Destination Golf - May 2016* * | Page 37

A jewel in the crown of Spain, and often thought of as a separate country altogether, Catalonia truly has it all. A vibrant picture of life bordered by magnificent mountains and breathtaking beaches, its four provinces encompass a wealth of natural grandeur. It is no wonder, therefore, that Catalonia is such a popular holiday destination. Between the white sandy shores of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada and the peaks of the Pyrenean mountains, where hiking trails are punctuated with ancient ruins and grandiose monasteries, this culturally rich tapestry is backdropped by the stunning architecture of Gaudi which is peppered throughout its capital, Barcelona. Coupled with being home to some of the best restaurants in the world, where you can indulge in some of their hugely popular traditional dishes, such as the unbaked Crème Brule - known as Crema Catalana, and the temperate Mediterranean climate, which makes cycling, hiking, horseback riding, quad biking and watersports part of its very fabric, a visit to Catalonia will ensure every one of your senses is taken care of. All this is before you’ve even taken your first swing of the golf club because, true to form in ticking every box, Catalonia is also a golfing haven. With an array of golf Volume 3 • Issue 33 37