Sitges is a city of about 26000 people, almost half of whom are from other European countries. It is about 35 kilometers from Barcelona and has become famous for its film festival- the International Film Festival of Catalonia, its 17 beaches, its wonderful gastronomy as well as its cultural heritage and most of all, for its carnival in February each year.
It has also become the preferred location for congresses, seminars and company meetings due to its combination of tourist attractions and intellectual meeting places. The fact that Sitges also offers many good restaurants, beaches and museums is an added incentive.
Many Beaches
One of the major attractions of Sitges is the number of beaches. There are 17 in total and most of them have the Blue Flag of the European Union that indicates adequate safety, sanitary and environmental standards. The sandy beaches and blue sea are an ideal combination that will make your vacation in Sitges a memorable one.
Sitges, like the other coastal resorts, offers a variety of dishes to the tourists in its many restaurants. One of the dishes that have acquired a reputation in Sitges among tourists and locals alike is the xató, a hearty meal of seafood, aubergine and olives.
The sauce is what makes xató a memorable meal, mainly because of the ingredients such as chillies, almonds, garlic and vinegar.It is usually served with a bottle of black wine and a local dessert. There are other dishes with ingredients such as tuna and the well-known Catalan garlic sauce called allioli.
Museums
Among the museums that are well worth a visit is the Cau Ferrat Museum, formerly the residence and studio of Santiago Rusiñol, writer and painter known for his philosophy of Total Art, shared by other artists such as Utrillo and Picasso.
On display are objects collected by Rusiñol such as ceramics, carvings and other unusual objects. Rusiñol was an original artist and as such he, along with other writers, painters and intellectuals was instrumental in carving a reputation for Sitges as the cultural oasis that it has become.
The Carnival of Sitges has been famous for over a century. There are parades, floats as well as folk dances and other entertainment that continues all through the festival. Everyone can participate and there is a special session for kids with the floats that are more appropriate for this age group. The events are continuous and come to a stop only on Ash Wednesday when Holy Week ceremonies begin.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock Pixabay