Cala Murtra, near the road that goes to Cala Montjoi, in Roses, Cap de Creus, Girona, Costa Brava

Cala Murtra is one of the most pristine coves on the Costa Brava. Its geographical location is privileged, and there is no doubt that for those who love quiet coves, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

This panel in the side of the road indicates the place we have to park to start the descent by foot to Cala Murtra, in Roses, Cap de Creus, Costa Brava

The cove is located about 7 kms from the center of Roses, taking the road of Cala Montjoi, completely paved. At this point you must be vigilant, on the right side of the road, indicating the panel down to the cove. Park here, on an unpaved space on the edge, and begin the descent through a path not well conditioned nor well marked, truth be told, without much slope or danger and that in 15 or 20 minutes will take you to the cove, which you will see as a visual reference along you descend, when you contemplate the brilliant blue waters under the clear blue sky and beyond the green of the pines that surround this natural setting of Cap de Creus Natural Park.

From the road we start the descent towards Cala Murtra, in Roses, Cap de Creus, Girona, Costa Brava

Cala Murtra has no trace of human influence, there is no building around and has not even services dedicated to bathers (not even bins, so you are requested to carry your litter generated during your stay in the cove). Cala Murtra is just that: a creek, and human presence even in summer time is usually minimal.

Desceding to Cala Murtra, in Roses, Costa Brava, through the path we discover this ancient villa ruins

The cove surface is not sand, but pebbles. It will certainly difficult to walk barefoot. The surface under water, almost of transparent and turquoise colors, combines sand with rocks at a time, showing the diver underwater vision alive. Moreover, Cala Murtra is surrounded by cliffs and is oriented slightly north (you can see in the distance Cap Norfeu), so that in the days of Tramuntana wind blowing it doesn’t offer much protection. On one side lies the Cape Trencat, easily distinguished by its red color tones on the rocks, and the other the Cape Blanc, as its name (white) indicates lighter colors. Near Cala Murtra there are two more spectacular coves: Cala Lledó, south, and Cala Rostella, the next cove north of Cala Murtra. In any case the scenic beauty of the cove, surrounded on all sides by pine forests, is ravishing.

When we finish descending we verify all the beauty and pureness of Cala Murtra

Cala Murtra, horseshoe shaped, is about 150 meters long and 10 meters wide. You may be facing the creek, which allows the practice of nudism, find some moored boats: it is certainly one of the most favorite beaches for boats for ease of mooring. However, indicated buoys separate bather areas and it is prohibited by any engine boat to surpass them.

Since 2009 this cove is awarded with the European EMAS environmental certification and the ISO 14001 international environmental management, so that the quality of its waters are secured for the enjoyment of visitors.

Dolmen Creu d'en Cobertella, Roses, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

Dolmen Creu d’en Cobertella is a tomb built of granite slabs between 3000 and 2700 BC, in the Neolithic. It is therefore a funerary enclosure in which, through a corridor that now no longer exists (but whose marks in the rocky base of the monument show their past existence) human bodies were buried inside.

The first written evidence of the presence of this monument comes from thirteenth century, when it was known as ‘petra coperta’ (covered rock). As villagers then were not aware of the importance of this archaeological evidence it was used as goat pen attached to the farmhouse attached to it, now in ruins.

Dolmen de la Creu d'en Cobertella is located in a megalithic guided foot trail, in Roses, Cape of Creus, Costa Brava

Although studies of this monument began early twentieth century, it was not until twentieth mid-century when the first excavations were made: in addition to the aforementioned brands of the corridor today disappeared, remains of bones, pottery, coins of the Roman empire and other funeral items were found.

Dolmen dimensions are impressive, especially considering the lack of means with which the inhabitants of this land had to lift weights like these. In total it is formed by seven slabs granite gneiss. The stone used as roof measures 4.15 meters by 5.7. Its thickness is 40 cm. The top of the enclosure reaches 2.45 meters and the plant is 3.90 by 3.15 meters. Inside the dolmen, not opened to the public, we would see that the interior walls contain small spaces were funeral rituals containers were were placed.

Entrance to the dolmen Creu d'en Cobertella, in Roses, Cape of Creus

Getting to the dolmen Creu d’en Cobertella is relatively easy. Starting from the center of Roses village take the Cala Montjoi route, that takes us to the beautiful landscapes of Cap de Creus. In one of the curves, just 1.5kms, on the left, you’ll see an indication of the walking path leading to the dolmen, that you’ll reach after 500 mts (park beside the route). This same walking path leads us also to other dolmens in the surrounding as Casa Cremada and Llit de la Generala or Turo de l’Home.

Cala Jóncols, in Roses, Girona, Costa Brava

About 200 meters long and 50 meters wide, just north of Cap Norfeu, Cala Jóncols is the perfect spot for lovers of quiet and unspoiled beaches, like the one we enjoyed when visiting Cala Vallpresona, in Tossa de Mar. Its bedrock is a treasure for lovers of diving or simply snorkeling.

Cala Jóncols has an excellent underwater

Cala Jóncols, the last cove in the north belonging to Roses village, is rarely visited, being ideal for those looking for lonely coves off the crowded ones. Much of the blame for this small isolation comes from the access, not especially easy. You’ll arrive to Cala Jóncols from Cala Montjoi through a not paved road.

