CASTLES PALAMÓS

Castell de Sant Esteve de Mar is a ruined medieval castle perched dramatically on a clifftop promontory near Palamós in Girona, with origins traceable to Roman settlement and possibly Iberian habitation. Though constructed in the 12th century, the fortress was purchased and granted royal significance by Peter II of Aragon in 1277 as part of the planned development of Palamós as a royal port. By the 14th century the castle had transitioned to private ownership and later served maritime surveillance roles against piracy. Accessible via the scenic GR 92 long-distance footpath connecting local beaches, the castle's remaining tower bases and walls offer visitors a glimpse of medieval coastal defence architecture.

Castell de Vila-romà stands on a platform on the southern slope of Montagut, northwest of Palamós in the Baix Empordà region of Girona province, declared a cultural property of national interest. The site's strategic importance dates to the early Middle Ages, with Villa Romani documented in 1161 and Villa Romanum in 1190. The fortress was formally recorded in 1276 when the Bishop of Girona, Pere de Castellnou, purchased it for 45,000 sous. Positioned to control the passage from the town of Palamós and the surrounding valleys, the castle represents medieval ecclesiastical holdings and demonstrates the strategic value of elevated fortifications along the Empordà landscape.