The Illes Medes is an archipelago, located one kilometer from the coast of L'Estartit, it is part of the Natural Park of Montgrí, the Medes Islands and Bajo Ter and comprises 21.5 hectares of land and 511 hectares of sea of exceptional ecological value. that makes them a unique place in the Mediterranean.
The Illes Medes is an archipelago, located one kilometer from the coast of L'Estartit, it is part of the Natural Park of Montgrí, the Medes Islands and Bajo Ter and comprises 21.5 hectares of land and 511 hectares of sea of exceptional ecological value. that makes them a unique place in the Mediterranean. The emerged part is made up of seven islets: Meda Gran, Meda Xica, Carall Bernat, Tascons Grossos, Tascons Petits, Medellot and Les Ferranelles. As a whole, the last buttresses of the Montgrí massif on its way to the bottom of the sea.
It is precisely this seabed that gives the Medes Islands an exceptional value and makes them a unique place in the Mediterranean, highly appreciated by divers from all over the world. In this background, the populations of algae, posidonia meadows, corals, various species of fish, crabs, starfish, etc. stand out.
Historically, the Medes Islands have been a place that has captivated human beings and that has motivated them to come closer, as revealed by the remains of shipwrecks found in the surrounding waters. In fact, sunken Greek ships have been located, while the islands have hidden vestiges for centuries that suggest that they had been used as a necropolis.
Starting in the 15th century, by the hand of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, a fortification was built in the Meda Grande, which was abandoned a few decades later. The opportunity was seized by the numerous pirates of the time, who used the islands as a base to launch raids on the coast. In the 18th century, the remains of the building were used as a prison, and housed a military garrison until 1890.
Since its last inhabitants abandoned it in 1934, the archipelago has been uninhabited and since 1983 it has received special environmental protection from the Generalitat de Catalunya. This initiative has greatly contributed to recovering the wealth of its valuable seabed.
To be able to enjoy all the underwater wonders that the Medes Islands reserve, you can practice scuba diving or take part in an excursion on a boat with a transparent bottom. The practice of scuba diving is regulated, although it can be done with your own boat or through one of the authorized concession centers, which also propose commented marine itineraries, practicing light immersion (fins, goggles and tube) or the underwater itinerary (in group, with previous theoretical session).
