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Sitges - Resort for Alternative Lifestyles

Located on the Costa Dorada, Sitges isGreco and some small Picassos. The Museu
wildly popular among the southern EuropeMaricel 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 timeRomantic, you can see how a Sitges
are young swinging Europeans. Yet Sitgesfamily of wealth lived in the 18th and
never gets tacky, as so many19th centuries.
gay-oriented resorts do.Where To Stay
Instead, Sitges is a city rich withSan Sebastian Playa is probably the best
culture and Bohemian ideals. The Spanishhotel in Sitges. Located right across
modernismo movement sprang from thefrom San Sebastian beach, it has a
artists and craftsmen here, and Sitgeswedding-cake facade and an Art Deco
still is at the core of much of Spain'sinterior. Each guest room has a balcony
arts. Dali and Federico Garcia Lorcaoverlooking the sea. Its amenities
both visited here during the heyday ofinclude a restaurant, bar, and private
Sitges, which ended abruptly with thegarden, as well as babysitting for
Spanish Civil War. Sitges is still aanyone who needs it.
city of art, but it has never regainedIf 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, Sitgesnearest beach. This contemporary
is convenient to Barcelona (a 30-minuteModernista hotel almost looks like a
train trip or 45-minute drive).Gothic church. Antique mosaics in the
What to Dolobby give the hotel a unique
The Carnaval of Sitges, just beforeatmosphere. You'll also find a small
Lent, is a kaleidoscope of fancy dress,pool in the private garden and a
feathers and sequins, and vibrantrefreshing roof terrace to have
floats. The King of the Carnestoltesbreakfast on. The restaurant is open
starts the party on the Thursday prioronly during the summer.
to Lent, and the carnival ends on AshWhere to Eat
Wednesday with the Burial of a Sardine.El Velero, on a beachfront promenade, is
Sant Bonaventura is when the gayone of the best restaurants in Sitges.
population of Sitges hold their ownThe glass greenhouse terrace holds the
grand celebrations.best seats. The food is excellent, with
If you're gay, this is a perfect placea focus on fresh seafood.
to party while you vacation. Sitges hasWith cocina del mercado, or whatever's
beaches and bars close together, butfresh in the market, cuisine, Els Quatre
it's not so large that you get lost inGats is named for an old Barcelona cafe
the crowd. Summer and Carnival are thethat Picasso favored. Enjoy fresh
times to mingle with the gay crowd; ingrilled fish, lamb with local herbs,
the off season, Sitges gets quiet.veal kidneys in sherry sauce, and garlic
During summer, though, one beach issoup, this restaurant is sure to please
primarily gay, while the other is veryyour palate. And the restaurant's only a
much a nudist beach, further out of townfew steps away from Passeig de la
between Sitges and Vilanova. If youRibera.
can't find the nude beach, stop at theNightlife
L'Atlantida disco and ask forThe nightlife in Stiges is hectic,
directions.colorful, and primarily gay, so if
There are other beaches, of course, andyou're straight you may have trouble
water sports from swimming andfinding a bar for you. Look for the maps
sunbathing to waterskiing and scubathat are distributed to show you where
diving. The beaches to the east tend tothe gay bars are.
be quieter -- Aiguadoic and Els BalominsThe largest gay disco bar is
are examples of these. The Playa SanMediterraneo, in a restored 1690s house.
Sebastian, the Beach of the Boats, andYou'll love the covered terrace, the
Fragata Beach cater to families. TheIberian garden, and the company. Bourbon
Playa de la Ribera is where the youngeris another great gay bar for the younger
crowd go. All beaches here areset.
top-optional for women.For a mixed crowd, try Ricky's Disco.
For more intellectual pursuits, thereIt's near the beach, and has a really
are three excellent museums in Stiges.great dance mix.
The Museu Cau Ferrat, in a building thatJakob Jelling is the founder of Please
was once two 16th century cottages, wasvisit if you're planning a trip to
Santiago Rusinol's home, and today holdsSpain.
his works as well as paintings by El



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