Banyoles (Costa Brava). Catalonia. Spain

Culinary excellence is a virtue common to all the regions of Girona. You will always be able to enjoy the pleasure of natural, traditional, sophisticated, creative or even ingenious cooking. The major distinguishing feature of the cuisine is the matching of top-quality products from both land and sea, for instance chicken with crayfish.

When you stay in a Banyoles villa you can visit Pla de l´Estany area and you can flavour typical meals in some different restaurants. Some of them are very traditional and the others are more creative. You can also profit from visiting the local market that has taken place every week in the main square in Banyoles since the XIII century. Near Pla de l´Estany, you can also find Volcanic cuisine. They listed eleven products, which include potatoes, pork, fajol (buckwheat), Santa Pau beans, mushrooms... The result is the about one hundred varied and wholesome recipies that are served in restaurants compromised with the essence of the local cuisine.

Besides, you can see other natural places of interest like Banyole lake. The lake's water comes from the highest Garrotxa. The lake has a carstic origin, the higher stratums of the subsoil collapsed years go and the water spouts from the deepest lake zones. Its vegetation is so rich that a lot of kinds of animals can live in the lake: green-neck duck, water pullet and many more.

Not very far away, there is the Old District of Banyoles. You will see La Plaça Major (Main Square) is one of the biggest arcaded square of Catalonia with 37archs. It was built in XIII century when a new bourgeosisie was appearing.

Other places to visit from Banyoles accommodation include: -La Porta dels Turers, which was one of the wall doors.

-Sta. Maria dels Turers church, built in X century. But, nowadays it shows a primitive catalan gotic style.

-El carrer Major (Major Street), the main street the village and where the rich families lived.

-El Tint, la Pia Almoina, la Plaça del Monestir...

And we recommend a swim in the sea at Empuries beach: Empúries is situated in "l´Alt Empordà" near St. Pere Pescador village and l´Escla village. Empúries is a ancient greek and roman city called Emporium, the ruins of which are well worth visiting. The beach near the ruins is very peaceful and its a pleasure go for walk along its sands.

But... that's not all! Banyoles is a hive of activity!

Written by Raquel - Owner of Property 77113 in Banyoles, Spain