Population: 17,173

Despite being one of the major resorts of the northern Costa Brava, Roses has a great deal going for it. During the high season it suffers from a predictable population explosion and it can be hard to find a space on the beach, but with 139 restaurants it’s surprisingly well-equipped to deal with the mass of tourists, and is sufficiently large and historical for you to be able to find quiet spaces away from the madding crowds.

Population: 10,832

What has always struck me about Ripoll is, despite its historical importance, its humble matter of fact atmosphere. It really comes across as nothing special, but this impression is totally false, and it’s the town that can stake the strongest claim to being the ‘Cradle of Catalonia’.

Population: 1,500

Population: 31,932

As capital of the volcanic Garrotxa region, Olot boasts an undeniable charm. Fertile, impressive, creative, obsessive; there’s a lot to Olot. The town itself is lovely, with its calm pedestrianised streets, excellent shops and lovely bars but it is Olot’s setting that makes it so special. In the centre of the Garrotxa nature reserve, the town is an ideal base from which to visit this region of fortunately now extinct volcanoes.

Population: 34,047

If it weren’t for the fact that my wife’s family are all scattered around the Alt Empordà, meaning lunches and overnight stays that are difficult to get out of, I know exactly how I’d go about getting to know the northern Costa Brava – I’d get off the train from Barcelona at Figueres, find a cheap hotel and use the town as my base for exploring the region.

Population: 2,623

Another image of Emporion taken by my daughter on a recent school trip.

The remains of the Greek settlement of Emporion can be found between Sant Martí d'Empúries and L'Escala.

Ok, so here's the plan. My role here in NativeSpain is Regional Editor Catalunya, but I don't have very much to edit! This makes me think that I'd better write the content myself, and let you lot edit me. (Much less hassle for all concerned.)

I'm going to write a book online, it's going to be about the Catalans and I'm going to call it 'Barcelona and the Lost Nation'. Write comments, tell me its dreadful/grear/fair to middling, tell me what's missing, what's wrong and what seems downright stupid.

Coming down from the wildlands of the Alt Emprdà, the moment the train pulls into Girona, you feel that familiarity is returning and you are that much more closer to home.