By the beginning of March spring is definitely in the air. The days grow noticeably longer and warmer, and the worst of the cold weather is over.
Some years there’s a cold snap and even snowfall before the winter is finally left behind for good. But even at the beginning of March you see blossom covering many trees.
Want to know what the weather will do on the Costa Brava? Here’s the 25 day forecast.
The sea is still far too cold to swim though thanks to the melting Pyrenean snow, which swells the rivers and then chills the sea. However with an appropriate wet suit you’ll be warm enough for water sports, including diving.
When the sun shines you really start to notice the warmth, but it doesn’t take much of a breeze off the mountains to feel the chill too. It’s certainly warm enough on many days to sit out in the sunshine for lunch. But if the tramuntana really blows then it can still be pretty miserable.
If you take a walk through any wooded area you’re likely to find people foraging for wild asparagus. Sometimes they carry enormous bunches. Usually they saute the asparagus for an omelette or, even better, lightly scrambled eggs.
Delicious!
What’s on in March
Depending on the year Mardi Gras falls in February or March while Easter is in March or April.
This year Mardi Gras falls on 13th February, while Easter Day is on 31st March. In 2025 Mardi Gras is on 4th March and Easter Day is 20th April.
While foraging for asparagus can keep you entertained for hours – it even provides some moderate exercise – for something a little less down to chance you might want to try the following.
Palafrugell: La Garoinada
If you’re in Palafrugell before the end of March you might want to head for one of the restaurants participating in la Garoinada, a culinary campaign promoting the sea urchin. Since 1992 the town has put to promoted this delicacy which is at its best during the first three months of the year.
While mainly aimed at locals there is no reason you can’t give sea urchins a go. Restaurants participating in la Garoinada offer a menu that includes sea urchin based starter followed by main and typical Palafrugell dessert.
Palamós/Sant Antoni de Calonge: Menú de l’Olla de Peix
From mid-February to mid-April participating restaurants in Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge serve a fish casserole known as l’Olla de Peix. As well as using a variety of locally caught fish the dish includes vegetables, breadcrumbs, potatoes and noodles. Each chef prepares the dish to their own recipe.
Black Music Festival
The beginning of March sees the Black Music Festival arrive in Catalonia where you can see performances as diverse as hip hop, jazz, blues, soul, funk and spirituals.
The festival is headquartered in Girona and features both local and international artists in Girona and other towns across Catalonia plus the French town of Perpignan.
Costa Brava Rally
The opening round of the FIA European Rally Championship is the Rally Moritz Costa Brava, which usually takes place in March. It’s the oldest rally in Spain and totals 150km across eleven stages.
Girona: Strenes Music Festival
The annual Strenes Festival showcases local talent across various venues in Girona. Running from the end of March through to early May you’ll find a mixture of musical genres at a theatres, auditoriums and clubs across the city.
There are also free open air concerts at Plaça Espanya, on the steps of the cathedral, and at a couple of other locations. It’s worthwhile going to if like live music and want to get an idea of what is happening in the local scene.
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