Lloret de Mar occupies a particular position within Spain's coastal landscape. It is part of the Costa Brava, a stretch of coastline in the province of Girona that extends from Blanes north to the French border. The name Costa Brava, meaning rough or wild coast, describes the terrain accurately: rugged cliffs, hidden coves known locally as calas, and dense Mediterranean scrubland define the geography. Lloret itself is the largest municipality on the Costa Brava, which creates a tension that sophisticated travelers should understand before they arrive. The town centre is dense and commercialised. The surrounding natural environment is not.