils in Vieta (entrance from Passeig de Dintre)
Mondays 9-14
About Javier Garcia
- Born in 1978 in Madrid
- Lives in Blanes on the Costa Brava, 65 km outside Barcelona. Runs Cooltourspain by day and is a practicing graffiti artist by night.
- Trained as a teacher in 2012
- Opened Cooltourspain in 2012, offering guided street art tours and street art workshops in Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga and Valencia.
