Sitges Tourism

History

Art, freedom and tolerance. An ongoing legacy

The past helps us to understand the present. And the present-day freedom, cosmopolitanism and pace that defines us can be explained through the key figure of Santiago Rusiñol, who opened the town’s doors to Modernisme and a bohemian, lively and entrepreneurial atmosphere. Our privileged location close to Barcelona, protected by the Parc del Garraf and bathed by the Mediterranean Sea has boosted our power of attraction, which is only growing stronger because we just don’t stop: things are always happening here.

Iberian settlement

Modern day Sitges is founded on an Iberian settlement with the name of ‘Blanca Subur’.

1 Assentaments Ibers Sitges
Miralpeix Castle

Miralpeix Castle is built on the site of the current town hall.

2 Antic Castell de Sitges copyright wwwramoncorretgecom
Recovery after wars and pandemics

Sitges recovers from the wars and pandemics of the 14th and 15th centuries and the population increases with people coming from France. Fishing is the main economic activity for people from Sitges.

3 Sitges segle XV copyright wwwramoncorretgecom
Catalonia and trade with America

Catalonia obtains permission to trade with America. Many people from Sitges come back rich and build new houses or renovate their old houses.

4 Comerç amb america Facundo Bacardi
Santiago Rusiñol settles in Sitges

An important year: Santiago Rusiñol moves to Sitges and the town becomes a focal point for the modernist movement. His house and workshop, the Cau Ferrat Museum, is one of the town’s main tourist attractions.

5 Santiago Rusiñol
Charles Deering visits Sitges

The north American businessman Charles Deering visits Sitges and funds the construction of the Palau de Maricel, an architectural gem which sits alongside the Cau Ferrat Museum in the Racó de la Calma.

6 Inauguració Maricel
Hotel Subur and Hotel Terramar

The first large hotel dedicated to tourism is opened: Hotel Subur. The Hotel Terramar would follow it in 1933.

Hotel Subur Centenari
The first edition of the Sitges Film Festival

The first edition of the Sitges Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film award ceremonies in Europe, and the first in the world dedicated to Fantasy Film.

7 Logo Festival Cinema
Port d’Aiguadolç, Sitges

Sitges’ Port d’Aiguadolç begins operations, one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean.

8 Port Aiguadolç
Barcelona Olympic Games

The Barcelona Olympic Games and the opening of the C-32 motorway are significant economic and tourist turning points for the town. Hotel Melià Sitges’ auditorium was also opened this year.

9 Jocs Olimpics
Certified Biosphere Destination

Sitges is added to the list of sustainable Certified Biosphere Destinations by the Responsible Tourism Institute, linked to UNESCO.

10 Biosphere