Main tourist attractions in Sitges
In addition to being a city full of life and entertainment, Sitges holds a few incredible sites of great artistic and cultural value that should be included in any tourist route. Sitges' old town is made up of a maze of cobbled streets filled with shops, bars, and restaurants. They undoubtedly reflect the coastal and modernist charm of its historic buildings.
If you enjoy nature, Sitges' beaches delight bathers in the summer. And if you prefer to immerse yourself in a unique natural environment, a visit to the Garraf Natural Park is a must, where you will find a great variety of fauna and flora. Likewise, Sitges' seafront promenade is an ideal place for walking, running, or cycling, with views of the sea and the city.
On the other hand, Sitges is also known for its nightlife: bars, nightclubs, pubs, and party venues come to life at night throughout the year. Don't forget that you can stay at the Hotel Calipolis in Sitges to fully enjoy this unique city.
What to do in Sitges
In Sitges, you can do a multitude of activities based on your tastes and hobbies. If you are a lover of art and traditions, in Sitges, you can take a Modernist Route through the main modernist buildings, where you will learn about the fundamental details of this cultural movement.
On the route, you will visit Sitges' museum complex, which includes gems such as the Palau and the Museu Maricel, Cau Ferrat, or the Romantic Museum, among others. Sitges' religious heritage is also very notable. The most symbolic and photographed building in Sitges is the church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla, patrons of this town. Its architectural style is essentially Baroque, from the 17th century, and the most interesting part of its temple is the altarpieces and the organ, dating from the late 17th century.
For literature enthusiasts, the ideal option is the Literary Route, which is a tour of the most relevant Modernist settings and meeting points of geniuses like Santiago Rusiñol or Joan Maragall. This route combines information about these emblematic places with the reading of literary and poetic texts. On the other hand, Sitges is famous for its festivals, such as the International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, the Sitges Carnival, and the Festes de Sant Bartomeu, where the city dresses up to receive a multitude of visitors.
Museums in Sitges
Without a doubt, Sitges' museum offer is one of the main attractions of the city that you cannot miss during your visit. One of the most important is the Maricel Museum. It is an impressive modernist building that houses a collection of Spanish and international art. Specifically, it displays a route of painting and sculpture that starts in the 10th century and reaches the 21st century.
Next to this museum is the Palau de Maricel, which is a different building from the previous one. In this case, its interest is architectural, and its interior visit allows the tourist to discover its splendid modernist rooms. Some of its spaces are the cloister, the Saló d'Or, the Sala Capella, the Sala Vaixells, and the Saló Blau, which, in addition to being a spectacle of color, also host events of all kinds and guided tours.
Another museum you must visit is the Cau Ferrat, which was created as the studio-home of the artist Santiago Rusiñol in 1893. In 1933, it became a museum and is currently an essential place to get to know the work of this Barcelona artist. It also houses works by other relevant artists, such as Picasso, Zuloaga, Gargallo, or Casas. A real gem in the heart of Sitges where you can admire painting, sculpture, wrought iron, glass, or ceramics, among other materials.
The distance between these three museums and the Hotel Calipolis is about 700-800 meters, so the tour can be easily completed in a 10-minute walk.
Art in all its forms
In addition to the museums, Sitges houses a fantastic art gallery like the Stämfli Foundation. The Stämfli Foundation is known for its collection of contemporary art, where local and international artists exhibit their most innovative works.
On the other hand, the Malvasia Interpretation Center in Sitges immerses you in the fascinating history of wine in the region, highlighting the importance of Malvasia grapes in the local winemaking tradition. Here, they usually offer permanent or temporary exhibitions that show the evolution of Malvasia grape cultivation, its winemaking process in wines and other derived products, as well as its impact on local gastronomy and the region's economy. Additionally, they may offer wine tastings, vineyard talks, and wine culture-related events.
Now that you know what to see in Sitges, treat yourself to a day visit to this beautiful modernist town and enjoy its cultural and artistic charms. What is your favorite place?