About Us
Costa Brava Maniacs is a father-and-daughter passion project started by Alex “Aribau” Ryabov and Katya Ryabova.
A long time resident of Begur and Barcelona, Alex was a historian, ethnographer, and the main driving force behind Costa Brava Maniacs. He wrote the original “Little Secrets of Barcelona” book and co-authored the guide to the Costa Brava with Katya. He passed away in 2023, leaving behind the legacy of neverending exploration, curiosity and observation.
Katya Ryabova is a freelance journalist, writer and research consultant. She spent her twenties living in and exploring Barcelona and the Costa Brava, and visits often to this day. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada.
Our books
Little Secrets of Barcelona: Nooks, Crannies and Curiosities
Little Secrets of Barcelona is a travel book unlike any other. Let it lead you on an exciting journey of obscure tales, unknown places and hidden mysteries in a city discovered by millions of visitors every year.
Landmarks, places and enigmatic corners of Barcelona described in this book aren’t mentioned in your typical travel guide. Little Secrets of Barcelona was written for a curious mind who enjoys diving deep into local lore and uncovering hidden treasures. It is as much a history and culture guide as it is a guide for travel. Use it at your leisure to discover more of what makes Barcelona so unique... and be prepared to fall in love with the city all over again.
Available as an interactive PDF e-book or a gorgeously illustrated paperback print edition.
Costa Brava travel guide
Currently available in Russian only. Please click here to learn more.
