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If you're preference is for a distinctly chic Spanish seaside location with a cultural edge then the Costa Dorada East locations of Calafell, El Vendrell and Coma Ruga will suit you well. Alongside fine beaches and distinctly Spanish bases with Modernist twists - you'll find plenty of modernist architecture along Coma-Ruga's maritim, El Vendrell is a centre for arts and specifically classical music festivals and events.
El Vendrell boats a particularly famous son - the Spanish cellist and conductor Pablo Casals, famous especially for his recordings of Bach Cello Suites recorded between 1936 and 1939. You're close to Barcelona here too, with easy access into the city for Barcelona daytrips.
Costa Dorada East locations offer easy access into Barcelona for Barcelona sightseeing and daytrips. The Renfe regional express train starts at Valencia, calling in a Altafull-Tamarit, Torredembarra, Sant Vicenc and Vilanova i La Geltru ont its way into Barcelona (see Renfe webguide right for timetable). El Vendrell also has two railway stations, one of which is in the town centre and the other Sant Vicenc on the coast. Sant Vicenc is on the main train route direct to Barcelona, Tarragona, Reus, Lleida and Zaragoza. Alternatively Car Rental from Barcelona Airport or Reus Airport is an option, assisting flexible exploration of the area.
Calafell Tourist Information Office, Pg.Maritim Sant Joan de Deu, s/n - Por 43882 Segur de Calafell. Tel. 977159058. See Also Municipal Tourist Office of Calafell at Sant Pere, 29-31 - 43820 Calafell. Tel. 977699141.
Torredembarra Tourist Information Office, Av.Pompeu Fabra, 3 - 43830 Torredembarra. Tel. 977644580.
El Vendrell Tourist Information Office, Dr.Rober 33 - 43700 Vendrell. Tel. 977665872. Altafulla Tourist Information Office, Marques de Tamarit, 16 - 43893 Altafulla. Tel. 977651426.
Pushing north east along the Costa Dorada coast between Tarragona and Sitges are a selection of delightful small resorts which lean towards the cultural side, as you'd expect pushing towards Barcelona. The El Vendrell and Coma-ruga/Calafell areas particularly blend both beautiful beaches with a superb cultural and arts scene.
El Vendrell is particularly renowned for its choice of musical events with the Festival Internacional de Musica Pau Casals held in the town annually. Dance here also has a heritage - specifically the 'Sardans' traditional dance. Around El Vendrell, Coma Ruga and Calafell great beaches, a warm Mediterranean climate, an impressive cultural programme and some fine restaurants make this stretch on the Costa Daurada a rather chic place to be. You're close to Barcelona here too, with short transfer time south from Barcelona Airport and easy access into the city for Barcelona daytrips.
Costa Dorada location Coma-Ruga has a long history of tourism. Spas and villas were built here in the early 20th century after the marshland in the region dried up. The Modernist houses along the Maritim are representative of the period and fascinating. Checkout El Vendrell's webguide right, available in English, for more details and photography of Modernist architecture in the area. This webguide also has comprehensive information on the impressive selection of cultural centres and museums in the area including an archaeological museum and the Fundacion Apel-les Fenosa, named after the sculptor whose work it contains.
You might wonder how El Vendrell got to be such a centre for the arts, particularly classical music. El Vendrell is the birthplace of the great Spanish cellist turned conductor Pau Casals i Defillo (1876-1973), known widely as Pablo Casals. Casals is particularly famous for his recordings of the Bach Cello Suites between 1936 and 1939. El Vendrell celebrates its famous son, and has evolved into a key cultural centre particularly for classical music in Catalonia.
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