Literary tours in Catalonia for World Book Day

 Spring is here! And with it, one of the most exciting festivities in Catalonia: the celebration of Sant Jordi.

If you have never heard of it, get ready to live a unique and unforgettable experience. Can you imagine walking through the streets of Barcelona and discovering countless roses and books stalls? During the day of Sant Jordi, on April 23, which also is World Book Day, the Catalan cities are transformed into an authentic book and rose fair, with a wide variety of options for all tastes. From the latest novelties to literary classics, without forgetting the funniest titles for kids. If you are curious about the legend of Sant Jordi, here is a brief summary.

Surprise your loved ones with a cultural holiday for World Book Day

If you are looking for a cultural getaway with your partner or family on the occasion of this festivity, we suggest you explore some of the following literary destinations that you may not have suspected in Catalonia.

Calonge, the booktown

First, we want to highlight a specific city on the Costa Brava, Calonge. Calonge has been known since 2021 as poble de llibres, "booktown". It is a true paradise for book lovers. The city has a varied collection of independent bookstores (comics, children's literature, travel, spirituality...) and antique dealers, which offer a wide variety of titles both in Catalan and in other languages. All of them are located in the picturesque old town of Calonge, an ideal place to walk and discover surprising corners while enjoying the tranquillity and beauty of the Costa Brava.

As the first Booktown in Catalonia, in addition to promoting bookstores, activities related to the literary world are carried out throughout the year. These are some of the activities they have on their schedule:

• Book presentations: with the participation of nationally and internationally renowned authors who present their latest works
• Talks and round tables: with experts on different topics related to literature, from literary creation to publishing, including critics and reading.
• Workshops: the bookstores organize workshops, from creative writing to crafts or tarot reading for example.
• Storytelling for children: these events are aimed at kids, with the presence of renowned storytellers who will delight children with their stories.
• Art and photography exhibitions: In addition to literary activities, they also organize art and photography exhibitions related to literature.
• Occasional events: in other years for example, a meeting of poets or a literary contest have been organized. Surprises always are in the making, so keep an eye on the Calonge booktown schedule.

In addition, for a romantic cultural holiday, you can enjoy long walks on the beach, bike rides on the nearby trails, starlit dinners and, of course, a visit to the town of Calonge to enjoy the cultural events, and gift a rose or a book to your partner.

And for a family cultural holiday, there are many activities to enjoy together, such as games on the beach, swimming pool, entertainment activities, sports, and much more. In addition, during the Sant Jordi festivity, many activities are organized for children, such as craft workshops, storytelling and shows.

In short, whether you are a bookworm or simply looking for a quiet and beautiful place to enjoy Sant Jordi, Calonge is an option that you should not miss. Come and enjoy a romantic or family cultural getaway, immerse yourself in Catalan culture and tradition, and live an unforgettable day in the Catalan Booktown in the heart of the Costa Brava.

Other literary tours in Calonia with housing

Although it is true that Calonge is the first booktown in Catalonia, and the only one for now, Catalonia has other literary jewels to discover. You can take a look at the Literary Travel Guide published by Costa Brava - Pirineu de Girona, with many ideas for your cultural holiday in Catalonia. On our hand, we would like to propose a selection of cultural destinations linked to authors, books, or literary festivals, which you can add to your literary route with a proposal for accommodation.

Literary tours in Baix Empordà region (Girona)

First, and near Calonge, you can find places that were well-known to Truman Capote, Mercè Rodera, or Josep Pla:

