Each February, El Port de la Selva lights up with the spirited Xatonada Festival—an essential celebration of the Catalan dish xató, a robust salad rich with escarole, cod, anchovies, olives, and a signature romesco sauce. The festival draws locals and visitors alike into the heart of this coastal town, where the sea breeze carries a salt-tinged invitation to engage both the palate and the senses.

The festival is more than a food event; it’s an active cultural experience rooted in tradition. Vendors set up long rows of tables near the harbor, where chefs compete in xató recipe contests that ripple with community pride and culinary skill. It’s a practical opportunity to sample authentic regional flavors and learn the nuances that make xató unique across nearby towns.

Arriving in El Port de la Selva, the atmosphere is lively but unpretentious. The streets invite slow exploration with a scenic backdrop: the rugged Costa Brava cliffs carving into the Mediterranean, their raw edges daring the sea to reclaim them. Piercing sea gull cries and laughter mingle with the clatter of cutlery and the hum of conversations steeped in preserved customs.

While tasting the festival staples, wanderers can explore the port’s fishing heritage frozen in time at the Maritime Museum or trace footpaths leading toward the Cap de Creus Natural Park. The terrain here is fiercely itself—granite rocks jutting skyward under persistent coastal winds, chaparral brushing against your boots, and sea currents below pushing forward relentlessly. The brief hikes make solid preparation vital: well-chosen footwear to manage uneven surfaces, water to combat wind-driven dehydration, and timing visits to avoid peak sun hours at midday.

Food stalls provide detailed insights into ingredient origins and techniques—a practical lesson for those intrigued by local gastronomy. The xató sauce itself is fiercely simple yet complex: roasted almonds and hazelnuts ground into a smoky and piquant paste, offering a lesson in balance between heat, texture, and tradition.

For visitors, the Xatonada Festival is an invitation to connect with Catalonia’s culinary roots while engaging the environment in a grounded, active way. It balances sensory delight with the tactility of a well-planned cultural outing. Whether you’re here for a casual weekend or a seasoned exploration, expect to leave with fuller senses and practical notes on how food can map history, geography, and community.