Category Archives: Spain
Summer Fun with Gay Pride in Barcelona Spain
For the fifth year running, Barcelona is well into the preparations
to welcome you to the most important LGBT pride festival in the
Mediterranean – Pride Barcelona’13. The main celebrations will be on the
weekend of the 28th, 29th and 30th of June , but entire festival
includes a program that runs from the 20th to the 30th of June!
30 charitable associations,
many local businesses and the entire LBGT community have again united
to organise a new pride for the city – offering ten days of culture,
sport, debate, entertainment and parties. Pride Barcelona is a major
free not-for-profit event that both celebrates the best of the Catalan
capital.
Spain is a shining example of LGBT Rights, and is already on the
global map for pride celebrations in Madrid and Maspalomas – always
reaffirming our open, respectful and tolerant character. Barcelona is
now firmly placed on that map – growing bigger and better every year.
Come and experience Pride Barcelona 2013. See for yourself why this
new event is now among the greatest pride celebrations in the world!
CIRCUIT FESTIVAL Returns to Gay Barcelona August 1 – 9
Circuit Festival is back and here to stay. Powered by Matinée Group, Europe’s hottest Gay & Lesbian event will take place in Barcelona from August 1st to 9th, ready to make a difference on the scene. Nightly, the best names in the gay circuit ready to dish out the best rhythms. But it doesn’t end with the clubbing.
During the day, an incredible set of tempting activities and venues will surely get you out of bed: specially our very own Gay & Lesbian Day at the Water Park – a field trip including steamy parties and refreshing water rides. Still need more facts? Take note: more than 30.000 people from over 30 different countries partying wildly for 9 days in a row. The best Dj’s (over 30!) and performers from all over the world lined up for you partygoers delight.
And to top it off: sunny Barcelona and its beaches to make your stay one to remember.
One summer week… Are you gonna miss it?
12 Years strong! Barcelona’s MATINEE GROUP is bigger than ever overseas! The group now hosts some of the biggest parties in the world! Everywhere from Spain to London to Italy. – And CIRCUIT is their crown jewel!
For the first time in Europe, Circuit Festival brings you the biggest gay party of NYC. Its star Djs, Peter Rauhofer and Offer Nissim, will offer you the best worldwide clubber sound of the planet. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to life the session if this truly stars at the decks playing at their most international party.
The Gay Day at the Waterpark is one of the most popular parties. And this year, you get 2 parties in one!
Wednesday 5th you will enjoy again the sun, the music and the best company in a fun, different and – above all – very refreshing environment. From 10 am you will enjoy a very special day at a water park open only us, with amazing rides, themed areas, sunbathing and relaxing spaces and – of course – the most innovative rides around. Starting at 15:00 get ready because the park will become an outdoor club where you will be able to dance in and outside the water to the sound of Matinée’s best Dj’s: J.Louis, Taito Tikaro, André Vincenzzo, Enrico Arghentini and Lydia Sanz.
Then, from the closing of the Water Park until 5am, get the strengths because the night party will begin: Bravo, the most spectacular party of Madrid, arrives to the disco of Isla Fantasia with all the power of its mega animation and production…
the Djs Francesco Belais, Danny Verde and Nano will make you dance the night away. Of course, during all day and night there will be available restaurants, chill areas and dressing rooms so you will have the chance to rest, change clothes and enjoy a revitalizing meal.
I am going to need a LOT OF COFFEE, or something, to make it through that week!
I will need a week in SITGES to rest afterwards! See you there!
If you don’t know who Matinee Group is , check out their MySpace page and watch the video.
Watch some highlight videos from last years Circuit Festival, on their site!
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Gay Sitges – Gay Paradise – The St. Tropez of Spain! Part 2
When the Roman’s first visited Spain over two thousand year’s ago they built a town called Subur. Sitges now stands on that very same spot. We all know how the Roman centurions liked to party and that tradition continues to this very day. Welcome to Sitges, a party-town like no other.
Traveling to Sitges is easy, accommodations plentiful, the climate perfectly Mediterranean, the people relaxed, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by and full of regional variety.
Sitges is often called the St. Tropez of Spain and the Crown Jewel of the Mediterranean. In ways, I found the lay of the land similar to Puerto Vallarta and the village is very old and full of charm.
Last week we gave you an overview of this great gay village by sea, this week we’ll take a little closer look at a few of many, many, MANY stores and bars in this small village.
First…WHERE TO STAY?
We highly recommend PARROTS HOTEL. In the heart of Sitges, just one block from the glittering Mediterranean Sea and the beach. A gay urban oasis! The rooms are modern, confortable, clean with all the amenities you would expect. Room safe, flat screen TV, big beds and many rooms have balconies or terraces. Free wi-fi in the lobby. Plus a friendly, helpful staff!
The laid-back ambiance and gracious staff of the Parrots prove ideal to the casual traveller who´s looking for a place where anything goes. No worries, no attitude, just fun times.
The staff has extensive local knowledge and is willing to answer questions or source tourist information to ensure or source tourist information to ensure your stay is a memorable one – challenge them and be surprised!
A generous continental style buffet-breakfast is included in the price of your stay. This can be enjoyed in our spacious breakfast room, in the shade of the patio terrace, or under the blue morning skies on our large sun terrace.
The upper sun terrace is the place to be for those who have an aversion to sand, while the elegant lobby and bar becomes a cool retreat on balmy summer nights.
Parrots also owns a gay sauna (located right inside the building) plus a restaurant, offering a delicious set menu and a full a la carte option, Parrots Restaurant also boasts an excellent wine list. The outside terrace is especially popular. Reservations are recommended.
