Spanish Saint-Tropez, City of Arts, City of Celebration – these are the epithets awarded for its cheerful, energetic but very romantic character of the small town of Sitges on the Costa del Garraf, 30 minutes south of Barcelona. Want an eternal celebration, evening meditative walks through the narrow medieval streets, live right on the beach on one of the best beaches in Europe? Then Sitges is the corner of Spain where your dreams will come true. You can also consider real estate mallorca if you are interested in real estate by the sea.
Privileged, elegant, artistic and even frivolous, Sitges is a city of contrasts. On the one hand, here you can stumble across establishments for representatives of unconventional orientation, on the other – such an abundance of museums, exhibitions, art galleries and other “decent places” can not be found at any other seaside resort with a population of only about 25 thousand people!
The fate of Sitges is similar to the history of other cities along the coast of Spain: in the past – nothing remarkable fishing village, which became in the 20th century, a prestigious, expensive resort. That’s to say, in a nutshell. If a little more: at the dawn of our era there were already settlements of Iberians, in the XII century it took control of local aristocrats with the name of Sitges – hence the name. Well, it turned into a respectable resort after the famous Catalan artist Santiago Rossignol bought two houses here and started working actively.
What fascinates Sitges? The brightest sights
The choice of Rossinol in favor of Sitges does not surprise – and without modern infrastructure this place really attracts. The most striking detail of his image is the ancient temple standing at the edge of the water on a placer of huge boulders.
The first references to the Church of St. Bartholomew and St. Fekla are found in the springs of XIV-XV centuries. And up to now it has been receiving parishioners – that is, it has been performing its direct function for over six centuries! The antique organ of 1699, the Baroque altar of the XVII century, the charming interior and the unique atmosphere – not without reason, every guest of Sitges considers it his duty to visit this unique place.
There are many chic photos to take near the church of Sitges, but not just here. With its natural and architectural landscapes, the town enchants all guests and new residents. An abundance of narrow streets, cobbled lanes among ancient houses, cozy restaurants and cafes, panoramic platforms, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sea – it is impossible to enumerate all the beauties of this city, they just need to be seen.
Good in everything: infrastructure and climate
Sitges has around 300 days of sunshine a year, with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The swimming season lasts from May to October. The mountain range protecting the city does not allow cold winds to reach the coast, the coldest month of the year is January – the average air temperature is +13 degrees Celsius, which will seem fairy tale to many, and not surprising. Maybe that’s why the fun never stops here?
A remarkable feature of this city is its high level of service for tourists. More than half of all hotels here have four stars. Quality recreation combined with bohemian life has made this resort one of the most prestigious in all of Europe. And the beach of San Sebastian is recognized by the New York Times as the best beach in Europe. In total, there are 11 beaches in the city and its surroundings, above many of them a blue flag – a symbol of purity and high quality service.
