Costa Brava means ‘wild coast’ in English, and this area of Catalunya was so-called in a September 1908 newspaper article because of its rocky, winding coastline that features long beaches and hidden coves. It’s located between 90 minutes and two hours by train, bus or car from Barcelona. Formerly the most exclusive resort area in Spain, those days are no more thanks to extensive building development in some areas and an attempt to appeal to the masses. Yet the Costa Brava is still a peaceful, resplendent area with mountains, beaches (less crowded than those in Barcelona!) and a blend of Modernista buildings and old villages. Fans of scuba diving, watersports and sunbathing au naturel can all find their home away from home in the Costa Brava. Art enthusiasts can visit the Dalí Museum in Figueres, while those looking for a unique form of relaxation can enjoy the thermal baths at several hotels including the Hotel Balneari Termes Orión in Santa Coloma de Farners where the water rises naturally at 45 degrees Celsius. There are more than 200 local fairs and festivals that take place in the towns and villages of Costa Brava during the year, including the annual Medieval Fair held in November in Lloret de Mar and the music and arts festivals held each between July and August in the clifftop botanical gardens of Cap Roig and the Castillo de Peralada.