Lloret de Mar is a popular beach resort on the Costa Brava in Spain’s Catalonia region. The medieval hilltop Castle of Sant Joan offers views over the area, while the central Iglesia de Sant Romà church provides examples of both Catalan Gothic and modernist architecture.
A little further afield are the ruins of an ancient fort dating back over 2300 years. They were excavated in 1943 and are a magical place to visit.
1. Church of Sant Roma
The Church of Sant Roma, located in the heart of Lloret de Mar, is one of the town’s most well-known landmarks. Its facade features a mixture of colors and ancient mosaics, while its interior is decorated with modern elements from the 1920s.
The church was designed by Horazio Grassi, who was a Jesuit architect, and it’s painted by Andrea Pozzo, a renowned artist. The church has a single nave with two side chapels, and it’s best known for its decorative ceiling.
This beautiful church is a great place to visit when in Rome. It’s not as spectacular as the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, but it’s still a fantastic experience.
If you’re planning a trip to Lloret de Mar, book your stay at one of the hotels near the Church of Sant Roma and enjoy the city centre in all its glory. You’ll be close to all the action, and you’ll also have easy access to the beach.
2. Town Hall Square
Lloret de Mar has a beautiful Town Hall Square that is perfect for taking photos of the town. This area is also the center of all the activities that take place in the town throughout the year, including a variety of fairs and events.
Located across from the beach and City Hall is the Maritime Museum, housed in what used to be an Indianos (Catalan emigrants) home. It is a fascinating example of the town’s seafaring past and was purchased by the town council in 1981 to be turned into a local museum.
The Museum takes you on a journey through the history of the Indianos and Lloret de Mar’s seafaring past, from coastal trading in the Mediterranean to high-sea sailing across the Atlantic. It is divided into five areas: Sons of the sea, Mediterranean, Gateway to the ocean, Lloret after sailing ships and Beyond the beach.
3. Monument to the Fisherman’s Wife
Lloret de Mar is a resort town on the Costa Brava northeast of Barcelona with a long seaside tradition. It offers a wide range of accommodation and leisure activities including water sports, golf and walking along the beach.
The Monument to the Fisherman’s Wife is one of the most famous landmarks in Lloret de Mar and is erected at the end of Lloret Beach. This bronze sculpture was erected in 1966 to commemorate the Millennium and is considered one of the town’s most emblematic symbols.
It is believed that touching the sculpture’s foot while looking out at the horizon will make your wishes come true. There are also several viewpoints of this statue near the beach which offer amazing panoramic views over the sea and Lloret de Mar.
Spring is the best time to visit Lloret de Mar as the coastal path is home to a beautiful collection of wild flowers. The Santa Clotilde gardens are a great place to take in the scenery and are designed in an Italian Renaissance style by Nicolau Rubio i Tuduri.
4. Modernist Cemetery
The modernist cemetery in Lloret de Mar is a unique treasure. Designed and built around the turn of the century, it gives a glimpse into Catalan funerary art from the Modernist era.
- The cemetery is a Site of Cultural Interest and belongs to the European Cemeteries Route. It was developed at the end of the 19th century thanks to the backing of a group of wealthy families who had made their fortune through overseas trading.
- These traders were called Indianos and returned to their native towns, where they commissioned ornate homes that showed their social status and also erected classy mausoleums. These memorials by sculptors and architects like Antoni Gallissa2, Eusebi Arnau3 and Josep Puig i Cadafalch4 represent a significant contribution to Catalan funeral art during the modernist period.
- The entire layout of the cemetery is organized according to guidelines based on social hierarchy. On the main avenue the tombs of private clients are distributed, the hypogeums of the second and third category are located to the right and left of the main street and there is a space for civil burials and another for those who are not baptized.
