CHECK OUT MY VIDEO OF SITGES:
WHERE ARE LOCATED SITGES?
Sitges is a town and a Spanish municipality of the province of Barcelona in the autonomous community of Catalonia, it belongs to the comarca of Garraf, Spain.
It is located on the mediterranean coast 36 km to the south of Barcelona. Its population of around 30,000 inhabitants.
INDEX
SITGES, HER STORY:
OLD AGE:
Iltrida it was the name of Lleida when the ilergetesof iberian origin, lived there in the mid s. VI.C.
Although human remains have been found prehistoric in the area, we know with certainty that for the IV century A. C already had settlements iberian; and that for the century I there was a villa romana del Vinyet and port activities.
The meaning of the name of Sitges (Literally “Silos” in Spanish) from "Sitja" "deep hole" in catalan; deposit to save the grain, what makes you think that was an area where abounded about underground cisterns for cereals.
MIDDLE AGE:
In the X century contains the first references on your behalf. The county of Barcelona was expanding towards the south and still should be visible these “Silos” in the time of the ibero-romans. They built a castle in XI century (in the current town hall), to which were added to the houses and the church where they had been the first settlements of the ancient time. Later, the entire territory of the Penedés and Garraf it was filled with little castles and towns.
Sitges is noted for being the only walled city of the mediterranean sea between Tarragona and Barcelona. They were dedicated to wine production in addition to crops for subsistence and maritime trade. Since then, the wines of Sitges were recognized, especially the moscatel and malvasia.
The family surname Sitges took control of the city from 1116-1308 when Agnes of Sitges it sold its rights to Bernat de Fonollar you became lord of Sitges up 1326. Bernat was a gentleman very close with the court of king James II the just. Also he founded the hospital of Sant Joan Baptista (1324). His grave and that of his wife are in the church of San Bartolomé y Santa Tecla. The life in this period was organized around the cerro del Baluard that was walled and connected with the rest of the villa with a bridge above the current high street. There were three towers located in different parts of the town, erected in the 1303. Also it is worth noting the palace of the Moorish King, the FOURTEENTH century. Then, by decision of succession passed to the Pia Almoina de Barcelona, ecclesiastical institution that assisted the poor, in whose hands it remained until 1814.
MODERN AGE
There were hard times during the SEVENTEENTH and EIGHTEENTH centuries. During the war between France and Spain (1640-1659), 600 soldiers neapolitan army Philip IV of Spainentered in Sitges and stole everything they could. Subsequently, in 1649during 2 days the town of Sitges suffered the siege, bombardment by sea and land, and plunder of the Spanish troops of Juan de Garay (viceroy of Catalonia). This attack caused major destruction in the villa, as well as the collapse of part of the wall, two towers and part of the castle that would not be rebuilt until 1681.
Overcoming plagues, wars, and piracy, Sitges was one of the first people to have a market economy, based almost 100% on the cultivation of the vine and the export of wines, first in the north of Europe and then to America in the the EIGHTEENTH century. It was a period of splendour for the city.
Finally in 1814, Sitges is released from the Pia Almoina, and joined the Spanish crown.
CONTEMPORARY:
The construction of the railway in 1881 it meant a significant improvement of land communication but also the disappearance of the local fleet, as communication with America, focused on big ships that were leaving the Port of Barcelona.
Despite the emigration to America, there was a growth of industries that are devoted to the textile and footwear. In addition to the end of the NINETEENTH century the core of the town of Sitges win attractive with the houses of “the americans” (traders Sitgetanos in America), a backdrop of vineyards and a beach that was a landscape that attracted painters the school Luminista. This fell in love to Santiago Rusiñol (Writer and artist)and he built the Cau Ferrat (His workshop museum), and organized the Holiday Modernist. Sitges started to force the way to the tourism sector. The attractions of Sitges were already known by all parties in the second half of the the TWENTIETH century. It is produced by the mass tourism due to the improvement of communications with Barcelona through the highway and made the urban areas are spread out through all around you.
Sitges, which today is around 30,000 inhabitants, has a strong dynamic economic and cultural. It is not only a beautiful coastal town on the side of Barcelona is also a city with history and has been in constant evolution and improvement. 100% recommend that you give a return at least for a day. I'll tell you everything that there is to see. as going back and forth from Barcelona to Sitges, and more; that you also do!
PLACES TO VISIT / WHAT TO SEE IN SITGES
Click on the names of the places to see their location on Google Maps.
It is the most emblematic part of the city. Located in the high part of the city known as “The Baluard de Sitges” where we can also see the canyons and spectacular views across the beach and above all a lovely sunset. The church as we see it was built in the SEVENTEENTH century but previously there were 2 churches: a romanesque and partly gothic (from the 1322) of which has been lost documentation. Here is buried Bernat de Fonollar and his wife. San Bartolomé it was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and was flayed alive in Armenia by order of the king Astiages. For its part Santa Tecla Iconium was born in the 30 D. C. and was a follower of Saint Paul, was persecuted by his vow of chastity several times and saved from death miraculously many others. For centuries it was the most famous of virgin martyrs, and received the treatment of "proto-martyr" among women.
