Sitges: culture, gastronomy and sopping by the beach
Sitges is a beautiful old fishing village that today has become a cosmopolitan seaside town and a popular summer resort. It´s located only 34 km south of Barcelona and is very easy to reach by train; the trip takes around half an hour.
Sitges retains a relaxed, small-town feel, and its narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses near the promenade make strolling enjoyable.
What to know about Sitges
The word Sitges comes from Sitja, which in Catalan is a “silo”; the tanks were excavated on the ground hundreds of years ago to be used to store grain and other food.
The population of Sitges in 2021 is around 30,000 inhabitants, which in summer can be 4 times higher with vacationers. Curiously, 35% of its population is foreigners: Netherlands, Great Britain, France, and Scandinavian countries, people probably attracted by the good weather and the Mediterranean Sea.
Today, its economy is based mainly on tourism and culture.
Since the 1960s, it has become a popular gay resort, and many shops and bars are oriented to the gay community. Sitges is a good example of respect and good coexistence of its citizens.
What to see in Sitges
- Colonial architecture
- Art Museums
- Malvasia wine museum
- Wonderful sea front
- Gastronomy
- Sopping
- Film Festival, Carnaval and many more cultural events
Colonial buildings in Sitges
In Sitges, there are beautiful mansions designed in the Colonial style built during the 1800s by the so-called “Americanos”. They were the young men and families who went to the Spanish colonies, mostly Cuba and Puerto Rico, starting businesses there, and once they returned with their fortunes from their American adventure, they commissioned large mansions to show their success.
One of these locals who succeeded was Facundo Bacardí Massó, who left Sitges at age 13 and began making rum in Santiago de Cuba in 1862, and, alongside friends and family, created the now-famous Ron Bacardí.
Art in Sitges: Santiago Rusiñol, Cau Ferrat Museum and Film Festival
The roots of Sitges’ artistic reputation date back to the late 19th century, when Catalan painter and writer Santiago Rusiñol took up residence here, attracting the bohemian art world and setting the trend that would lead Sitges to where it is today. For many, the secret lies in its light, almost 300 sunny days a year, and its temperature with mild winters and moderate summers.
His home has become the Museu Cau Ferrat
And just across the street, we have the Palau Maricel, a former hospital restored by the American businessman and philanthropist Charles Deering.
The World’s #1 Fantastic Film Festival, specializing in fantasy and horror movies, has taken place in Sitges each October since 1967.
What to eat and drink in Sitges
Xató is the most typical dish.
Its main ingredients are escarole salad, cod, tuna, anchovies, aubergine, and black olives. However, the essence of the dish is its sauce, made with scalded chilies, toasted almonds, garlic, olive oil, salt, vinegar, and hot peppers.
Apart from the xató, there are other typical Catalan sailors’ dishes that are very common in Sitgetan cuisine and that make fish an unequivocal sign of identity.
- Rice in the Sitgetan way, stewed sepia with potatoes and allioli (typical Catalan garlic sauce).
- Bull de tonyina is a typical sailor´s dish made with tuna fish.
- Fideuada or fideuà is a typical sailors´ dish similar to paella, but with noodles and seafood.
- Stuffed peppers with cod.
Such variety guarantees the extraordinary richness and singularity of the gastronomy of Catalonia and Sitges.
Malvasia is the local wine produced in Sitges.
The Greek grape variety Malvasia arrived in Sitges during the Middle Ages and has always been associated with the hospital properties. Nowadays you can enjoy a wine experience at the https://cellerdelhospital.cat/en/
Enjoy a beautiful day trip from Barcelona visiting two of the must-see places near Barcelona: Abbey of Montserrat and the charming seaside village of Sitges. Take a look at the tour description here.