Formigues Islands, Small archipelago off Costa Brava, Spain
The Formigues Islands are a rocky island group off the Costa Brava, located between Palamós and Calella de Palafrugell, made up of four small main islands and around twelve reefs. The formations rise steeply from the seafloor and remain entirely uninhabited, sitting in open Mediterranean waters.
In 1285, a major naval battle took place near these islands, where Admiral Roger de Llúria defeated the fleet of French King Philip III. That event gave the islands a lasting place in the history of western Mediterranean seafaring.
The name Formigues comes from the Catalan word for ants, because the scattered rocks resemble a colony of small creatures spread across the water. Sailors from the area have long used these islands as reference points when navigating this stretch of coast.
The islands are only accessible by boat, and sea conditions can change considerably depending on the season, so it is worth checking the weather before heading out. The lighthouse on Formiga Gran is clearly visible from the water and serves as a useful point of reference.
Below the surface, the rock formations hide caves and crevices that reach down to around 45 meters (150 feet), filled with marine vegetation rarely seen from above. This underwater landscape draws divers specifically to these small, uninhabited outcrops.
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