I don't remember why the church was closed, but travel the whole of this area was for me the best part of the city. The views from the church or from the beach to the church are beautiful. And from here you can go through the historic centre to go to the beach of San Sebastian.
Is located in a bay between the historic centre and the hermitage of San Sebastián which gives the name to the beach. The beach is very beautiful because of both sides there are 2 hills from which you have very good views, in addition to restaurants and bars that give the perfect touch to the area, located in the Carrer de Port Alegre. Super nice to walk this part of the city with the icing on the cake that is the statue of the “Woman looking at the sea”, that from this place, the sunset is spectacular, worthy of a few good mates.
If you arrive by train from Barcelona and you're going direct to the Church of San Bartolome and Santa Tecla, you will pass by the city of Sitges. You may not call so much attention, but its importance lies in the fact that it was there where he was the first castle of Sitges built in the XI century. Around the castle was built all the walled city.
Founded in 1893 the artist Santiago Rusiñol (1861-1931) as a house-workshop and became a public museum in 1933while retaining the artistic spirit that awarded him their founder. Contains collections of ancient art, gathered by the artist (painting, wrought iron, ceramics, glass, archaeology, sculpture and furniture) as well as modern art (painting, drawing, sculpture) with works of Rusiñol, Casas, Picasso, R. Pichot, Mas i Fontdevila, Zuloaga, Regoyos and Degouwe of Nucques, Enric Clarasó, Manolo Hugué, Pau Gargallo, among others. The activities organized by Rusiñol and with the participation of other artists, musicians, writers became the Cau Ferrat in the Temple of Modernism.
By continuing walking from the Church to the beach of San Sebastian crossing the historic centre, you'll find a neighborhood of a wonderful architecture, there is the Palau Maricel. It is one of the most emblematic buildings of Sitges. Integrated in the joint artistic and monumental Maricel, also known as Maricel de Terra, to differentiate it from the Museum, also called Maricel de Mar.
The Saló d'or, the Saló Blau, the Room Capella, the Room Vaixells, the terraces or the cloister– from where you can see a splendid view of the Mediterranean– are the main spaces that provide the structure of the Palau. Style distinctly modernist, the various rooms are distinguished by a unique decoration, which accentuate its particular character.
The Museu de Maricel shows an artistic itinerary complete from the tenth century to the realism and figuration of the first half of the TWENTIETH century through the art collections of Dr. Jesús Pérez-Rosales and of the town of Sitges, with works of great quality. The filing museum integrates various languages, techniques and media art in order to get the maximum coherence in the chronological sequence of the evolution of the arts.
Web site: https://museusdesitges.cat/es/museo/palau-de-maricel/palau-de-maricel
Starting from the beach of the frigate (The church), Sitges has a coastline long with a promenade and very cute for those of us who like to walk looking at the sea.Its beaches are divided with reefs and their names are: Playa de la ribera Beach of Sitges, Beach Estañol, Beach riera girl, Beach bar and Beach terramar (Very close to where the Gardens of Earthsea). From here walk up to the statue of the woman looking at the sea on the beach of San Sebastian are nearly 3km. It is a beautiful ride so much for any aerobic activity, you can even go even further if you wanted to. I went in December of 2022 and, while the weather was very good, we were already in the winter and was not to mess with. But clearly it is seen that it is an ideal destination for spring / autumn / summer, no doubt.
Sitges has so much I like these streets, small (without cars) very historic and beautiful, with houses painted in white color mostly. Stand out above the rest of the streets Carrer d’ in Bosc, Carrer major and the plaza del Cap de la Vila. Get lost in its little streets is the best advice I can give you.
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
From the train station to Sitges is really very, very close walk to the historical center and met with all of the attractions I mentioned before. Make the journey as you do, you will do everything in 1 day, it is a small city but very nice, and you're going to want to go back. In my case I did it all in 1 afternoon, although if you would like to go to all the museums and churches are going to need a full day.
As in every blog of historic cities that I've visited, you'll see that in the name of the place to visit any time in the section of THAT VIEW it is the location of the place on google maps with just a click at the name. Therefore, you can stroll along SITGES using my blog of guide or you can set up the tour to your liking previously with this little hand.
HOW TO GET FROM BARCELONA TO SITGES IN 1 DAY. So low cost.
As you can see in the video that I made of the second month living in Barcelona https://youtu.be/pLsfJsApA0U?si=n42xNHPB7LYBZoSF the trip to Sitges what I did on the train (Renfe) with the card unlimited travel (For all areas of the province of Barcelona) for 1 month 10€ call “A-B RECURRENT”
The idea was from the window of the train to be able to see the beautiful scenery of the mediterranean sea, but that day had not cleaned the windows, ha!
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