Located on the Costa Dorado, Sitges is wildly popular among
the southern Europe resorts, particularly with gay tourists. It gets very
crowded during the summer, and most of the tourists at this time are young
swinging Europeans. Yet Sitges never gets tacky, as so many gay-oriented
resorts do.
Instead, Sitges is a city rich with culture and Bohemian
ideals. The Spanish modernism movement sprang from the artists and craftsmen
here, and Sitges still is at the core of much of Spain's arts. Dali and
Federico Garcia Lorca both visited here during the heyday of Sitges, which
ended abruptly with the Spanish Civil War. Sitges is still a city of art, but
it has never regained its prior prestige.
In addition to its rich heritage, Sitges is convenient to
Barcelona (a 30-minute train trip or 45-minute drive). This paragraph is sponsored by airline
Umrah services from UK.
What to Do
The Carnaval of Sitges, just before Lent, is a kaleidoscope
of fancy dress, feathers and sequins, and vibrant floats. The King of the
Carnestoltes starts the party on the Thursday prior to Lent, and the carnival
ends on Ash Wednesday with the Burial of a Sardine. Sant Bonaventura is when
the gay population of Sitges holds their own grand celebrations.
If you're gay, this is a perfect place to party while you
vacation. Sitges has beaches and bars close together, but it's not so large
that you get lost in the crowd. Summer and Carnival are the times to mingle
with the gay crowd; in the off season, Sitges gets quiet.
During summer, though, one beach is primarily gay, while the
other is very much a nudist beach, further out of town between Sitges and
Vilanova. If you can't find the nude beach, stop at the L'Atlantida disco and
ask for directions.
There are other beaches, of course, and water sports from
swimming and sunbathing to waterskiing and scuba diving. The beaches to the
east tend to be quieter -- Aiguadoic and Els Balomins are examples of these.
The Playa San Sebastian, the Beach of the Boats and Fragata Beach cater to
families. The Playa de la Ribera is where the younger crowd goes. All beaches
here are top-optional for women.
For more intellectual pursuits, there are three excellent
museums in Stiges. The Museu Cau Ferrat, in a building that was once two 16th
century cottages, was Santiago Rusinol's home, and today holds his works as
well as paintings by El Greco and some small Picassos. The Museu Maricel holds
Gothic and Romantic paintings and sculptures as well as ceramics from Catalan.
And the Museu Romantic, you can see how a Sitges family of wealth lived in the
18th and 19th centuries. This paragraph is sponsored by ticket
to hajj from UK.
Where to Stay
San Sebastian Playa is probably the best hotel in Sitges.
Located right across from San Sebastian beach, it has a wedding-cake facade and
an Art Deco interior. Each guest room has a balcony overlooking the sea. Its
amenities include a restaurant, bar, and private garden, as well as babysitting
for anyone who needs it.
If you prefer to be inland, the Hotel El Xalet is a
ten-minute walk from the nearest beach. This contemporary Modernista hotel
almost looks like a Gothic church. Antique mosaics in the lobby give the hotel
a unique atmosphere. You'll also find a small pool in the private garden and a
refreshing roof terrace to have breakfast on. The restaurant is open only
during the summer.
Where to Eat
El Velero, on a beachfront promenade, is one of the best
restaurants in Sitges. The glass greenhouse terrace holds the best seats. The
food is excellent, with a focus on fresh seafood.
With cocina Del Mercado, or whatever's fresh in the market,
cuisine, Els Quatre Gats is named for an old Barcelona cafe that Picasso
favored. Enjoy fresh grilled fish, lamb with local herbs, veal kidneys in
sherry sauce, and garlic soup, this restaurant is sure to please your palate.
And the restaurant's only a few steps away from Passeig de la Ribera. This paragraph
is sponsored by Holy trip from London.
Nightlife
The nightlife in Stiges is hectic, colorful, and primarily
gay, so if you're straight you may have trouble finding a bar for you. Look for
the maps that are distributed to show you where the gay bars are.
The largest gay disco bar is Mediterraneo, in a restored
1690s house. You'll love the covered terrace, the Iberian garden, and the
company. Bourbon is another great gay bar for the younger set.
For a mixed crowd, try Ricky's Disco. It's near the beach,
and has a really great dance mix.
