ECAP Spain-Final-Revised

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

ECAP Spain-Final-Revised United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas SPANISH DOCUMENT AIMING AT THE IDENTIFICATION OF IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM PROPERTIES AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL STATUS AND PRESSURES TO MEDITERRANEAN MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY Núria Marbà Bordalba and Carlos M. Duarte Quesada September 2010 1 SPANISH DOCUMENT AIMING AT THE IDENTIFICATION OF IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM PROPERTIES AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL STATUS AND PRESSURES TO MEDITERRANEAN MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY Study required and financed by: Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas Boulevard du Leader Yasser Arafat BP 337 1080 Tunis Cedex – Tunisie Responsible of the study: Núria Marbà Bordalba, Scientific Researcher CSIC, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (UIB-CSIC) Carlos M. Duarte Quesada, Research Professor CSIC, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (UIB-CSIC) In charge of the study: (if different consultants) Names, qualification and institutions of the other consultants Reference of the study : Contract RAC/SPA, nº 73-2009 With the participation of : Giacomo Tavecchia, Tenured Scientist CSIC, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (UIB-CSIC) ___________________________________________________________________ This report should be quoted as: Marbà N., Duarte C.M. 2010. Spanish document aiming at the identification of Important ecosystem properties and assessment of ecological status and pressures to Mediterranean marine and coastal biodiversity. Contract RAC/SPA, N° 73-2009: 56 of pages. 2 SPANISH DOCUMENT AIMING AT THE IDENTIFICATION OF IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM PROPERTIES AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL STATUS AND PRESSURES TO MEDITERRANEAN MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY By Núria Marbà Bordalba and Carlos M. Duarte Quesada Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC-UIB) Carrer Miquel Marquès 21 07190 Esporles (Spain) September 2010 3 Contents Executive summary......................................................................................................5 Introduction note ..........................................................................................................8 List of Acronyms...........................................................................................................9 1. Reference documents and information consulted..................................................10 1.1. Documents provided by RAC/SPA and its international consultants...............10 1.2. National documents and publications identified and available ........................11 1.3. Other documents identified..............................................................................11 2. Marine and coastal ecosystem status ....................................................................12 2.1. Biological characteristics .................................................................................12 2.2. Habitat types....................................................................................................40 2.3. Conclusions and identification of gaps ............................................................42 3. Pressures and impacts...........................................................................................44 3.1. Biological disturbance......................................................................................44 3.2. Emerging issues ..............................................................................................45 4. Expert opinion on marine and coastal status and pressures and impacts on the marine and coastal biodiversity..................................................................................50 4.1. Marine and coastal status and pressures relevant for national marine and coastal areas ..........................................................................................................50 4.2. Critical impacts and effects on marine and coastal biodiversity ......................51 5. Expert opinion on related priority national needs ...................................................52 5.1. Needs ..............................................................................................................52 5.2. Urgent actions proposed .................................................................................53 6. Funding problems and opportunities......................................................................54 6.1. Regular national sources, potentially available ...............................................54 6.2. Other (private, public, partnership) sources ....................................................54 6.3. International funds, projects, programmes ......................................................54 7. Conclusions and recommendations .......................................................................56 