Activities and parties in september

At today's pot we offer a range of activities that may interest you in the face of September, especially in Lloret de Mar and Calella. 

First, we remind you that this weekend, specifically on Sunday 11th, is “La Diada” or National Day of Catalonia, which we dedicated a post the last year (you can read it here). During this special day in Catalonia, various activities are performed related to Catalan culture and traditions in most cities and towns across the country. In Lloret, for example, there is a “Puntaires” (lacemakers, very typical in Catalonia) meeting in the Paseo Verdaguer throughout the morning and in 12 noon, is the "Cant dels Segadors" (the anthem of Catalonia) in the Plaza de la Villa. At 18.00 will be a contest of “Colles Sardanistes” (typical catalan dance) in the square Pere Torrent, and eventually, at 22.45 “Sardanas” hearing in the Plaza de la Villa. 

In Calella, on 10 September at 21.00, will take out a torch march organized by the platform CalellaDecideix per la Independencia. The march will begin at the Plaza Catalunya and end at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where a manifest will be read.

On day 11, at 11.30 in the Plaça del Ajuntament, Els Segadors (national anthem of Catalonia) be sung by the Choir Harmonic and “Gralleres i Grallers of Calella”. Then at 12 noon, will be the hoisting of the “Senyera” (Catalonian’s Flag) and offering to Rafael Casanova.

On September 14, at Plaça Pere Torrent of Lloret de Mar, Fiestalonia festival will be held with groups and dances of the Balkans and the same day in the church of Sant Romà, will be held the International Festival and Contest coral Mediterranean song.

And finally, and for those you like speed and cars, from 16 to 18 is the Rally of Lloret-Lands of Catalonia, the first French rally event played in Catalonia (and Spain). Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar, have always had a special bond with rallies and motor, as also marks the Rally Costa Brava, which this year celebrates its 59th edition at the first week of November, and the Costa Brava Historic Rally, the next edition which will be at middle April 2012. We will keep you informed.

Sport, a whole world

"Fira de Calella i l'Alt Maresme", which takes place at the Manuel Puigvert, ride is a sample fair of products, traditions and culture of Catalonia which received the Innovation Award of the Fairs in Catalonia in 2006. Calella's Fair happening in our city is a door open to other peoples of our country, it's showcase of everything we do in our land and a place of encounter and exchange of cultures.

In recent years, the town of Calella has a strong commitment to sport events and to become a Sports Tourism Destination and, in fact, it has been achieved through, among others, the Challenge (and Half-Challenge) Costa de Barcelona-Maresme, which this year celebrates its 3rd edition in Calella. Also held several championships of beach volleyball, handball, beach soccer, taking advantage of the spacious beaches of Calella.

The dimension of sport is universal. The sport has surpassed the sole aspect of physical activity and has occurred one of the cultural and media phenomena in our society. It as a role in the collective imagination and in the organization of everyday life.

This privileged status makes it possible in sports where they express some of the great values ​​of contemporary society: the fair play, the collective success, personal improvement, the value of the strategy, teamwork, etc. At the same time, the media promote the values ​​that derive from the sport.

The manifestations of the sport are numerous. Among others, we should mention the following relationships that bring meaning and significance to sport:

- Sport and health

- Sport and Competition

- Sports and entertainment

- Sport and Recreation

And for all these reasons, this year, the XXXI "Fira de Caella i l'Alt Maresme", that will be celebrated from 22 to 25 September, is dedicated to the sport.

We remember you that our two hotels in Calella, the Hotel Balmes and the Maritim Hotel, remain opened during the days of the fair and with unbeatable prices and quality! To consult our prices and offers, click here.

Hotels Costa Brava

More information:

http://www.firadecalella.cat/

Facebook Fira de Calella

Fireworks for our new website!

We have just released the new GHT Hotels website, in which we have invested many hours for you, the customers, have a tool to know us better and, above all, to learn more about activities and places close to our properties, from beaches and coves to the agenda of our destinations. In addition, the site has been translated into 9 languages: Catalan, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch and Russian. We invite you to take a look!

