the old town, beautiful coves and fabulous walks

Calonge has long been a favourite place for foreigners to settle. We visited the town and its coastline to find out what the attraction is. Situated at the foot of the Gavarres mountains and just 2 kilometres from the sea, the town of Calonge is the centre of the municipality. With its medieval castle, the church of Sant Martí and the Carrier de Càcul, Calonge offers both history and culture. Calonge stages a well known music festival annually. At the entrance to the town centre there is a message to travellers on a monolyth that reads: "Traveller whoever you may be, wherever you may come from and whatever your creed may be, if you are tired, rest, the town of Calonge offers you this seat." A great invitation to sit down, have a cup of coffee and relax before strolling through the old part of Calonge.

Many itineraries for your stroll through the town are available from the local tourism office.  The name "Colónico" is the name by which the town was known in the oldest documents available. This name suggest a Roman origin and appeared for the first time in the year 881 as a result from a donation made by King Charleman to Teotari, the Bishop of Girona. The town of Calonge grew and expanded around its castle and the church of Sant Martí. However, archaeological finds prove that this land had been populated in ancient times.

Sant Antoni is situated on the coast at the very centre of the Costa Brava and has some of the finest beaches and coves on this coastline. No visit to this area could be complete without visiting the coves that run along the Camí de Ronda. The coves continue as far as the town of Playa de Aro. We would recommend a walk through this area to discover the beauty of the coves, each one having some special feature that cannot fail to please. The area is also famous for its nautical activities; sailing, water skiing, etc. The main attractions in the area can be divided into the following: walking, water sports, gastronomy and cultural activities.

Calonge offers mountain areas for walking through delightful diverse countryside with various itineraries that offer great natural beauty. There are also many cycling tracks for the more adventurous. Some of the more accessible places are the Puig Ses Forques, the caves of Ronquillo, and the Castell Barri. One can wonder through vineyards, fields, forests or along the coast, a truly delightful area in which to appreciate the beauty of Catalonia. Activities in Calonge include the Easter medieval market and of course the classical music festivals, on the promenade of Sant Antoni one can see the painters of the Drawing Fair in August as well as the handicraft stalls every Sunday during the summer. Also featured are the "Havaneres" (sea shanties) and the "Cremat" which is a typical regional drink.

There are shows for children during the holiday season. Worth a visit are the weekly markets on Wednesday in Sant Antoni and on Thursday in Calonge. Gastronomy is based on the typical cuisine of La Empordà as one would expect seafood plays a large part in the local specialities. From 16 to 20 June 2004 various restaurants in Calonge, Sant Antoni and Palamós offer the "Menú de la Gamba". September is the gastronomic month for the "Menú de la Badia L´Escamarlà".

For more information on gastronomic events contact Associació de restaurants de la Badia, tel: 972 661 714. In autumn the emphasis switches to the traditional dish "Ranxo de Pescadors". The wine from Calonge has a good reputation in the region, the wines are honest and of good quality. The climate, the soil of the plain of Calonge with the mountain range "Les Gavarres" protecting the vines make it an ideal terrain for producing wine.

So why do so many foreigners choose to live in Calonge and its surrounding countryside? Certainly the countryside is pretty, the coves and beaches offer great diversity and natural beauty, the old town offers history, culture and an excellent weekly market.

Oficina de Turisme
Avinguda Catalunya, S/N
17252 Sant Antoni, Girona
T +34 972 661 714, F +34 972 661 080
turisme@calonge-santantoni.com