Reference list .............................................................................................................58 4 Executive summary Availability and problems of actual information and knowledge Research on ecosystem properties and assessment of ecological status and pressures to Spanish Mediterranean marine and coastal biodiversity is rapidly growing, and results are published in scientific journals and reports of different organisations. Most available information describes the biodiversity and identifies pressures and impacts, although the knowledge of ecological status of Spanish Mediterranean biodiversity and key habitats is strongly biased towards ecosystems developing shallower than 40 m water depth due to technical and resource constrains to access to deep waters. Level and quality of national activities Several activities, including legislation, elaboration of plans and programmes, research, monitoring and training, assessing biodiversity, ecological status and pressures along the Spanish Mediterranean are being conducted. These have increased since implementation of the different European Directives and Strategies . Few of these activities, however, directly address vulnerability and impacts of climate change on marine and coastal biodiversity, but they are contributing to increase knowledge on, and to improve, conservation of marine coastal biodiversity. These activities mainly focus on coastal, including terrestrial and marine, areas, whereas very few target the deep and open sea. The fraction of coastal and marine area protected is insufficient to help marine biodiversity conservation along the Spanish Mediterranean. Similarly, several vulnerable marine species, ecosystems and habitats to global change are not yet taken into account in conservation plans. List critical issues and gaps in national marine /coastal areas The major pressures threatening the Spanish Mediterranean biodiversity are overfishing (including trawling), aquaculture, excessive inputs from land, global warming, biological invasions, coastal sprawl and pressures derived from recreational activities (mechanical damage from anchors, sewage and garbage emissions and sports and recreational fishing, as well as impacts derived from the construction and operation of recreational harbours). The critical habitats and areas most directly impacted by the pressures indicated above are seagrass meadows, mid-water (> 30 m) coralline habitats, deep-water corals and coastal lagoons and sheltered bays. Among fish stocks, yellow fin tuna populations are threatened by excessive catches, particularly since their use in aquaculture operations, which has added an additional burden to the, already high pressure from fisheries, and that has brought the stock to a state of concern. List priority needs and actions 5 Information about distribution and conservation status of vulnerable marine ecosystems, habitats and species along the Spanish Mediterranean is scarce. Efforts to fill this gap of knowledge are being conducted within the Natura 2000 Network. However, Natura 2000 Network only involves some vulnerable marine habitats and species. Information on the distribution and conservation status should be extended to all marine vulnerable habitats and species. At present, the low fraction of coastal and marine area and the few key and vulnerable marine ecosystems to pressures and impacts protected are insufficient to help marine biodiversity conservation along the Spanish Mediterranean. The number of marine protected areas and ecosystems should increase. Protection measures should involve participation of all coastal and marine related actors, and they should be designed and coordinated at basin scale. Conservation measures should extend towards preserving circalittoral and bathyal key habitats. Marine protected areas in open sea should be defined. Trawling fisheries are the major threat to conservation of circalittoral and bathyal key ecosystems and species. This activity should be regulated. Conservation of marine biodiversity helps climate change mitigation. Adaptive management of coastal ecosystems and marine biodiversity should be promoted, adjusting to their responses to the evolving impacts of climate change, as opposed to static regulation and management approaches that are not flexible enough to accommodate the dynamic situation of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem. Mitigation of climate change impacts Global Change, including Climate Change and the rest of changes the Earth System experiences as a result of rapid human population growth, threats the future of marine and coastal biodiversity. Reduction and mitigation of direct and diffusive anthropogenic impacts are crucial
Recommended publications
  • Impacts of Use and Abuse of Nature in Catalonia with Proposals for Sustainable Management
