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Platja de Gavà. Photo by Ferran Pestaña (Flickr).
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The Estany de Murtra is one of the oldest wetlands in the Llobregat Delta.
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More than 350 species of birds pass through the Llobregat Delta annually. Pictured here, a great egret.
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Common pochard, photo by Dr. Raju Kasambe (Wikimedia).
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Eurasian coot.
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Grey heron, photo by Mark Fox (Flickr)
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Purple heron, photo by Koshy Koshy (Flickr).
Inhabited since the Paleolithic era, the Baix Llobregat is steeped in history. Located just to the south of Barcelona, this comarca (county) is home to one of the oldest neolithic mines in Europe, Roman ruins that date to the second century CE (Els Forns de la Fornaca has the best preserved Roman ovens in the world), stately houses from the Middle Ages and modernist masterpieces such as Antoni Gaudí’s Colonia Güell.
Composed of 30 municipalities—some are small cities with a population upwards of 40,000 while other towns have fewer than 3,000 inhabitants—each has its own feel and its own culture. But not only are there great contrasts in size, there are peculiarities that occur within the same towns. One of the most significant of these is in Gavà, a municipality clearly split into two parts: the town itself and Gavà Mar.
The History
Gavà Mar traces its origins to the time of the Second Spanish Republic. In 1931, the Catalan government developed the idea to create a holiday space there next to the sea. Called "La Ciutat de Repòs i de Vacances” (The City of Rest and Holidays), the project's objective was to build a holiday city for the more than 200,000 people who left Barcelona during the summer. However, due to the onset of the Spanish Civil War, the idea never came to fruition.
Economic and social reforms carried out in the first half of the twentieth century began to shape the urban nucleus as we know it today. On August 18, 1948, the first restaurant in Gavà Mar was granted a license on the condition that it serve American style food. Then, in 1949, the C-31 highway was built, connecting Gavà Mar with Barcelona. During the 1950s and 1960s, campsites developed along the coastal area, attracting sun-seekers and bathers, enhancing the area for years to come. Gavà Mar had grown into a vacation destination luring holidaymakers from Barcelona and beyond.
Little by little it had become a popular getaway destination in Catalunya, a calm, relaxing oasis on Barcelona's doorstep. But it wasn’t until the 1990s, when the first section of one of the most emblematic parts of this coastal city, its seafront, was born. Built with the intention of disturbing the vegetation and natural formation of the dunes as little as possible, the promenade winds along the nearly four kilometers of Platja de Gavà (Gavà beach).
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Platja de Gavà promenade, photo courtesy of Tourisme Baix Llobregat.
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Surfing at Platja de Gavà. Photo courtesy of Toursime Baix Llobregat.
What to Do
Platja de Gavà
Known as the Pineda Beach, a name which comes from the lush pine forest that extends all the way to the edge of the sand, Gavà beach has a gentle slope and sandy bed. Meandering between sand dunes and pine trees, its broad promenade is dotted with playgrounds, bars and restaurants and has as many access ramps into the water and amphibious chairs for the disabled. If a relaxing day is the plan, bring your favorite book and a blanket to relax in a spot away from Barcelona’s tourist masses. If lazing about on the beach isn’t your thing, you can take windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons or rent a kayak, paddle board or surfboard for the day.
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Bird-watching blinds along the Estany de Murtra trail offer the opportunity to observe the many local and migratory birds that take refuge in this natural wetland. Photo courtesy of Ajuntament of Viladecans.
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Great heron, photo by Dennis Church (Flickr).
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Grey heron, photo by Gary Knight (Flickr).
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Eurasian coot, photo by Charles J. Sharp (Wikimedia).
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Common pochard, (Flickr).
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Black-winged stilt, photo by Laurie Boyle (Flickr).
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Purple gallinule, photo by Andy Morffew (Flickr).
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Little grebe, photo by Frank Vassen (Flickr).
Estany de la Murtra
Between Gavà and Viladecans is Estany de la Murtra, (Murtra Lake) one of the oldest wetlands in the Llobregat Delta. Covering an area of 22 hectares it encompasses farmland, deciduous forest, pine woods, marshes and coastal dunes. Declared a Special Protection Area for Birds, you can stroll along its 1.25 kilometer trail and observe a wide variety of local aquatic birds, such as the Eurasian coot, mallard, common pochard and little grebe. More than 350 species of birds pass through the delta every year, so if you visit during migration season, you'll see a great variety of birds stopping for a rest at Estany de la Murtra on their route between northern Europe and Africa.
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Canal Olímpic Catalunya. Photo by Indy Meister (Wikimedia).
El Canal Olímpic
Situated between Gavà Mar and Castelldefels, El Canal Olímpic facilities cover 43 hectares of surface area with a waterlane that is 1250 meters long, 130 meters wide and four meters deep. Created for the 1992 Olympics, it now offers a wide range of sporting options, including a swimming pool, fitness center, water skiing, table tennis, football, volleyball, pitch and putt and archery.
Parc del Garraf
If you fancy a bit of hiking—or caving—the nearby Garraf Park to the west is an exotic landscape of limestone rock rich in karstic forms, caves and sinkholes. Its rugged landscape offers a wealth of options for hikers, cyclists, stargazers and those seeking a peaceful retreat.
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Where to Eat
Gavà Mar is also well known for its gastronomic delights. You'll find numerous eateries located along on the beach, with a relaxed, tranquil atmosphere overlooking the sea, providing a welcome respite from the crowded streets of Barcelona. Many use locally grown produce, and feature a variety of fresh salads and seafood as well as grilled meats and traditional dishes including arròs negre de sípia, fideuá de calamar and, of course, paella.
If you don’t already know Gavà Mar, well, you’ve got some homework to do! It’s fantastic beaches, beautiful vegetation and beguiling coastal promenade are only a short trip away from Barcelona, and what’s more, a wonderful meal awaits in the restaurants that line its peaceful seafront.