Begur and Around

From Begur, go east through the calas or take the inland route past the rose-color stone houses and ramparts of the restored medieval town of Pals. Nearby Peratallada is another medieval fortified town with an 11th-century castle, tower, and palace. The name is derived from pedra tallada, meaning "carved stone," and behind the town's well-preserved walls is a maze of narrow streets and ivy-covered houses built from stone that was carved from the moat, which still encircles the town. In the center, the arcaded Plaça de les Voltes is alive with restaurants, shops, and cafés. North of Pals there are signs for Ullastret, an Iberian village dating to the 5th century BC. L'Estartit is the jumping-off point for the spectacular natural park surrounding the Medes Islands, famous for its protected marine life and consequently for diving and underwater photography.