    land Essay Impacts of Use and Abuse of Nature in Catalonia with Proposals for Sustainable Management Josep Peñuelas 1,2,3,4,* , Josep Germain 2, Enrique Álvarez 3, Enric Aparicio 5, Pere Arús 6, Corina Basnou 3, Cèsar Blanché 7,Núria Bonada 8 , Puri Canals 9, Marco Capodiferro 10 , Xavier Carceller 11, Alexandre Casademunt 12,13 , Joan Casals 14 , Pere Casals 15, Francesc Casañas 14, Jordi Catalán 3,4 , Joan Checa 16 , Pedro J. Cordero 17, Joaquim Corominas 18, Adolf de Sostoa 8, Josep Maria Espelta Morral 3, Marta Estrada 1,19 , Ramon Folch 1,20, Teresa Franquesa 21,22, Carla Garcia-Lozano 23 , Mercè Garí 10,24 , Anna Maria Geli 25, Óscar González-Guerrero 16 , Javier Gordillo 3, Joaquim Gosálbez 1,8, Joan O. Grimalt 1,10 , Anna Guàrdia 3, Rosó Isern 3, Jordi Jordana 26 , Eva Junqué 10,27, Josep Lascurain 28, Jordi Lleonart 19, Gustavo A. Llorente 8 , Francisco Lloret 3,29, Josep Lloret 5 , Josep Maria Mallarach 9,30, Javier Martín-Vide 31 , Rosa Maria Medir 25, Yolanda Melero 3 , Josep Montasell 32, Albert Montori 8, Antoni Munné 33, Oriol Nel·lo 1,16 , Santiago Palazón 34 , Marina Palmero 3, Margarita Parés 21, Joan Pino 3,29 , Josep Pintó 23 , Llorenç Planagumà 13 , Xavier Pons 16 , Narcís Prat 8 , Carme Puig 35, Ignasi Puig 36 , Pere Puigdomènech 1,6, Eudald Pujol-Buxó 8 ,Núria Roca 8 , Jofre Rodrigo 37, José Domingo Rodríguez-Teijeiro 8 , Francesc Xavier Roig-Munar 23, Joan Romanyà 38 , Pere Rovira 15 , Llorenç Sàez 29,39, Maria Teresa Sauras-Yera 8 , David Serrat 1,40, Joan Simó 14, Jordi Soler 41, Jaume Terradas 1,3,29 , Ramon
    [Show full text]
  • Pluviometric Anomaly in the Llobregat Delta
    Tethys, 6, 31–50, 2009 Journal edited by ACAM Journal of Weather & Climate of the Western Mediterranean (Associacio´ Catalana de Meteorologia) www.tethys.cat ISSN-1697-1523 eISSN-1139-3394 DOI:10.3369/tethys.2009.6.03 Pluviometric anomaly in the Llobregat Delta J. Mazon´ 1 and D. Pino1,2 1Department of Applied Physics. Escola Politecnica` Superior de Castelldefels, Universitat Politecnica` de Catalunya. Avda. del Canal Ol´ımpic s/n. 08860 Castelldefels 2Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC/CSIC). Barcelona Received: 16-X-2008 – Accepted: 10-III-2009 – Translated version Correspondence to: [email protected] Abstract The data from surface automatic weather stations show that in the area of the Llobregat delta (northeast of the Iberian Peninsula) we can observe greater precipitation than in nearby inland areas (Ordal, Collserola, Garraf), than on the other side of a massif located on the coast (Garraf) and than on the northern coast. This distribution of the precipitation could be explained by the formation of a nocturnal surface cold front in the Llobregat delta. In order to analyze in-depth the physical mechanisms that can influence the formation of this front (topography, sea and drainage winds), two rain episodes in the area were simulated with the MM5 mesoscale model, reproducing satisfactorily the physical mechanisms that favor the appearance of the front. Key words: nocturnal land breeze, coastal fronts, precipitation rhythms 1 Introduction which becomes wider when reaching the delta area. Sec- ondly, it is due to the sudden rise of the Garraf massif, in the When two air masses with different temperatures, and westernmost area of the delta, and of Montju¨ıc Mountain to therefore different densities, converge on the surface, as it is the east, both limiting the Llobregat delta, and therefore lim- known, they do not mix, but the warmer and less dense mass iting the cold air that descends the valley during the night.
    [Show full text]
  • 2012-Palet-Role.Pdf
    Variabilités environnementales, mutations sociales Nature, intensités, échelles et temporalités des changements ASSOCIATION POUR LA PROMOTION ET LA DIFFUSION DES CONNAISSANCES ARCHÉOLOGIQUES T2, 357 Boulevard Delmas F-06600 Antibes Relecture des textes Anne Guérin-Castell et Clark Warren Secrétariat d'édition, maquette et traitement des illustrations Antoine PASQUALINI Illustrations de couverture (de haut en bas) 1. Carte du changement de densité d'occupation entre les IVe-Ier s. av. n. è. et les Ier-IVe s. de n. è. dans la vallée de l'Argens et le massif des Maures (Var, France). F. Bertoncello, C. Gandini - ArchaeDyn, ACI Espace et Territoire ET28, 2008. 2. Troupeau de moutons dans une Dehesa à frênes et chênes lièges. Vallée du Tietar, Extremadura, Espagne, 2006 (cl. Claire Delhon). 3. Défrichements dans le cadre d'une agriculture sur brûlis à Djaba, Cameroun (cl. Olivier Langlois). 4. Barrage de Kharbaqa pour l'irrigation du domaine de Qasr el Khair dans la steppe aride, Syrie. (cl. Frank Braemer). Pour toute information relative à la diffusion de nos ouvrages, merci de bien vouloir contacter LIBRAIRIE ARCHÉOLOGIQUE 1, rue des Artisans, BP 90, F-21803 Quetigny Cedex Tél. : 03 80 48 98 60 - [email protected] Site internet : www.librairie-archeologique.com © APDCA, Antibes, 2012 ISBN 2-904110-52-6 XXXIIe RENCONTRES INTERNATIONALES D’ARCHÉOLOGIE ET D’HISTOIRE D’ANTIBES VARIABILITÉS ENVIRONNEMENTALES, MUTATIONS SOCIALES Nature, intensités, échelles et temporalités des changements ACTES DES RENCONTRES 20-22 octobre 2011 Sous la direction de Frédérique Bertoncello et Frank Braemer Avec le concours du CEPAM : Cultures et Environnements. Préhistoire, Antiquité, Moyen Âge (Centre national de la recherche scientifique et Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis) et de la ville d'Antibes Éditions APDCA – Antibes – 2012 VARIABILITÉS ENVIRONNEMENTALES, MUTATIONS SOCIALES .
