C31, a busy coastal road with sharp curves
C31 is a coastal corniche road located in Spain's Catalonia region, southwest of Barcelona. The exciting road, nicknamed Costes del Garraf road, is not suitable for those who get dizzy.
C31 is the name of the former C-246 road that runs from El Vendrell parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coastline and finishes at Castelldefels. The most challenging part of the road is a short 16.5 km section, running between Castelldefels and Sitges, two coastal villages backed by the mountainous Parc Natural del Garraf. Along this sections, drivers have to face 86 curves. Sitges is an attractive little town that was a pioneer of tourism in Catalonia and Europe.
The road is totally paved and is always brimming with cars which makes it even more dangerous. The drive features many sharp curves and spectacular views of the ocean as you wind along the cliffs. It’s narrow, with one lane in each direction, and slow moving, so don’t be in a rush. Not many chances to pass slow moving tourists. The road is winding, meandering along a coast cut vertically above the sea on the cliffs of the Garraf massif. Tight curves force a good game with the clutch and brake pedals, which is usually hot at the end of the journey.
This curvy stretch of road does get busier at weekends and holidays seasons, with tourists, and during working days with trucks from the Vallcarca cement company. It has no shoulder for safety, so accidents are common. The coastal road, which is very scenic, has many bends and can be quite congested. There is nowhere to overtake along the 16 km stretch but the views along the ocean are beautiful, and there are several lookout points with safe parking if you want to take a photo or just enjoy the view. The origin of this road dates back to the end of the 19th century, when it was built on an old road that dates back to the Middle Ages.
Road suggested by: Jorge Manuel Gómez Sánchez