PALAMAS COSTA BRAVA

This fishing port at the eastern end of Palamas bay was founded in 1277 and soon became an important naval base: when the Aragonese fleet conquered Sicily in 1299, it sailed from Palamas. In the 19th century Palamas was the chief export harbor for Catalonia's cork industry, and despite the growth of tourism the town retains a significant commercial base today. The fishing fleet still sails each day from Palamas and its arrival each afternoon is followed by a lively fish auction by the harbour.

The old quarter, dominated by the Gothic church of Santa Maria, stands on a headland overlooking the harbour. Several shops here specialize in cork artefacts from the continuing small-scale cork industry. A former warehouse on the dockside houses the Museu de la Pesca (Fishing Museum), with exhibits exploring the town's seafaring traditions. The museum offers boat trips around the bay on an old lateen sailing vessel, Rafael, built in 1915.