    [Show full text]
  • Fishmpablue Act 1.4 Policy Survey Spain
    Fishing Governance in MPAs: Potentialities for Blue Economy Country Policy Survey: Spain WITH THE FINACIAL SUPPORT OF: FISHING GOVERNANCE IN MPAS: POTENTIALITIES FOR BLUE ECONOMY Country Policy survey SPAIN 2 Main Author(s): Maria del Mar Otero (IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation) With contributions from: La Consejera Técnica de las Reservas Marinas, Dirección General de Recursos Pesqueros y Acuicultura, Secretaría General de Pesca del Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente; El Servicio de Pesca y Acuicultura de la Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Medio Ambiente de la Región de Murcia; la Consejería de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente y Territorio de las Islas Baleares; consultant Diego Kersting. Project partners: Federparchi, ECOMERS laboratory (Nice-Sophia Antipolis University, France), WWF Mediterranean Programme Advisory members: MedPAN secretary, GFCM, MedWet, RAC/SPA, ISPRA, Marine Stewardship Council, MedArtNet Association, Catalonian Region Fisheries Administration and Croatian State Institute for Nature Protection. This work was part of the “Fishing governance in MPAs: potentialities for Blue Economy (FishMPABlue) project”. 1M-MED14-06. Financial assistance: European Territorial Cooperation Programme “MED” 2007-2013 and MAVA Citation: Otero, M., 2015. FISHING GOVERNANCE IN MPAS: POTENTIALITIES FOR BLUE ECONOMY (FISHMPABLUE project). WP2 Technical component - Act. 1.4 Country Policy survey, SPAIN. 24pp 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Forest Protected Areas to Drinking Water
    The importance of forest protected areas to drinking water RunningPure A research report by the World Bank / WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use Running Pure Running Pure: The importance of forest protected areas to drinking water A research report for the World Bank / WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use Written and edited by Nigel Dudley and Sue Stolton With major research and contributions by Rachel Asante Owusu, Ahmet Birsel, David Cassells, José Courrau, Lawrence Hamilton, Sedat Kalem, Wang Luan Keng, Leonardo Lacerda, Yıldıray Lise, Stefano Pagiola, Sara Scherr and Claudio Sericchio Published August 2003 ISBN 2-88085-262-5 © World Bank/WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use Cover design HMD, UK 1 Running Pure Preface Three years ago, WWF and IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas organised a conference on management effectiveness of protected areas in Bangkok. One of its major conclusions was that, if protected areas are to be maintained in the long term, their essential roles and broader services, beyond biodiversity conservation, need to be emphasised. Many governments are finding it increasingly difficult to justify the maintenance of protected areas, if the wider benefits for local communities and the society at large cannot be demonstrated. This report represents an early attempt to develop wider arguments for protection, focusing on one narrow but important issue − the potential role of protected areas in helping to maintain water supply to major cities. It is a good time to look at the links between water and protected areas. The United Nations has proclaimed 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater, to help promote new and existing water resource initiatives.