• Palamós is where Truman Capote stayed for about three years, from 1960 to 1962. The famous American writer finished writing his work “In Cold Blood” right there. Blanca Galindo and David Simon tell you about their escapade in the footsteps of Capote, in Condé Nast Traveler digital magazine, to inspire you. And who knows: maybe one night, while sipping a cocktail on a terrace, you will meet someone who remembers an anecdote about Capote in Palamós.
• Now we go to Palafrugell, birthplace of Josep Pla, an important figure of Catalan literature. Much of his work takes place in landscapes of the Baix Empordà region. We can read “Things of the sea and the Costa Brava”, “Historias del Ampurdán”, or “Guía de la Costa Brava”, among other of his books, to discover the landscapes of the area through his eyes and his mind. If you want an example of a literary route with Josep Pla as the protagonist, you can check the article by Guillermo Esaín for El País, or the itinerary proposed by the Josep Pla Foundation.
• Finally, in Romanyà de la Selva we will discover the landscapes where Mercè Rodoreda found peace at the end of her life and wrote her last works. If this famous Catalan author lived in Barcelona, ​​Paris and Geneva for a large part of her life, it is in Romanyà that she found the inspiration for “Broken Mirror”, “Travels and Flowers” and “War, So Much War”.

Literary tours in Alt Empordà region (Girona)

Now we will go up the coast, to reach the Alt Empordà region, a natural destination that inspired two renowned Catalan authors and that we are proud to present to you:

• In La Escala we will find a literary tour to get to know and recognize the work of Caterina Albert, who you may know under the name Víctor Catalá. She was born and died in this charming town on the Costa Brava, and for this reason many of its places inspired part of her writings. A woman who had to use a male pseudonym to be able to publish her works, and who collects in her famous novel, “Solitude”, Mila's journey to become a free being, between familiar landscapes.
• The second one, María Àngels Anglada, had a close relationship with the Aiguamolls and Empordà regions. For this reason, the literary route proposed by the Written Spaces association is the perfect opportunity to discover the wonderful landscapes of the natural park through her eyes, by reading excerpts from her work.

Actually, near the natural park, and 20 minutes from La Escala, you will find Camping Sènia Riu, ideal for your literary getaway in the Alt Empordà region. It is located in Sant Pere Pescador, in an incomparable natural environment on the banks of the river. It has accommodations of all kinds, for the more adventurous as well as for those who want to peacefully read a book in their jacuzzi…

Literary tours in Osona region (Barcelona)

Next, we will move away from the coast to get closer to the Plain of Vic, where you can do a literary getaway in two parts:

• In Roda de Ter, the “village poet” Miquel Martí i Pol spent his entire life. There you can discover different places that appear in his poems. On the femturisme.cat website you will find a proposal for a literary route based on his life and work.
• 10 minutes from there, in Folgueroles, you will find important places for Jacint Verdaguer. It is in this destination that he says he was born as a poet, when contemplating the view of the Plain of Vic and the Pyrenees from the Brins d'Espígol garden.

For this cultural getaway in Osona, we recommend Camping Sènia Rupit, located in the medieval village of the same name, in the middle of the mountain and surrounded by vegetation. It is a privileged environment to disconnect and immerse yourself in a book during your vacation.

Literary tours in Maresme region (Barcelona)

It is time to return to the coast, this time closer to Barcelona. It is ideal if you live in Barcelona, ​​since you can organize your cultural getaway near Barcelona, ​​without worrying about transportation. If you don't have a car, you can go by train, and take advantage of the trip to read a bit since you won't have to drive.

• The first stop that we suggest is in Arenys de Mar, following in the footsteps of poet Salvador Espriu. There you will discover the places that inspired this author from an Arenys family, who in the geography of his work called this town Sinera.
• The other recommended stop is in Caldes d'Estrac, "pearl of poets". It is a place where different renowned poets found inspiration: Jacint Verdaguer, Apel·les Mestres, Joan Maragall, and Josep Palau i Fabre.

There, in Maresme, you will find Camping Sènia Caballo de Mar, located on the Pineda de Mar promenade. To savour your holidays with a good book in your hands and your feet in the sand, there is no better option: you will be one step away from the beach.

Literary tours in La Selva region (Lloret de Mar, Girona)

Finally, we will stop in the region of La Selva to get to know another author, as well as a festival designed for fans of the noir genre.

• First we will meet Joaquim Ruyra in Blanes. A literary itinerary invites you to follow in the footsteps of the writer to discover the landscapes in which part of his work is set, such as the Sa Forcanera cove for example.
• Now the Lloret Negre festival awaits you in June, in Lloret de Mar. It is an event on Literature and criminology, with workshops and conferences by professionals (forensics, police, psychiatrists...) and writers of the noir genre.

