From the Americanos to the 21st century
Strolling around the streets of Sitges you’ll discover an interesting series of architectural gems and unique buildings. Starting at the train station and covering Francesc Gumà, Sant Isidre, Illa de Cuba streets and the Passeig de la Ribera Esplanade... you’ll find some of the most significant homes from the period of the Americanos, those who emigrated to Cuba and Puerto Rico between the 18th century and the first third of the 20th century to seek their fortune and who, on their return, built stunning mansions combining an amalgam of styles, from neoclassicism to modernisme and noucentisme (“nine-hundred-ism”, referring to the new century, a post Art Nouveau Catalan cultural movement).
In Cap de la Vila Square, Sitges’ nerve center, the modernista Clock House is on the corner of Major street, which leads to the Town Hall, the Old Market and the Santiago Rusiñol Library. Next to it is Bosc street, the town’s oldest street, which preserves a fragment of the medieval wall and an interesting set of stone houses like the Palau del Rei Moro (Palace of the Moorish King).
And overlooking the sea, the Sant Bartomeu Church and the Baluard (Bastion) are the most characteristic symbols of Sitges’ archeological physiognomy and an essential site to visit. From this point, the Passeig Marítim Esplanade stretches out taking us to discover areas beyond the town center, like the Vinyet Chapel and the Terramar residential area, where you can admire interesting colonial buildings.
New trends in the world of architecture are also represented in Sitges with outstanding icons.