    [Show full text]
  • Beaches* Beaches
    EN Beaches* Beaches www.costabrava.org *You’ll want to keep coming back Published by Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona Design and production Minimilks Translated and revised by Tick Translations, Kobalt Languages Printed by GRÀFIQUES ALZAMORA SA. Legal deposit GI 1761-2014 Text Robert Carmona, Xavier Carmaniu Photographers Àlex Tremps, Jordi Ferre, Santi Bosch, Josep Algans, Maria Geli, Pilar Planagumà, Manel Puig, Santi Font, Esther Torrent, Julien Collet, Victoria Pujades, Julian Guisado, Paco Dalmau, Claudia Cama, Lluis Maimí, Francesc Tur, Jordi S.Carrera, Òscar Vall, Pep Iglesias, Jordi RenArt, Jordi Gallego, Toti Ferrer, Olga Planas, Àlex Gosteli. Photos courtesy of Arxiu Imatges PTCBG, Diputació de Girona, ACT, Fons IPEP, Festival de Música Castell de Peralada, Arxiu d’Imatges Castell de Peralada, Club Nàutic L’Escala, Vies Braves, P.W.A. Ajuntament de Tossa de Mar, Portbou, Colera, Llançà, Port de la Selva, Cadaqués, Roses, Castelló d’Empúries-Espuriabrava, L’Escala, Torroella de Montgrí-L’Estartit, Pals, Palafrugell, Mont-Ras, Calonge- Sant Antoni, Castell-Platja d’Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Tossa de Mar, Lloret Turisme, Turisme Blanes Beaches Legend 5 Legend Services m Length (m) width (m) Foot bath Water sports school Bathing assistance service for the disabled Setting natural Restaurant Sailing school Guide for persons with impaired vision Setting residencial Bar Oating platform Amphibian crutches, walking sticks Setting urban Buoys Dogs allowed Kids Friendly Occupancy low Leisure boat hire Nude beaches Occupancy moderate
    [Show full text]
  • Torroella De Montgrí and L'estartit 02 EXIT 3 Index EXIT 4
    Discover and enjoy Torroella de Montgrí and l'Estartit 02 EXIT 3 Index EXIT 4 03 Presentation 04 Torroella de Montgrí 04 Old Town EXIT 5 06 Montgrí Castle 08 Art, music and culture 10 L'Estartit 10 A seafaring town 12 Medes Islands 14 Coves and beaches Montgrí, Medes Islands EXIT 6 16 and Baix Ter Nature Park 20 Sport and leisure EXIT 7 22 Shopping and cuisine 24 Fairs and festivals EXIT 8 25 Quality certificates 26 Maps of the towns EXIT 9 Credits Edited by: Ajuntament de Torroella de Montgrí Address: plaça de la Vila, 1 · 17257 Torroella de Montgrí Coordinated by: Àrea de Turisme Graphic design and layout: Photographs made by: Toni León, Àlex Lorente, Àlex Soler, Dani Escrig i Rosa Mayordomo, Josep Pasqual, Jordi Gamero i l'arxiu de l'Ajuntament de Torroella de Montgrí. Page 9: painting of Josep Maria Mascort. Situation Printed by: Norprint, SA Legal Deposit: GI-452-2011 Montgrí massif and castle Torroella de Montgrí Torre Moratxa and Roca Maura L'Estartit Medes Islands Torroella de Montgrí – l'Estartit, embodies the very essence of its county, the Baix Empordà. Blue sea Torroella de Montgrí is a former royal town meets Nature's located at the foot of the calcareous Montgrí Massif, surrounded by crop fields green in and vegetable gardens irrigated by the final stretches of the River Ter. this privileged L'Estartit, on the coast, is one of the best environment tourist resorts on the Costa Brava, with the Mediterranean Sea and the Medes Islands as a backdrop to its unbeatable setting.
