The Fashionable Resort of Sitges Costa Dorada

One of the main coastal resorts used by the people of Barcelona, the town of Sitges is a jewel in an otherwise dreary stretch of coastline. Fashionable since the late nineteenth century when it became a haven for artists, Sitges grew in popularity during the 1960’s and has continued to thrive ever since. The arty heritage developed when a popular Catalonian artist named Santiago Rusiñol spent some time there, some of his Modernista work can be seen in the local art museums. Modern day tourists head to Sitges to enjoy the fine sandy beaches (of which there are around 17 in the area), the upmarket shops and the vibrant night life. The town is fairly expensive in comparison with others nearby, and has prices in line with the wealthy city of Barcelona and rooms in the town can be scarce during the busy season. The town is renowned for its Carnival and for its International Film Festival which is held every year in October/November. Sitges attracts a large number of gays and has exclusively gay and nudist beaches. The town enjoys a delightful climate and the weather in Sitges is as good as any resort in the Costa Dorada, with sunshine being the order of the day from late May to October. Sitges is located just off the C-32 between Vilanova I la Geltru and Castelldefels. Map of Sitges.

Begur – A Historic Catalonian Town

One of the prettiest towns on the Costa Brava, the historic Begur is overlooked by its sixteenth century castle which was built to warn of pirate attacks. The narrow cobbled streets of the old town are lined with charming fishermen’s cottages, making this a desirable place to visit. Within the province of Girona, Begur has a population of 3,986, although this of course rises considerably during the busy summer months when large numbers of visitors arrive, in particular from the city of Barcelona. Tourists are attracted by the ancient charm of the old town and the superb nearby beaches, which are amongst the best in the region, they also visit to enjoy the fine climate experienced during the summer with the weather in Begur being mostly warm and sunny from May to October, though somewhat cooler during the winter months. Begur is located on the GI-653 and is situated between the better known resorts of Calella and Estartit. Map of Begur.

Catalonia a Beautiful Region of Spain

Bordering France and Andorra the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia has a rich and varied landscape and a rich and varied history. Containing a sizeable section of the Pyrenees mountains, Catalonia experiences a wide variety of climates from the snow covered mountain peaks with some well known ski resorts, to sun kissed seaside resorts on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada with a warm Mediteranean climate, so the weather in Catalonia cannot be easily categorised, visitors are advised to check the conditions for their exact location before travelling. Catalonia covers an area of about 32,000 square kilometres and has a population of over seven million, it is divided into 4 provinces, namely Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona and the largest Lleida. Catalonia has been settled over the centuries by Iberians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors before being established as a Christian domain as Moors were driven out by the Franks in the 8th and 9th centuries. Catalonia developed Spain’s first true industry as Barcelona factories produced cotton made from material imported from the Americas during Spain’s Golden Age, it is still the most industrialized region of Spain. These days Catalonia is a prime destination for tourists, most of whom head for the coastal resorts of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada or the fantastic city of Barcelona with its many attractions, others may enjoy some skiing in the Pyrenees, walking in the Vall d’Aran or visiting one of the fine natural parks, such as the Aiguestortes National Park. Whatever your interests you will surely find something to attract you in the multi-faceted Spanish region of Catalonia. Map of Catalonia.