And they have a great VIP Program. When you stay with them you get VIP access and exclusive discounts to all of their properties, including free entrance to the on site Sauna, as well as some deals around town with participarting merchants.
If you would rather “get away” from the bustling village, just a stones throw up in the mountains is a modern Country villa guesthouse with 6 large private en-suite guestrooms!
We highly recommend CASA ROSA SITGES , it is situated just 15 minutes by car from Sitges and it´s beautiful beaches, in the beautiful & romantic hills of the wine region Penedés. And they offer a shuttle service down to Sitges or can help arrange for a rental car if you really want to explore the area.
Your hosts Thomas and Bjorn, make you feel welcomed and right at home. It is a wonderful personal touch that often you do not get when staying at large hotels. It’s very relaxing here with lots of space, more laid back than staying right in the heart of the action, but just minutes away from the fun, so it easy to go back and fourth.
Casa Rosa is the ideal getaway for those who are looking for a relaxing holiday on the quiet hillside of Olivella.
Whether you want to enjoy nature, walking, mountainbiking, hot air ballooning, sun and relax by the pool or to discover the local culture just around the corner. You will find it all here!
SHOPPING! I found AMAZING deals here! And very cool European clothing by many designers that you just can’t find in the US. And I love this village because everything is SO CLOSE. Everything is within a 3-7 minute walk.
Some of my favorite shops for men’s clothes included …
Boyzone – Bonaventura, 18 Very cool, fabulous cutting edge styles.
Dive – Gaudenci, 12 Mid market clothing. Great collection of casual styles.
Dive Outlet – Joan Tarrida, 3 Clearance store. Love a sale!
Ovlas – Francesc, 22 Mid market clothing.
Oscar – Marques Montroig, 2 Awesome underwear and jean collections.
D&G, Cavalli, Armani, Alexander McQueen and more.
Replay – Francesc, 36 Casual popular euro company.
ZAK – Sant Francesc, 1 Very nice! Unique/boutique designs and beautifully tailored. And affordable.
There are also many home design and furnishing shops as well as art shops.
This is a party town, especially in the summer! Atlántida disco GBP held every Tuesday in the high season. A large open air disco right on the sea front. There is a free bus from in front of the Calipolis Hotel (Where the gay beach is), on the sea front. As you can see from the video, it gets packed and the talent is out of this world! MATINEE Group is just one of the big names here you will see.
There are also 2 big parties geared more towards Lesbians (and their friends). Marypili, a bar right next door to Parrots Hotel, organizes Fiesta Lola in April and the Legends Party in August (on the 10th), which draws over 2000 people! There are events and parties all year in Sitges, but especially May through September. So you may want to look at the online guides we have listed or check in with Parrots, as you may want to plan your trip around one of the events. Lesbian events, Bear Parties, Carnaval, Fiesta Mayor and endless dance and beach parties, all with themes!
The first gay disco in Spain opened in Sitges 25 years ago. It is still going stronger than ever. Trailer’s foam parties on Sunday night are world renowned. (Angel Vidal, 36)Hands get frisky as the foam level rises. This is a big disco – and Organic is the other big disco. (Bonaire, 10). Both of these are a later night crowd.
There are dozens of smaller clubs and cafes to pick from – Marypili and El Horno, are just steps outside the door of Parrot’s. And Parrot’s has a Pub, a Terrace, and a restaurant, as well as the hotel and sauna. Everything is close by, just minutes from each other, so it is very easy to jump from place to place. While we were there we also enjoyed B-Side, Man Bar, XXL, Le Male Bar and Organic. Many of the stores and Cafes have gay pocket maps available.
The village is full of cafes and restaurants! People watching is a favorite sport here in the summer, visitors like to sit at the outdoor cafés hoping either to be seen or to see some one else! There are SO MANY to choose from. It just depends what you are looking for.
Crepes at El Capricho, Italian at Vesuvio, International cuisine at Monroe’s – the list is endless. While shopping one evening we stopped into a tiny place called Road Cafe, Parrelledes 13. And we had one of the best thin crust pizza’s and HUGE glasses of wine, it was very good.
The entire beachfront is dotted with outdoor cafes. Being the Italian lovers we are, we went to Ristorante Pizzeria Claudius and sat on the patio watching people, sipping on wine and snacking on Calamari.
Sitges is very international. Almost 35% of the ca. 26,000 inhabitants are from the Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Scandinavia. And tourists come from all over the world.
Many tourists fall in love with it and decide to move here! The property prices here are approaching those of the most expensive European cities, the main reason for this being the beautiful setting by the sea and the surrounding Parc Natural del Garraf. – However, if you are from the US, you won’t be sticker-shocked by the prices. It is not outrageous.
Sitges has to be one of the easiest gay destinations to visit. It is just 20 minutes train journey from Barcelona. And the resort is the perfect base for exploring the other parts of Cataluna. Universal Studios theme park is nearby at Port Aventura, and the ancient monastery of Montserrat is in the mountains to the north.
SITGES….a gem in the Mediterranean! We were told it is the prefect day or two trip getaway from Barcelona. I could come back here for a week! But be prepared to fall in love and perhaps spend the rest of your life in this quaint, unique little town!
Helpful links & Resources for Sitges:
PARROTS CASA ROSA guesthouse Gay Beach Parties Gay Sitges Videos
The Gay Paradise – Sitges Gay Sitges Guide Gay Sitges Online Gay Life Sitges
BEST GAY CITIES and the NEW GAY TRAVEL GUIDE
