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