Costa Brava has always been a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from across Europe – not least Britain – for summer holidays in the Spanish sun, right on the Mediterranean coast. However there is so much more to the area than simply the sun, sea and sangria for which it is best known. It is a rich and diverse region with stunning natural beauty and a profound cultural heritage.

Travel around the region and you will find divine spots such as the traditional fishing port of Sant Feliu de Guixols, offering a beautiful vista as well as great places to eat. Nearby S’Agaro meanwhile grew in the glamorous, decadent days of the early twentieth century as a resort for the rich and famous.

Elsewhere, you’ll find three kilometres of popular beach along with bars and shops at Platja d’Aro. Palafrugell is the hub of three coastal locales nearby: Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc and Tamariu. The trendy destination of Begur is another town with its own charm and personality too.

Towards the north of the region you’ll find the long and popular beach of Pals, whilst further inland the medieval village of Pals and Peratallada attracts many visitors. Founded by the Greeks three thousand years ago, the town of Roses appeals to a great many tourists, whilst Cadaques is a popular destination for visitors interested in culture of more modern times as the location of Salvador Dali’s home to which the stars of the avant garde such as Picasso, Bunuel and Lorca used to come. Girona, the capital of the Costa Brava, is a walled Roman city founded for its ideal location between the Pyrenees and Barcelona.

Beyond the popular, busy beaches there are so many places in the region where you can go and immerse yourself in the Spanish culture whilst enjoying the fine Mediterranean weather.

Wherever you go, you’ll find plenty of places where you can indulge in some of the excellent cuisine that the Costa Brava has to offer. Typically meals are based on fresh fish and seafood, grilled or baked in salt, or cooked as a stew in the traditional regional dish known as suquet. Different areas have their own particular styles and flavours, and you’ll always find something tasty and unique.

All along the coast meanwhile you’ll find plenty of bars where you can take time out to enjoy a refreshing glass of wine, a cold beer, or try some of the local rum.

Thomas Cook offer a variety of package holidays to locations across the world, including Costa Brava. Take a look at their site for more information.