Costa Dorada is a south Catalonian coast town just below Barcelona in Spain. It’s golden coastline stretches for 120 miles along the Mediterranean Sea. Although the coastline is overbuilt, it is still a firm favourite for family holidays. Apartment blocks, hotels and campsites are everywhere. The soft sandy beaches are filled with families of all ages, enjoying the crystal blue waters of the warm Mediterranean Sea.

Rows upon rows of sun-loungers, each set with their own attendant, offer visitors a place to worship the sun. Cafes, bistros, pubs, clubs, shops and restaurants intermingle with hotels, apartment blocks and rented condos. Souvenir stalls; craft shops, art exhibits and street entertainment amuse the casual shopper. 

Salou is the tourist hotspot of the Costa Dorada. Situated 6 miles from Tarragona and 57 miles from Barcelona, Salou offers many attractions including the Park Aventura, a theme park that was once owned by Universal Studios. One of the main attractions is the Dragon Khan, the parks biggest roller coaster in the area. The sprawling mass of loops and dips dominate the skyline for miles. The latest addition to the park is Furius Baco, which is the fastest roller coaster in Europe. The Salou promenade runs along the coastline, adjacent to Costa Dorada’s finest and biggest stretches of sand, Llevante Beach. This beach, along with Platja de Ponent, Platja dels Capellans and Cala Crancs have 34 Blue European Flag Awards between them.

Twenty or so towns are dotted along the coastline, many offering their own local culture and history. One of the popular tourist towns is Tarragona, which dates back to the Roman times. There are still many ancient remains to be seen all over the town, including the large Cyclopean walls near the Quartel del Pilatos. A few remains of an amphitheatre can still be seen close to the seashore. These days Tarragona is a large port town that has many tourist attractions, including the Museum of Archaeology and the Roman Ruins of Tarraco.

Many events are held in Tarragona, including several carnivals. The Tarragona International Dixieland Festival is a unique event and one of the most important in Europe. Held the week before Holy Week, over 25 bands partake in hundreds of concerts all over the City.

A magnificent firework display can be seen at the Tarragona International Fireworks Displays Competition. Held in the first week of July in Punta del Miracle Bay, six international pyrotechnic experts are invited to show off their skills. Vibrant colours can be seen exploding in the heavens above. This is a truly remarkable sight, well worth seeing.

You can see a recreation of the Roman world at the Tarraco Viva. Groups from all over Europe get together and re-enact the major events that happened during Roman rule. This is held between the 10th and 20th May each year. The Santa Magi Festival is a religious festival held in Tarragona between the 15th and 19th August. One of the most important Mediterranean festivals is undoubtedly the Santa Tecla Festival. This has been celebrated since 1321 and has been considered the best national tourist festival attraction. The streets that follow the route of the procession through Tarragona are cleaned and decorated, ready for the marching bands and the dancing troupes.