    [Show full text]
  • Situació, Origen Geològic I Història Del Poblament Humà
    1. EL CONTEXT DELTAIC: SITUACIÓ, ORIGEN GEOLÒGIC I HISTÒRIA DEL POBLAMENT HUMÀ Pau Esteban,1 Susana Laredo,1 Joan Pino2 i Andrés Valverde Martínez 1. Departament de Medi Ambient. Ajuntament del Prat de Llobregat. 2. Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF) i Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia (BABVE). Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. delta-llobregat.indb 27 12/12/2018 16:49:17 28 ELS SISTEMES NATURALS DEL DELTA DEL LLOBREGAT 1.1. INTRODUCCIÓ del Llobregat (figura 1) mereix una anàlisi detallada. La seva complexitat actual és el re- El Llobregat és un riu mediterrani de poc sultat de les moltes fases de transformació cabal, amb aportacions anuals al mar de per les quals ha passat aquest petit territori i 270 a 1.347,5 hm3 (1912-1971), un marcat del pòsit que totes hi han deixat. La seva estiatge, fortes crescudes i una gran irregu- evolució física tampoc no es pot entendre laritat (Marquès, 1984). Neix als contra- sense tenir en compte l’acció humana, ja forts meridionals de la serra del Moixeró, a que, de fet, és impossible trobar cap indret al 1.280 metres d’altitud al terme de Castellar Delta on la petjada humana no es mostri de n’Hug (Berguedà), i drena una conca de d’una manera evident. Ni tan sols entre els gairebé 5.045 km2. La plana dèltica resul- espais naturals: el nombre, la morfologia i la tant de l’acció del riu, l’anomenat delta del superfície dels estanys, la distribució actual Llobregat, s’estén per 95,5 km2 de la costa de les maresmes, l’origen i la distribució de central catalana, al sud-oest de la ciutat de les pinedes o la presència de les comunitats Barcelona (figura 1).
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwater Flow and Saltwater Intrusion Modeling of the Low Valley and Llobregat Delta Aquifers
    18 SWIM. Cartagena 2004, Spain. (Ed. Araguás, Custodio and Manzano). IGME GROUNDWATER FLOW AND SALTWATER INTRUSION MODELING OF THE LOW VALLEY AND LLOBREGAT DELTA AQUIFERS E. VÁZQUEZ-SUÑÉ1*, E. ABARCA1, J. CARRERA1, B. CAPINO1, D. GÁMEZ1, M. POOL1, T. SIMÓ1, A. NOGUÉS1, A. CASAMITJANA1, J.Mª. NIÑEROLA2, X. IBÁÑEZ2 and Ll. GODÉ2 1Hydrogeology Group, Dept. of Geotechnical Engineering & Geoscience, School of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain Email: [email protected] 2Agència Catalana de l’Aigua. Provença 204-208, Barcelona, Spain. Abstract A very large amount of water has been pumped, in particular during the 1970s, from the Llobregat Delta main aquifer (Barcelona, Spain). This caused the salinization of important areas of this aquifer. This contamination process was accelerated by the construction of a new inland dock of the Barcelona Harbor. Since then, big efforts have been undertaken to conceptualize and quantify the groundwater flux and the salt water evolution in this aquifer, and to develop numerical models on the basis of the existing conceptual model.While water level history has been accurately represented in previous numerical models, salt transport results do not completely fit real data evolution. An exhaustive data review was carried out to correctly plan the use of the existing resources and to quantify the available water volumes. All available data, old and new, are often found in a fragmented and disconnected state due to the existence of multiple sources of information. All information from previous works and studies has been integrated. An important effort was devoted to the building of a revised geological model.
    [Show full text]
  • Walking & Cycling Holidays in Catalonia
    WALKING & CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN CATALONIA Associació Catalana d’Empreses de Senderisme www.walking-catalonia.com WALKING & CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN CATALONIA I www.walking-catalonia.com WHAT IS IN THIS CATALOGUE? 37 shortbreaks, 41 walking and 5 cycling holidays to enjoy in Catalonia 9 hotels, 2 huts, 1 camping, 2 apartments and 16 houses of rural tourism, accommodation with comfort and character WALKING & CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN CATALONIA [email protected] II 9 walking & cycling companies and 8 tourist organisations, great specialists in the area 31 accommodation centres, 9 companies and 8 tourist organisations are the professionals who offer these walking holidays Are you ready to come? Choose your holidays with us! WALKING & CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN CATALONIA 4 www.walking-catalonia.com BROCHURE CONTENT 13 FRANCE VALL 12 14 D’ARAN N E 10 P Y R E E S O F L L E 8 7 15 I D ANDORRA A 6 11 20 Y R E N P E E S O 60 F 9 21 22 58 G 47 17 I R O N 16 19 53 A 18 57 P 55 R E 38 - P 50 A Y R E 52 N V E E S A 54 51 O F L L E I D 49 48 A 23 42 46 R 45 41 43 B Girona C ATA L U N A YA C 59 T E S N T R A O L C Lleida CATALONIA A O N I A L AT 29 C 25 F 34 Barcelona O 27 28 31 35 H 30 32 38 T 33 26 U 36 O Tarragona S 37 Hotel or apartment Companies Rural tourism Tourist organisations Camping Mountain hut Contents 3 What is in this catalogue? 19 Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park 35 Mas den Gregori 50 A Peu 4 Map - Contents 20 Hotel Muntanya & Spa 36 Mas Figueres 51 Agència de Turisme Medi- 5 Pyrenees of Lleida 21 Cal Trisca 37 Estació de Benifallet ambiental.
