Blanes, is a town that belongs to the region of la Selva in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It is known as the "Gateway to the Costa Brava". Its coast is part of the Costa Brava, which stretches from Blanes up to the French border. The township is 18.29 km². Blanes is a popular tourist town, and it is known for the “Concurs de Focs d'Artifici” during the “Santa Anna festival”, this event is actually a firework competition, however, during the week there are other activities in town organized by the town hall, as it is a festivity week in Blanes. Other places of interest include the botanical gardens, coves, such as the Cala Bona, and beaches which are surrounded by mountains. Blanes is 1 hour away from Barcelona airport and only 40 min. from Girona’s airport. One of the botanical gardens in Blanes is the Mar i Murtra, which covers almost 15 hectares. It includes over 4000 different plant species and is visited by 300,000 people every year. Another garden is the Pinya de Rosa, which consists of over 7000 different plant species. The city offers a wide range of activities and sports clubs, including the renowned Blanes sailing club, founded in 1943, which has since evolved into one of the most important sailing clubs on the Costa Brava.