Blanes attractions

When you want to do more than work on your tan you’ll find you can spend a few hours seeing the sights in Blanes or keeping yourself busy with other activities. Here we take a look at some of the options open to you. 

Sant Joan Castle at Blanes

Sant Joan Castle at Blanes. Photo by Albert Torelló.

Sightseeing

Castell Sant Joan

The castle was built around the eleventh century on the site of a chapel. Its tower in 15 metres high and built to watch out for pirate raids during the time when Mallorca was under Arab control. Due to the poor state of the castle during the late twentieth century it was extensively renovated.

Santa Maria church

The gothic church was constructed between 1350 and 1410. It has three naves, the widest of which spans ten metres. The church was considered one of the best examples of a gothic church in the area. Unfortunately a 1936 fire damaged much of it. Today the bell tower and facade remain today after partial reconstruction in the 1940s.

Palace of the Viscounts of Cabrera

Adjoining the church was the Palace of the Viscounts of Cabrera. The palace was damaged in the 17th century during the Catalan Revolt and today only the ruins remain.

Blanes convent

Standing high on the cliffs overlooking the port is Blanes convent. Dating originally from 1582, it was enlarged in 1626.

Monument Joaquim Ruyra

Poet and author Joaquim Ruyra i Oms who is considered one of the great Catalan storytellers of the twentieth century. His family was originally from Blanes and much of his work centred around the coastline here and the sea.

Ermita de Sant Francesc

This hermitage is dedicated to Sant Francesc and dates from the late seventeenth century. It is currently in quite bad repair due to damp.

Can Tordera

Dating from 1903, Can Tordera is a three storey Catalan modernist house built on the corner where Passeig de Dintre meets Carrer Bellaire. On the corner of the building is an enclosed circular balcony.

Casa Saladrigas

This house was designed by Antoni Gaudí disciple Isidre Puig Boada for businessman Manuel Saladrigas Freixa.The house was built between 1926 and 1931 in the noucentisme style. Puig Boada later became co-director of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia.

Capella de l’Esperança

This mid-seventeenth century chapel was located outside the city walls and always had a light to assist boats to safely moor on the beach.

Gothic Fountain

The octagonal gothic fountain dates from 1438 and is found on Carrer Ample. It was built to provide clean drinking water to both humans and animals.

Hospital Asil de Sant Jaume

This hospital dates from 1913 and was built in the Catalan modernist style with decorative glazed ceramics used extensively.

Activities

As well as swimming or sunbathing Blanes has plenty of other things to do if you’re feeling more energetic.

Head for the nearby Tordera Delta to see the local wildlife. Or you can travel up and down the cost using one of the boats run by Dofijet. From Blanes the boats go as far as Tossa de Mar, with a variety of stops in between. It also travels southwards to some of the towns of Meresme. If you’re interestedin the submarine world then Blanes Sub is a long established dive centre that offers boat dives to a number of locations nearby.

Not quite so energetically, there is a fruit and veg market every morning except Sundays at Passeig de. On Mondays there is another market selling jewellery, clothing and shoes.

But if all you want to do is enjoy some “me” time then the Children’s Club is enclosed area on the beach where you can leave your kids to be looked after the supervisors.

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