    [Show full text]
  • Cities, Towns and Villages Escape to Catalonia and Allow Yourself to Be Captivated Index
    Cities, towns and villages Escape to Catalonia and allow yourself to be captivated iNDEX Catalonia, waiting to be discovered 3 Cities, towns and villages for everyone 4 escape to cities and towns with character 6 Solsona 10 Girona 16 Manresa 22 Terrassa 28 Vic 34 Vilafranca del Penedès 40 Montblanc 46 Reus 52 Tarragona 58 Tortosa 64 Lleida 70 FaLL in LoVe with charMinG towns 76 Beget 80 Castellar de n’Hug 84 Santa Pau 88 Taüll 92 Calella de Palafrugell 96 Pals 100 Peratallada 104 Mura 108 Rupit 112 Prades 116 Siurana 120 Montsonís 124 en roUte throUGh cities, towns and ViLLaGes 128 On the trail of Gaudí 132 Follow in the footsteps of creativity 134 Messages from the Middle Ages 136 A walk along millenary borders 138 Discover the path to your inner self 140 Pursue inspiration 142 More information 144 cataloNia, waitiNg to be discovered Getting to know Catalonia seems easy. It is a region that can be crossed from north to south by car in less than four hours, but the recommendations contained in these pages go beyond a whirlwind trip. We invite you to discover the character and charm of our cities, towns and villages. You will get to know medium sized cities and even small towns that have their own personality. Most of them have been home to different cultures and have had various moments of splendour, embodied in their architecture and also in the character that makes them unique. We are talking about traditions, culinary delights or relatively modern hobbies, such as jazz music or circus shows, which flourish inexplicably, almost magically, in a particular city.
    [Show full text]
  • Specific Information for Senior Tourism
    Specific information for Senior Tourism +50 Edited by: Tourist Office Estartit Torroella de Montgrí Town Hall Images and photography: Narcís Arbusé Vicenç Rovira Josep Pasqual Toni León Town Hall Torroella de Montgrí Tourism Costa Brava - Girona Mediterranean Museum Vinagreta disseny i comunicació Collaborators: Josep Pasqual (meteorology) Xavier Quintana Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park Nautical Station L'Estartit - Medes Islands Mediterranean Museum Writing, design and layout: Vinagreta disseny i comunicació Introduction Torroella de Montgrí - L’Estartit, located in the heart kayak) and nature activities (hiking, bicycle touring, of the Costa Brava, Girona (Catalonia-Spain), offers horse riding, trail running, ATB, flora and fauna this special information dossier on active holidays observation), as well as guided visits and cultural that will enable you to discover the main attractions heritage routes. All the activities are designed for of the area. families or small groups, and present varying degrees of difficulty. The dossier contains information on a destination offering high-quality services and surroundings, good Seventy per cent of the municipal area is located within connections to the major European countries, safety of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, the activities available, visitor assistance, and part of a corridor of landscapes of natural interest competitive prices. where visitors can enjoy many different activities and discovery routes. As set out in Chapter 1, the municipality comprises two main population centres: The same corridor also includes the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà and Cap de Creus Natural Parks to the north, Torroella de Montgrí, a town of medieval origin the Begur Mountains and the Gavarres Massif to the boasting a well-conserved historical centre, a wide south, the Garrotxa Volcanic Area Natural Park further range of cultural amenities and activities, and a inland, and many others.
    [Show full text]