Great panoramic view of Cala Jóncols, that show all its landscape beauty

Given the excellent conditions for scuba diving in Cala Jóncols you’ll find a diving center, which organizes daily trips in high season. Another feature of the landscape of this cove is the centenary old fisherman’s hut that once served as a refuge when the weather discouraged sailing through the area. This kind of huts are being preserved by the authorities, as a expression of the social history in this place.

Aerial view of Cala Jóncols

By the same way vehicles arrive to Cala Jóncols from Cala Montjoi (Carrer de la Roca), it’s possible to do it walking (1h 30′). For those who are in Roses and prefer not to drive, it is interesting to know that there is a Roses Express, a kind of tourist train made of wheels, from the center village, that arrives to these creeks in the area of Cap de Creus (Montjoi, Jóncols).

In midsummer you'll find yacht boats ancored in front of Cala Jóncols

Despite his quiet and relatively low affluence, the creek has services such as showers or toilets. Since 2009 it has also the European environmental certificate EMAS and the international ISO 14001 one, so quality is guaranteed.

Cala Jóncols has all services of an important beach

Cala Almadrava is one of the most popular and familiar beaches in north Costa Brava, Roses, Spain

The name of the Almadrava cove comes from an old tuna fishing technique that was used in Roses and from the XVIth century to the first half of XXth century. This kind of tuna capture was based on networks. Almadrava Creek is also known as Canyelles Grosses, bigger in comparison to other neighboring creeks and its ‘relative’: Canyelles Petites.

Aerian view of Cala Almadrava, in Roses, Girona

The waters of the beach are very quiet and pleasant. The cove is protected from the Tramontana wind that comes from the north. The water on the shore is shallow, so you will not notice big variations in depth as you go into it. The sand surface type is fine and golden brown toast.

Cala Almadrava is a wide beach with excellent facilities

As we mentioned, Cala Almadrava has all kinds of services of a cove for the family. Well-connected to the center of Roses, that you can reach by bus, on the beach can also find showers, toilets, chairs, bar and even beach volleyball fields, and kayak rental. It is important to observe that it is also adapted to the handicapped.

Sunset in Cala Almadrava, Roses, Costa Brava

From Cala Almadrava to the north starts a coastal path that reaches Cala Montjoi, where the El Bulli Foundation is located, the brilliant chef Ferran Adrià gastronomical center.

The beautiful Cala Montjoi, in Roses, Girona Costa Brava

The cove has also the attraction to host the award-winning chef Ferran Adrià’s Foundation. The point is that Cala Montjoi, about 300 meters long, has a landscape beauty that is very difficult to resist. Rather away from any major population center, it is connected with Roses only by a local road about 7.5 km.

El Bulli, former Ferran Adrià restaurant, world-wide awarded. Today it plans to host El Bulli Foundation, a gastronomical research center.

The creek, broad, flat and at the bottom of a valley and a stream, is protected by the strong Tramuntana wind which comes from the north. So it has historically been a good place to anchor boats. The sand is half-thick and has the same dark color that has the rocky landscape around the cove. Under the blue clear waters you can see a rich seabed, much appreciated by divers.

Cala Montjoi is a broad beach, very suitable for families

We know that this wonderful place was inhabited since before 976, the year we get the first written evidence of it. Although it is possible that even where now stands an old typical Catalan ancient home (mas), called the Montjoi del Baix, alongside the stream that comes down to the cove, were located an ancient Roman villa and a medieval fortification. Not surprisingly the etymological origin of Montjoi is clearly latin: Monte Gaudi (Mount Joy).

Cala Montjoi is protected to the north, by the end of the Ferrera rocky cape and a few kilometers beyond by the magnificent Norfeu cape, which serve as protection against marine streams arriving from Gulf of Lion.

Sunset in Cala Montjoi, Roses

The mountain that can be seen in the north is the Morisca, a talaya of 182 meters which is quite impressive for its immediate proximity to the sea. It was the subject of dispute between the villages of Roses and Cadaqués for control of another two creeks near Cala Montjoi, of undeniable beauty: Cala Pelosa and Cala Jòncols.

On the left side of Cala Montjoi, and next to the sea, you'll find the Morisca mountain

Cala Montjoi, despite its quiet, has a set of good services for the bathers, who will find deckchair, kayak rentals and paddleboats, a bar and a dive center.

Citadel of Roses, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

Many centuries later, in 1543, King Carlos I founded the Citadel, mainly to protect against pirate attacks and the French troops. It was a military fortification, whose entrance is the monumental Porta del Mar (Sea Gate), with an area of 131,480 m2. It was built based on Renaissance style and the subsoil contains important archaeological findings, like those of the ancient Greek city of Rhodes, founded in 776 BC.

Church inside the Roses Citadel, Roses, Girona, Costa Brava, Spain

Moreover, in the same walled area there are more samples of later occupation: Hellenistic quarter of ss. IVth and IIIrd BC, the Roman villa (II-VIth AD), the Lombard-Romanesque monastery of Santa Maria (XIth century), and other findings from the XIXth century. Therefore, we are talking about an area with an extremely rich archaeological subsoil.

Many of these findings are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum inside the Citadel, built along the Levant walls, which also hosts a multitude of everyday objects from the civilizations that settled on this area. The visit takes us beyond our time, letting us know what life style people had the area.

Roses Citadel Museum, inside the enclosure

The Citadel of Roses was declared a historic-artistic complex in 1961, and is one of the clearest examples of the diversity of cultures and human civilizations that occupied the Ampurdán territory.