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The essence of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees can be found in the works of a large number of writers and poets of today and the past who have been inspired by the beauty and character of these lands.
April being the literary month par excellence, we suggest that you check out the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board’s publication on literary routes, a journey through the counties of Girona to discover the literature of these parts. And then we invite you to follow in the footsteps of the classics (and not so classics) through a selection of routes that will lead you to discover the identity of our territory.
Josep Pla is an undisputed classic and a lover of the Empordà. In Palafrugell, his home town, the Fundación Josep Pla promotes the reading and study of his literary and journalistic work. The Ruta Josep Pla offers different versions to discover the town and surroundings that inspired the writer.
Mercè Rodoreda’s refuge was Romanyà de la Selva. There she wrote the ending of Espejo roto (Broken Mirror) and other works such as Cuánta, cuánta guerra (How Much, How Much War). A literary route dedicated to the writer and suitable for all audiences runs through the village. At each stop, you can read a short text by Rodoreda.
In L’Escala, the Anchovy and Salt Museum offers the Víctor Català Route (Caterina Albert), author of Soledad(Solitude). This is a historical and literary itinerary that combines a stroll with a reading of texts by the writer.
The Joan Vinyoli Poetic Route, in Santa Coloma de Farners, runs through the Sant Salvador park. Its paths, groves, fountains and waterfalls captivated the poet so much in his childhood that they were drawn in his work. The route is flat and without slopes, and is made up of a selection of 16 poems.
The links between the poet and writer Joan Maragall with the Ripollès region was through hiking and summer holidays. The Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses was the inspiration for the famous poem El Comte Arnau. La vaca ciega (The Blind Cow) also dates from this period. The Joan Maragall Literary Route traces these inspiring episodes for the poet.
Joan Maragall also spent his summer holidays in La Garrotxa. In this case, the route follows the poet’s footsteps through the wonders that most seduced the poet.
Girona has also inspired several authors over the years. The city offers several literary routes to discover the universe of Prudenci and Aurora Bertrana and Ma Àngels Anglada. But you can also rediscover the literary city with the proposal “Girona de novela“, a podcast itinerary by the writer Martí Gironell. It is a journey through six novels by six different authors, passing through the Torre Gironella, Carrer de la Força and Plaça de la Independència.
The plot of the novel The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a perfect excuse to discover Puigcerdà’s most iconic places. A route marked with texts from the novel passes through the same places as the main character and stops at the station, the old Hotel del Lago and the Camino de los Enamorados. It is a real immersion exercise in the novel.
