Situated towards the south of Barcelona, Garraf Coast is the perfect combination of sunny holidays, beaches, natural tourism, leisure activities and culture.
Garraf Coast offers kilometres of beaches with impressive cliffs, which hide little coves among the rocks. Moreover, esplanades are alternated with caves digged on limestone rock by the waters.
The setting is a plus for the cultural wealth and lifestyle of places like Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltru. Their traditional festivals, monumental buildings and international events make Garraf the ideal place to live and enjoy.
Its history is linked to those who travelled looking for fortunes and came back as Spanish-American nobles. This destination features a romantic style, a sailing character and a modern culture, reflecting an adventurous past in a present paradise.
Its closeness to Barcelona has rendered tourism the main economic factor of the district, especially after the industrial crisis. Garraf is ideal for those who work in the capital city and want a second residence, long holidays or even a main residence.
That is because Garraf Coast is a destination that bewitches everyone!
Garraf Massif
The district of Garraf is widely known as ‘Marina del Penedès‘, meaning ‘place of water’ due to its sea lifestyle.
Located towards the south of Barcelona, Garraf is named after a natural steep massif, called Parc del Garraf. Within its 12,000 hectares of peculiar orography, Parc del Garraf keeps one of the largest natural reserves of flora and fauna of Catalonia.
Apart from being a natural reserve, it is the ideal destination for those who want to practise sports (speleology, hiking, climbing or mountain cycling). But, above all, it is the place of spirituality.
Today, one of the oldest Spanish-American noble houses, Palau Novella, has become a place for meditation and spiritual retreat. This modernist building houses Sakya Tashi Ling, a Buddhist monastery surrounded by a beautiful garden.
The landscape is really worth seeing. Apart from nature and peace resulting from the remoteness of the city, Garraf Coast has places of incalculable beauty.
There are 7 different natural spots and 27 beaches that are perfectly cared and are now gaining international fame.
Sitges, the so-called Blanca Subur
Undoubtedly, Sitges is the little gem of the Mediterranean Sea.
This old fishermen town, located 40 kilometres away from Barcelona, is known as Blanca Subur. This name comes from its traditional white houses, which inspired several artists in their works.
Today, Sitges is one of the most glamorous destinations of the Catalan coast. It enjoys a warm weather, with more that 320 sunny days every year, and a wide variety of activities, like the International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia ot its colourful carnival, which attract millions of visitors.
Its welcoming Mediterranean character has seduced artists from all times. One of the most renowned ones was Santiago Rusiñol, who made Sitges his home and the cultural centre during a whole age.
Rusiñol built a romantic shelter for poets, painters, musicians and intellectuals from the end of the 19th century, called Cau Ferrat. Within this artistic environment, American patron Charles Deering did not take long to build Palau Maricel, a huge museum from those times.
Sitges is a city with an indommitable character and cosmopolitan spirit. It attracts everyone who reviews its history or enjoys its present in places like Pecado Street.
Romanticism in Vilanova i la Geltrú
Following the course of the coast, there is Vilanova i la Geltrú, an interesting place for those who love sports, leisure or culture.
This is a romantic city, offering an esplanade, quiet beaches and museums to visit. Museums of particular importance are Víctor Balaguer Museum, with excellent background on Catalan Renaixença (related to European Romanticism) and Railway Museum, housing up to 53 antique machines.
Moreover, one of the main symbols of Vilanova i la Geltrú is its sculpture of Pasífae, a work by Óscar Estruga, made of bronze, representing the Greek Minotaur Myth.
A mythological view in a historical destination of Garraf Coast.
Following the litoral, one of the last points is Cubelles, a municipality with 3 kilometres of beaches, connecting directly to the Province of Tarragona and Costa Daurada.
This is Garraf, with its geography and its excellent quality of life.
