10 reasons to succumb to Spain this summer

June 05 2014

by misterb&b

Spain was the first country in Southern Europe to adopt gay marriage in 2005. Renowned for its climate, its beauty, its cultural diversity, its gastronomy and its open-mindedness, the country of Almodovar and Goya is a land of mixed cultures.the country of Almodovar and Goya is a melting pot of Latin and Arab cultures that have dominated and shaped the peninsula throughout its long history.

We invite you to succumb to the call of Spain this summer. Whether it's the climate, the hot guys or the fiesta, you're bound to find a good reason to let yourself be seduced!

Madrid's gay pride

What better reason to fall in love with Spain than its capital? Madrid is a vibrant city, the largest and most populous in the country, with 3 million inhabitants. The best time to discover it is during the gay pride, locally called "Madrid Orgullo" and which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every first weekend of July. They will be sure to have fun and enjoy the party like never before.

We recommend that you go to Chueca, Madrid's gay district, located in the center of the city to find the best gay establishments. If you are discovering Madrid for the first time, be sure to visit the Plaza Mayor, the Puerta Del Sol and the alleys of Malasaña.

For the wiser among you, there are still the museums. The Prado Museum is a must, where the greatest masters of painting and sculpture are gathered. You can also admire Guernica, one of Pablo Picasso's most famous works, on display at the Reina Sofia Museum.

Celebrating in Barcelona and Sitges

Barcelona, the country's second largest city, is famous for its Art Nouveau architecture and the works of Gaudi, including the Sagrada Familia Basilica, its climate, its beaches and its sense of fun. This summer will be hot with Pride Barcelona from June 27 to July 6 and, for clubbers, the Circuit Festival from August 6 to 17. Sant Joan is also a major event in Barcelona's life that lights up the night of June 23 to 24 every year. The Eixample neighborhood (known as Gayxample) is home to the vast majority of gay establishments, including the gay hotel Axel Hotel, the bars Bim Bam Bum, Lust and Dietrich, and the Casanova sauna.

Sitges, located 40 kilometers south of Barcelona, is considered the most gay-friendly town on the Iberian Peninsula during the summer months. This seaside resort is very popular with LGBT tourists and offers many gay establishments in the typical setting of a small Catalan village. It also claims the oldest gay naturist beach in the world, opened in 1930.

The sun of the Balearic Islands

Ibiza, Majorca and Minorca, three dream destinations in the Mediterranean. Located at the south of the Catalan coast, the Balearic Islands welcome each year about ten million tourists. As much to say that the hospitality of these islands is no longer to prove. The gay cruise of the Dementia and its 1,400 passengers will call at Palma de Mallorca on July 24 and at Mahon in Menorca on July 25.

Ibiza is the gayest island of the archipelago. Most of the capital's gay establishments are concentrated in the Figueretes district, but some clubs are located in Sa Penya Area and Dalt Villa. Finally, don't miss the famous beach of Es Cavallet, the big gay beach of Ibiza, where you will find Chiringay, the nicest hut in the area, ideal for sipping cocktails and having a bite to eat.

The sweetness of Gran Canaria

Known for its year-round climate, the island of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, is a particularly gay-friendly destination, especially the town of Maspalomas, located in the south of the island. Even if the local gay pride takes place in May, the destination remains very popular in summer and especially in August, thanks to the Dunas Festival. This festival of parties, pool parties and boat parties will take place this year from the 12th to the 17th
The huge dunes of Playa del Inglés, which lead to the gay beach No. 7, are also worth a visit. In the heart of Maspalomas, the Yumbo Centrum shopping center, very quiet during the day, turns into the epicenter of gay life at night, with bars, restaurants, sex shops, cruising bars and even a sauna. It's a great place to have fun all night long in a central location, close to most hotels. Another important advantage of the Canary Islands is the tax exemption on certain products such as alcohol and cigarettes.

The ancient beauty of Granada

Famous for its emblematic monument, the Alhambra, the city of Granada is also a gay-friendly Spanish destination, particularly pleasant to live in at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. The narrow streets of the historic center are home to a few gay bars like Tic Tac and Six Colours, as well as nightclubs, sex clubs and restaurants that are open late into the night. Although the hustle and bustle and nightlife can't compare to Madrid and Barcelona, Granada is a great destination for aesthetes and lovers of Arab-Andalusian art
And after you've indulged your cultural cravings, you can enjoy the vibrant gay life of the resort town of Torremolinos, a hundred kilometers to the south.

Seville

The thousand-year-old capital of Andalusia, Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain with some 700,000 inhabitants. In turn the capital of a Visigothic, Muslim and Christian kingdom, the city is a symbol of the blending of cultures that its magnificent architecture reveals. The Spanish square, the setting for Star Wars Episode II, is undoubtedly the jewel of the city, with its palace, canals and colonnades.

Although the city has fewer gay establishments than its sister cities, largely because it is a smaller city, gay travelers will find plenty to drink and dance about after dark.

Gastronomy

Cold cuts, tortillas, churros, gazpacho, chorizo, pata negra, tapas, paella, sangria... You may know all these names but have you ever really tasted these dishes? Forget the watered down versions of these dishes, too often distorted by the industry, and discover the gastronomy at its source. Let the local products take hold of your senses and discover the real Spanish cuisine. As in France, the cuisine is extremely varied, often based on the Mediterranean diet, olive oil, fruits and vegetables. There are also many meat dishes such as puchero and fish and seafood dishes such as cod fritters or Suquet de peix, a kind of local bouillabaisse.

Easy to get to!

Spain is one of the best served countries by air in Europe, thanks to a very dense network of airports. Vueling is the leading airline in terms of connections between France and Spain with about 40 direct connections and low fares. For more comfort, Iberia (parent company of Vueling) and Air France also have very good connections. Finally, for those who prefer not to fly, the Paris-Barcelona-Madrid TGV line has been open since last December.

Fashion

Zara, Bershka, Pull and Bear, Desigual, XTG, ES. Spanish textile brands have made their way into our wardrobes, from winter coats to mini swimsuits. Some of them are cheaper in their country of origin. For example, many Zara items will cost you an average of ten euros less in Spain than in your usual store. A great way to renew your wardrobe at a lower cost.

The beautiful Spaniards!

Last but not least, to convince you to succumb to the Iberian charms, the inhabitants themselves. Who hasn't fallen for the Latin beauty and lilting accent of a handsome Hidalgo? Spain has been a land of mixtures and miscegenation for thousands of years, and you can feel it when you look at the locals. More than a Mediterranean beauty, it is a solar charm that the Spaniards give off.

Javier Bardem, Mario Casas, Antonio Banderas, Gerard Piqué, Andres Velencoso, Eduardo Noriega, Enrique Iglesias, these personalities made us fantasize, on the cinema or television screens.

But be sure, far from these stars, it will be difficult for you not to fall in love at every street corner in this country! Viva España!