TOURISM IN ROSES

If one draws a circle with a radius of 25 Km and centred on Roses, it encompasses one of the Mediterranean's most attractive and comprehensive tourist offers: four natural parks, the birthplace of the Romanesque, the Dalí triangle and the first Greek settlements on the Iberian Peninsula all constitute a significant part of a delightful and marvellous setting that is to be highly recommended.

EL CAMÍ DE RONDA (THE SEASIDE ROUTE)

Roses provides visitors with a 23 km stretch to walk along and admire splendid views of beaches and coves; the cherry on the cake here is enjoy the spectacular sunsets that can be seen from three different points along the route that have been turned into vantage points.

The seaside walk begins at the breakwaters of Santa Margarida. The newly opened Yacht Marina has increased the charm of the outing. The long path of the Camí de Ronda begins in the port and runs along the entire coastline: the Lighthouse, Canyelles Petites and Almadraba. At this point, the Camí de Ronda wends its way along the shore within the Cap de Creus Nature Park, enabling visitors to marvel at the beauty of its tiny coves: Falconera, Murtra, La Rostella, Montjoi, Calitjàs, Pelosa, Peninsula of Cap Norfeu , Canadell, and ending up at Cala Joncols.

THE NATURE PARKS

Surrounded by nature, Roses is part of two nature parks: the Cap de Creus Nature Park and the Els aiguamolls de l`Empordà Nature Park .

CARNiVAL

The Roses carnival is one of the oldest in Catalunya and one of the few whose programme still features the reading of the last will and testament of King Carnestoltes . Its widespread popularity gives it the honour of being one of the city's two major festivals. It is held in February, whilst the other is held in August.

The festival in Roses does not only attract local residents, but over the years the people from outlying villages have also adopted this Carnival, which holds four “passades”, the name given here to a procession. Around 6,000 people in fancy dress fill the Avinguda de Rhode , either during the Friday procession – marking the actual beginning of the festival -, the one on the Saturday, in which children take centre stage, the one on the Sunday, with adults and children alike, and also during the “passada pirata” (pirates' march) on the Sunday night, which attracts all those who still have some energy left and want to keep on partying.

LA FIESTA MAYOR (THE MAIN FESTIVAL)

The main festival in August is held between the 8 th and 16 th August. One of the most keenly awaited events on the programme is the city's nod to popular and traditional culture. Year in and year out, the festivities are joined by new gegants (giants), who come to this huge party and make it even more spectacular. In addition, the traditional dance ensemble makes the most of this opportunity to highlight the recovery of forgotten dances and show off their now classic repertoire with the backing of the popular folk group Tres Quartans .

BLUES, JAZZ AND GOSPEL FESTIVAL

Every year, Roses hosts the Blues, Jazz and Gospel Festival. In 2004, it was held for the 12 th time. Numerous bands converge on Roses performing at different venues, and for eight days they present a broad range of music based on three different styles: Blues, Jazz and Gospel. Workshops and other activities are held at the same time to coincide with the festival. Both the opening and the closing concerts are held at the Teatre Municipal. The Citadel plays host over three nights to macroconcerts with three performances in which seafood suppers are also served up to the spectators.

CLÁSSICS A LA FRESCA (OPEN-AIR CLASSICS)

The Church of Santa Maria in the Citadel in Roses is the scene of the festival “Clàssics a la fresca” (“Open-air Classics”). At 10 p.m. every Thursday in July and August, visitors and local people alike have an appointment with classical music. From one year to the next, the programme undergoes a careful review in order to feature new voices and manners of expression from a wide-ranging perspective catering for multiple and different exponents of the genre.

ROSES BY THE SEA

The harbour area features two of the city's core components. On the one hand, the trading port with its quayside market continues to busy itself around a seafaring and fishing existence; on the other hand, the yacht marina is home to all kinds of leisure vessels that are involved in a wide range of water sports and activities.

BEACH SPORTS

In summer, the Local Council's sports department, the sailing school, the GEN and the CWR, organise sporting activities and programmes on the beach and in the bay. There are now established championships in beach volleyball, beach football, beach aerobics and windsurfing, as well as sailing regattas that, thanks to the creation of the marina and the sailing school, have been given a fresh lease of life with a significant increase in the number of events. During the main festival, the festa major , there is a swimming crossing of the port and, in recent years, the gathering of “llaguts” (feluccas) and oarsmen.

More information at: www.rosesweb.info