What to see and do in Sitges in 1 day, trendy town and beach in Barcelona

In our recent getaway around Barcelona We have been able to see the surprising coastal town of Sitges

World famous for its international Film Festival, attracts more tourists every day thanks to its combination of neighborhoods of white houses with modernist and colonial buildings on the seashore.

Today Sitges It has become one of the most fashionable areas of the city. coast of Barcelona, both for a vacation stay, as for a tourism getaway.

What to see and do when visiting Sitges for tourism

If you plan to visit this charming coastal town from Barcelona, ​​there are six tourist visits which you can not miss.

Modernist Buildings in Sitges

Sitges It is a town marked architecturally by the “Americans" or "Indians” who at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century returned from their adventure in the colonies.

They were the people who went to make money in the Spanish colonies of Cuba, the Philippines and Puerto Rico...who returned to Sitges after getting it.

Upon their return and after the demolition of the sections of wall that protected the city, these Indians New houses began to be built.

A large part of the buildings that were built in the old town were of modernist style, although there are also other mixtures of styles of the time.

This means that you will find a multitude of houses with those decorations of floral shapes so characteristic of the modernism in Barcelona.

 White fishermen's houses in Sitges

Without leaving the old town, but already next to the sea, it is worth exploring the fishing neighborhoods.

Formerly the fishermen's houses They were distinguished by the white colors of their facades, which is why none of the modernist buildings in the old town are painted white, but were decorated with other tones to distinguish themselves socially.

Currently this has changed and a large part of the city's charm is that most of the houses maintain that harmony of white facades with blue touches.

These blue tones were characteristic because they were used in the exterior patios of these houses, although today there are very few of these flowery patios similar to the Andalusian ones.

Maricel Palace Museum in Sitges

El Palau Maricel It is a building that originally housed eight fishermen's houses, until a very rich man, Charles Deering, bought it to make a big art collection.

He also acquired the adjacent building, which was the old hospital, and converted it into his home, leaving the fishermen's houses as his private museum.

He covered the walls with colorful displays of artwork brought from many parts of the country, as well as works by contemporary artists of the day.

There are several rooms that are visited in the Maricel Palace museum in Sitges, each one more impressive.

From the patio, with the characteristic white and blue colors on its walls, as well as mosaics, to a chapel or a small cloister.

The Visiting hours of the Palacio Maricel museum  They are, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 20 p.m. from July to September; from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m. in March, April, May, June and October; and from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m., from November to February.

On Mondays the museum is closed to visitors.

You can also sign up to guided tours in Spanish or Catalan, with schedules that vary depending on the time of year.

Cau Ferrat Museum in Sitges

El Cau Ferrat museum It is perhaps the most important in the city of Sitges because in it they preserve works of Picasso o El Greek.

The owner was Santiago Rusiñol, who is considered one of the most transcendent artists of the modernism in Catalonia.

In reality, the museum is located in what was formerly its house-workshop, so it is full of works of this great modernist artist.

The walls of this house-workshop They are painted in the same blue that the patios of the fishermen's houses are colored.

• Here you can consult the Visiting hours of the Cau Ferrat museum in Sitges, similar to those of the aforementioned Maricel museum.

Church of Sant Bartolomeu in Sitges

The spectacular church of Sant Bartolomeu It is one of the most characteristic images of the city.

At the beginning of the promenade and next to the marina, the church of Sant Bartolomeu presides over the entire extension of a hill from the top of a hill Sitges coast.

It is a baroque church which was built in the same space where there were previously several churches that did not stand the test of time.

Its great heritage is: above all, its altarpieces and its two bell towers.

But a piece of advice, don't forget to visit the back of the church from where you can see one of the few remaining remains of the city's medieval walls.

At night the church is subtly illuminated and a beautiful image is left for the pleasure of photography lovers.

Indian houses on the Paseo Marítimo of Sitges

El Sitges promenade It is not just any place, since a large part of the buildings that occupy the first line of the sea are small mansions in the style of colonial villas.

As you move away from the port and leave the hotel area, houses built by the men begin to appear on the promenade. Indians who were returning from doing the Americas.

Although not all the houses are from the colonial era, a large part of the mansions that we can find have been built trying to reproduce that architectural style.

Just don't expect the entire promenade to show a uniform succession of colonial houses, as some multi-million euro modern mansions are also mixed in.

If you are one of those who likes to walk, at the end of the walk is the Terramar Park, which is worth knowing.

Map: how to get to Sitges

If you would like to visit Sitges from Barcelona but you do not have your own vehicle, it is best to use the train.

The Sants station you have to take the R2S line and in 34 minutes, after 3 stops, you arrive at the Sitges station, which is very well located, a few minutes walk from the sea area.