Families with children love the resort town of Blanes on Spain's Costa Brava: the hotels in Blanes are suitable for holidays with babies, the sea is shallow and warm, and the attractions make organising a family excursion programme possible. One of the best places in town is the Marimurtra botanical garden, where you can discover a variety of plants or simply take a walk on a hot day.
The garden appeared in Blanes about 100 years ago thanks to the work of the botanical scientist Carl Faust. The slope of the mountain between two bays has been transformed into a magnificent display of Mediterranean, temperate and tropical flora. Some 4,000 species, including 200 rare and endangered species, can be seen here. The Marimurtre collection is highly valued in Europe, and the government of Catalonia has awarded the garden the status of cultural patrimony of the state.
It is straightforward to use the park's map. It indicates the main areas and has a recommended itinerary. However, if you see a bird perched on a rock or want to smell a strange flower, you can take a trip off the beaten track.
The park's greatest virtue is its peaceful atmosphere. Behind the green massif, the sea turns blue. This combination named the garden Marimurtra (MariMurtra means 'sea and myrtle'). But besides myrtles, you'll find cacti and orange trees, palms and bamboo, cypresses and spruces. The garden has separate areas featuring vegetation from North and South America, Mexico, Africa, China and Japan, and the Canary Islands.
To start a garden tour, you'll have to climb a rather long staircase to the top of the cliff. The journey along the green paths lasts about 2 hours. The garden has shady arbours and benches for relaxing during the walk. You can also stand on the bridge over the pond and watch the turtles. The most beautiful views of the garden and the sea can be seen from the Mirador von Humbold observation tower.
When you leave the botanical garden of Marimurtra in Blanes, instead of taking home some leaves for your herbarium, take a small flowering cactus with you as they are sold in the souvenir shop. The Pinya de Rosa Tropical Botanical Garden is also a 15-minute drive from Blanes, famous for its collection of cacti and succulents.
