Having spent a fortnight on the Southern part of Spain, mainly the province of Málaga and the city of Sevilla, I travelled up to meet family on the East Coast, a popular destination for British and Irish families with an abundance of resorts.
The main activity I took part in was sun-worshipping. However, I did allow myself some road trips around my main base of Tarragona. Close to the resort of Salou, there are plenty of leisure parks for fun with family and friends. One of the best is Universal Studios owned PortAventura, which has recently expanded to include a Water-park. Based around four areas from around the World; Far East, Wild West, China and Polynesia, the Park boasts several of the World’s largest roller-coasters, including the ‘Dragon Khan’, unique for its seven loop-the-loops. A three-day pass is advisable in order to make the most of all the rides and performances that take place throughout the day, and culminates in a spectacular parade and firework display show at Midnight.
PortAventura, an hour’s drive from Barcelona, is worth a visit. Picture:Sean McKee
Moving away from the touristy element of this region, I decided to explore the historical town of Sitges. Now known as a popular destination for gay and lesbian couples, the town boasts 17 beaches, and is most known for its Annual Film Festival and Carnival.
The setting by the sea has seen Sitges labelled as ‘the St Tropez of Spain’ and is in close proximity to the Catalonian capital Barcelona, boasting a rich history in alcohol production. Firstly, before the tourism boom of the 1960s, Sitges was a well developed area because of its wine production economy. Founder of the famous Rum, Facundí Bacardi, was also born here before moving to Cuba. This, coupled with the gorgeous promenade of gastro premises in authentic Mediterranean villas, provides such a buzzing atmosphere with an almost 24 hour lifestyle, and an electric nightlife.
My travels around Eastern Spain also allowed me to re-visit Barcelona, a City I visited in my teenage years. I set out on this trip to refresh my memory of the cities landmarks, and with maturity I hoped I’d be able to appreciate it a bit more this time around.
Dating back to Roman Times, Barcelona is jam-packed with cultural, historical and sporting landmarks to visit. Highlights for me included the incredible Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter): a maze of narrow streets, grand churches and ancient ruins. Among this you will find independent shops, local markets, modern bars and restaurants. Esily accessible from the Barri Gòtic is Las Ramblas, a famous street which is home to artists, performers, openair cafès and bars, as well as the Gaudi-esque food market. The jewel in the crown of this area is Gaudi’s infamous Sagrada Família, started in 1882 and still uncompleted.Thanks to private funding, this spectacular Church is planned for completion in 2026. Eight other Gaudi buildings in the city also have UNESCO World Heritage Status along with the church, which signifies how highly the City’s architecture is regarded around the World.
Also worth a visit is the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, which houses pieces dating back to Romanesque times. If you are up for something peculiar, the Erotic Museum of Barcelona is worth trying. There are such a vast amount of buildings of reference to visit, it really is worth it to book on a City bus tour, where you’ll be able to take in all of Gaudi’s architecture as well as other gorgeous places such as the University of Barcelona, the City Hall and the Palau de la Música Catalana.
Barcelona is also known for being a beach side City, and this really tops it off as a fantastic destination to visit and even live. Once voted as the best city beach in the World and made famous after the 1992 Summer Olympics, the day I visited was thriving without being overwhelming, and the pristine sand and water contrasted with the urban jungle in the background.
Sports Tourism is also a massive part of the City’s life too. It is the home of the World’s most followed football club, FC Barcelona, and a visit to their Camp Nou stadium takes half a day itself. The city also boasts strong sporting infrastructure following its hosting of the 1992 Olympics, and regularly attracts other World sporting events.
Barcelona and the East Spanish Coast is a vast mix of leisure and sport tourism, while managing to keep its rich cultural and architectural history that caters to families and friends of all tastes.