We also want to remember that, today and untill Wednesday July 27, every day at 22:30 there is the fireworks competition in Blanes, held annually since 1970, although the tradition is much older (the first references to the disparament of fireworks dates back to over a hundred years ago, specifically in 1891).

The tradition of the fireworks were stopped by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War of 1936. In 1944 this custom is recovered in the Major Festival. Since that time until today have not failed to organize any year. The launch pad has always been the rock of Sa Palomera, beautiful setting located within the beautiful sea in the middle of the bay of Blanes.

The Fireworks Competition in Blanes is known throughout the Spanish State, has a great reputation amongst the pyrotechnic world. Competitiveness and the struggle of the participants to get the Trophy Vila de Blanes has brought the qualifying of the competition as Great Pyrotechnics. The primary purpose of holding this competition was to attract people of all nationalities

to boost tourism in Blanes. A total of 900,000 people will see this year's firework display that takes place in the course of Blanes Major Festival. Beaches, terraces, walksides, sports and commercial docks and mountains of Sant Joan and la Peña are crowded by public (between 120,000 and 150,000 people per day).

For all those who would like to attend we remind you that Blanes is easily accessible by public tranport from all our destinations. We also offer the chance to see the spectacle from the sea, aboard a boat with a glass of cava and the traditional cake included. Ask at reception!

Hotels a la Costa Brava

Don't miss it!

It's been a long time since our last post in our blog, it's not we are getting lazy but we've been very busy with a very important project ...We are about to publish the new version of our website, faster, easier and above all, with lots of useful information to our customers. Stay tuned the next weeks!

Here we offer a range of activities coming weeks in our destinations, for you to profit the most your holiday with us!

In Calella, from 11th to 19th of June, is celebrated the Major Festivity of “Sant Quirze and Santa Julia”, with a wide range of daily activities. We recommend you Giramaresme concert, the 11th at 22:30 at Manuel Puigvert promenade and on Sunday at 14:00 the popular “arrossada” or paella also in the same promenad

e. On Thursday 16th at 18:00, the parade by “Geganters and Grallers” of Calella (pass in front our hotel Balmes and goes to the town hall by the Església Street).

More information here.

Within the framework of the annual festival in Calella it's also celebrated

Renaissance Calella, 11th and 12th June, in which the streets of old city recede in time 500 years and is organized a large craft market that is combined with

entertainment, animation in the streets, music, food tasting and activities for children. Both days there are guided tours in English, at 10:00 am at the town hall. We recommend also the staging of Renaissance Calella, Saturday at 19:30 at the Town Hall square by the group of artistic youth “Juventut Artística” of Calella.

More information here.

In Lloret de Mar, on 11th June and 1st July, is held the Fair of artisan products of Girona: “Vall del Ges” sausages, bread and cakes of Perafita, Palamós anchovies, cheese...10 to 21 hours in the Plaça de la Vila.

For more information and other activities, www.lloretdemar.org

In Sant Feliu de Guixols/S'Agaró, on 11, 12 and 13 June, is celebrated the Fair of the Sea, artisans and crafts fair set in the sea. At the Rambla Vidal. More information here.

In addition, the night of 23rd to 24th June is Sant Joan (saint John), and how tradition marks in Catalonia, people lit bonfires on the beaches and deafening and illuminate the shortest night of the year with thousands of firecrackers and fireworks to welcome the summer. Also you can see fireworks in several towns, including Platja d'Aro; the guests staying at our S'Agaró Mar Hotel will enjoy an excellent stage to see this castle of fireworks.

Catalan MotoGP Grand Prix 2011

From the 3rd to 5^th of June is celebrated, as every year since 1995, the Catalan Moto GP Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló.

If you are interested to attend and you haven't booked yet, you better take advantage of our offers, with up to 10% discount if you book before April 30th! Our hotels in Calella, just 50 km from the Circuit (30 min) and Lloret de Mar, 70 Km (45 min) is a quality option at an unbeatable price.

