Palamós

infobox catalan municipio
province=Girona
native_name = Palamós
comarca=Baix Empordà
population=15,968
population_year=2001
area=13.89
population_density=46.3
elevation=30
demonym= Catalan: Palamosí (m) Palamosina (f)
location_

Palamós is a town and municipality in the Mediterranean "Costa Brava", located in the "comarca" of Baix Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

Palamos was founded and recognised as a village on 3 December 1279 by 'Pere el Gran', 'Comte de Barcelona' (Peter III of Aragon). He wanted to found a new port on the coast as the previous royal port in the region at Torroella de Montgrí on the River Ter had silted up. Palamós is situated at the northern end of a large bay, which is popular for swimming, sailing and windsurfing. The town is by-passed by the C31 which connects the coastal towns of the central Costa Brava with Girona. Palafrugell lies 8.5 km to the north and Castell-Platja d'Aro 7 km to the south.

The town is a major port (with the closure of Sant Feliu the only commercial harbour in the Province of Girona) with one of the last remaining fishing fleets on this part of the mediterranian coast. It is famous for the locally caught prawns (Gambes). [http://www.catalanlife.com/index.cfm?uuid=DE467D9E49]

The town's major economic activities until the second half of the XXth century were fishing and cork manufacturing. In the sixties, however the town saw a rapid growth of tourism. The architecture of Palamos itself remained relatively unchanged with most development focused to the south at Sant Antoni de Calonge which now merges with Palamos. The town's nightlife is focused on the old port which is surrounded by bars and restaurants.

The town is home to Palamós CF the local football club.

It was the birthplace of Frederic Pujulà i Vallés who was a pioneer of Esperanto literature.

Demography

infobox catalan municipio demography
pop_1900=5,037
pop_1930=7,085
pop_1950=5,836
pop_1970=10,088
pop_1986=12,198
pop_latest=15,968
latest_year=2001

References

* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). "Guia de Catalunya", Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).

* [http://www.reservamihotel.com/palamos_hotels.htm Palamos Accommodation]
* [http://www.costabravarent.com Apartments to rent in Palamos]