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