In addition, you can draw to do some shopping at the Roca Village Outlet, near Montmeló, with a selection of the best brands at a great price. 

More information here. 

Challenge Barcelona-Maresme: the best Spanish triathlon 2010

Two of the hardest sportive tests come back in Calella for the third consecutive year. We're talking about Half Challenge, with typical distances of 1.9 km. swimming, 90 km. cycling and 21.1 km. of foot career and the Challenge, with distances of 3.8 km. swimming, 180 km. cycling and 42.2 km. on feet. 

The seal of the Challenge brand, known throughout the world-famous Ironman from Roth come to Spain again this year. This is part of a expansion campaign that Challenge has begun in countries such as France, Portugal or New Zealand. And this year we are in celebration, as the COE (Spanish Olympic Comite) has awarded the Challenge Costa de Barcelona-Maresme with the award of the best triathlon in Spain in 2010. Challenge Barcelona-Maresme will receive this valuable prize on February, 19th at the COE headquarters during the Spanish Triathlon Gala 2010, and will attend the Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky, the President of the ITU and COI member Marisol Casado and the President of the FETRI Jose Hidalgo. 

The Half Challenge Costa de Barcelona-Maresme is celebrated this year on Sunday May, 29th and the Challenge on Sunday October, 2nd and in GHT Hotels we have the best rates and best service! In hotels Marítim and Balmes you can enjoy the best Spanish Ironman from 21.50€ per person and night with breakfast included. Don't miss it! 

More information here: 

Challenge Barcelona-Maresme 

Offers in GHT Hotels

Calella, sports tourist destination

Calella has invested heavily in recent years to change tourism model of the city, severely degraded in the past years. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit as evidenced by the annual celebration of the Costa de Barcelona-Maresme Challenge (Ironman). 

Well, next September 4th will be held on the II Calella's Beach Tennis Tournament, in Xiringuito 1, in front of the municipal pool. 

For those who want to participate, registration worth € 13 and all you have to do is send a mail to info@atcalella.org. And for 8 € more you get a menu and drink! 

The awards are weekends in hotels of the population, dinners in restaurants, water parks tickets and much more! 

We're expecting you!

"Gegants" and "Capgrossos" in Calella

Tradition "gegantera" in Catalonia goes back to the fourteenth century. From year 1391, specifically, are the first written documents which mention this centuries-old tradition. These documents refer to the Corpus Christi procession of Barcelona, where the giants of the time were Biblical figures such as David, Goliath and "Sant Cristòfol." Little recently, the tradition was spreading to all Països Catalans (Valencia and Mallorca) and appeared "capgrossos" and the female giants and, since the XIX century, the tradition went further Corpus to the festivals and carnivals, and the Giants went from be biblical figures to be kings, queens and nobles. 

After a long crisis during the second phase of the Franco dictatorship, the tradition rebounded strongly from the 1980s. People restored and reproduced the old giants, new ones were constructed, "colles" and associations and meetings were created all around Catalonia. These contemporaries giants are made of fiberglass and other lighter materials than traditional. In 1984, the Agrupació de Colles de Geganters of Catalonia was created, which from next year annually appoints a "Gegantera" City of Catalonia.

Well, this year's Giant World's Fair will be held in Calella, on September 25th and 26th, in occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Colla de Geganters i Grallers de Calella. Furthermore, the fair will coincide with the 30th Fira de Calella i l'Alt Maresme, held annually during these dates, which receives each year more than 60,000 visitors. 

More information at:

Agrupació de Colles de Geganters de Catalunya

Gegant - Wikipedia

III Open 4x4 Volleyball Calella

Next July, 31st is the III Open 4x4 Beachvolley in Calella, organized by AVPC (Beachvolley Calella Association).

For those who whant to participate or just watch, you'll find the information in their website:

www.voleicalella.com