Carnaval in Sitges

Hello everyone!

This following post is dedicated to all of you who will be attending the carnivals in Barcelona, or shall I say, in Catalonia in general. The carnival is just around the corner, and if you haven't yet decided on a costume, it's time to get thinking! And if you don't have plans or don't know what to do because you don't know about the offers, here I'll try and give you a good idea as to what to expect.

Three years ago I went to the famous Sitges Carnival for the first time, and I returned two years ago. Before explaining what the program is like or what is waiting for you at the carnival, I'll tell you a little bit about the city. Sitges is a cute small town located less than half an hour away from Barcelona by train, and, essentially, it lives off of tourism, thus it does not lack bars, restaurants, and souvenir and clothes shops. And, of course, it has a beach, and some very typical beach bars (which I would recommend going to when the nice weather starts! ). Historically, and still today, Sitges is known for its beach and has always been a hotspot for homosexual couples, meaning circa 80% of the bars and clubs in the area are very gay-friendly. This does not mean, however, that the town is entirely centered on homosexual couples, as there are also many heterosexuals out at night, and it seems as though this vibrant mix of people make it so that the parties here are unparalleled! Thus, I invite you to come and spend the Carnival here in Sitges!

Regarding the programming of the carnival, yesterday, January 30th, the activities began. The carnival will continue on Thursday, February 4th. On this day the residents of the town are paraded through the streets, thus initiating the carnival for good. The parade begins at 5:30 PM and will last until around 7 PM, so if you want to go visit Sitges, I would recommend you head down there in the morning and stay and enjoy the parade in the evening.

Of course, at night you'll already get a sense for the strong vibe and you'll be able to attend pubs and clubs that will be full of people.

The following day, February 5th, the most important event, the "Gran Gala of Venice" is from 7-11 PM.

Throughout the weekend, the carnival will continue and feature several street expositions, centering on unique masks created by various associations of Sitges.

Thus, this is a brief summary of this event, if you want more details about the carnival, do not hesitate to consult its official webpage: (http://www.visitsitges.com/ca/carnaval-sitges-2016), however if you are only looking for a good party, I would suggest spending Friday and Saturday night in the center of the city and to walk down some of the main bar streets, such as Calle del Pescado. I would also recommend heading down early, seeing as the trains headed toward Sitges from Barcelona are jam-packed with people, and it can get quite uncomfortable being on a train for half an hour with less than one square meter for yourself. And don't forget to bring a costume! The ambiance will definitely not disappoint you, that I can guarantee! And this way, you can go, enjoy, and visit a town that is definitely worth it!

I won't show you any pictures of the carnival, but I'll leave you with some photos of this beautiful town. I'll write again soon!