Sitges

With over three miles (5km) of golden shoreline, Sitges is the perfect weekend break for tourists wishing to experience Spanish resorts without straying too far from Barcelona. One of the most popular holiday resort towns south of Barcelona, Sitges is 21 miles (45km) from the city. With more than 17 sand beaches, many of them with EU Blue Flag status, it is easy to see why Sitges has been called the 'Playground of Barcelona'. Renowned for its nightlife, Sitges attracts thousands of holidaymakers, including many young day trippers from Barcelona. The city is gay-friendly, expensive, and decidedly arty, said to be the town where the modernist movement began when it attracted artists such as Santiago Rusinol and Salvador Dali. Rusinol's home in the town has been turned into a museum, displaying some of his works. Beachgoers and holidaymakers in Sitges can enjoy a number of activities and sights in and around the town. It also plays host to the popular Sitges Film Festival, which specialises in fantasy and horror film genres. Most people visit Sitges primarily for the beautiful sandy beaches. Between the church at one end of the town and the Terramar Hotel at the other extremity there are nine breakwaters, each sheltering gently sloping golden beaches equipped with showers, refreshment kiosks, and sunloungers for rent.