In Lloret de Mar, you can stay at Camping Sènia Tucan to be close to the centre and thus have easier access to the Lloret Negre festival. On the other hand, if you prefer to get a little further away from the urban centre, and surround yourself with more virgin nature, we recommend Camping Sènia Cala Canyelles: it is 200 meters from the beach, and you could enjoy incredible seaviews while reading on your terrace.

Book recommendations for your holidays in Catalonia

Summer, nature and books, what a magical and exciting combination!

What is better than lying in a chaise-longue under the umbrella, feeling the cool sea breeze on your skin and immersing yourself in a new and exciting world through the pages of a book?

Reading on the beach is a unique experience that takes you to a world of fantasy and adventure. As the sun warms you and the waves rock you, you can travel through the pages to incredible places, discover mysteries, and fall in love with fascinating characters. The beach is the perfect place to escape from the daily routine and be carried away by the magic of stories, and there are no better beaches than those on the Catalan coast. Take a look at some of the beaches near our campsites:

• Cala Cristus (Calonge)
• Sant Pere Pescador
• Pineda de Mar
• Cala Sa Boadella (Lloret de Mar)
• Cala Canyelles (Lloret de Mar)

To help you choose the perfect reading, we have made a selection of books related to or set on the Catalan coast:

• "Hotel in Spain" by Nancy Johnstone tells the story of a woman who inherits a hotel on the Costa Brava and decides to return to Spain to restore it and discover her family's secrets.
• "This Too Shall Pass" by Milena Busquets is a novel about loss and mourning, where the protagonist, after the death of her mother, goes on vacation to Cadaqués and tries to find her place in the world.
• “El sender litoral de la Costa Brava”, a guide by Argemir González Estévez that is perfect for hiking lovers. An essential tool for those who want to explore the natural, historical, artistic and folkloric points of interest in the region.
• "Un secreto en el Ampurdán" by Imma Tubella is a thriller set in the Ampurdán region, in which a journalist investigates the death of an old woman and discovers a dark secret in her family's history.
• "Outlaws" by Javier Cercas is a novel about the world of crime and juvenile delinquency on the Costa Brava in the 70s. The plot follows a young man who enters the world of street gangs and falls in love with a girl who belongs to another rival gang.

Now if the beach is not your favourite place, then you might dream of going to the mountains or the countryside to spend hours and hours reading this novel that you started, surrounded by peace and lush green landscapes.



Here we propose a selection of books set in the mountains and the forest, some in the Osona region.

• “Los asquerosos” by Santiago Lorenzo, It is a current novel, in which you will identify with Manuel, hiding in a house in an abandoned town, where he needs nothing more than books and time. We don't tell you the turn it takes, but it will leave you wanting to change some things.
• “When I Sing, Mountains Dance” by Irene Solà, a contemporary Catalan author, is a novel set in the Catalan Pyrenees (between Camprodón and Prats de Molló), where all its inhabitants (humans, animals, and more) narrate their story and through it, their region.
• “Pàtria” by Jacint Verdaguer, a book of poems to learn about the poet's work. Among other poems, we will find "La Plana de Vic" (The Plain of Vic), an ode to his homeland.
• “Land of Women” by María Sánchez, is an essay with family stories and thoughts on science and literature, where she gives a voice to the women in rural communities. Although she is from Córdoba, what she narrates and conveys is universal, as it is the story of all rural Spain, far from the sweetened view that we are usually given in literature.
• “Fruitlands” by Louisa May Alcott. The famous author of Little Women recounts in this book her experience as a child when her father took them to a utopian and transcendental commune, where field tasks and philosophy governed their day to day. A perfect read if you were thinking about doing the same, so as not to reproduce the same mistakes.

We hope this recommended reading list will help you choose the perfect book to enjoy during your vacation in Catalonia. Similarly, if you need help planning your cultural holiday in Catalonia, you can call us and we will be happy to help you get closer to your favourite authors.

Happy reading and happy holidays! We will be waiting for you at the campsite!