Sitges
Sitges (Catalonia)
Flag Coat of Arms
Location
Coordinates : 41°14′N, 1°48′E Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2)
General information
Native name	Sitges (Catalan)
Spanish name	Sitges
Nickname	Blanca Subur
Postal code	08870 (Sitges and Garraf) 08860 (Les Botigues)
Area code	+34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona)
Website	http://www.sitges.cat/
Administration
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Catalonia
Province	Barcelona
Comarca	Garraf
Administrative Divisions	4
Mayor	Jordi Baijet (PSC)
Geography
Land Area	43,85 km² km²
Altitude	10 m AMSL
Population
Population	25. Catalan ˈkætəˌlæn ( català kətəˈla or) is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official A postal code (known in various countries as a post code, postcode, or ZIP code) is a series of letters and/or digits appended to a A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages The term administration, as used in the context of Government, differs according to Jurisdiction. In Political geography and International politics, a country is a Political division of a geographical entity Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. In addition to its autonomous communities, Spain is divided into fifty Provinces. Barcelona is a province of eastern Spain, in the center of the autonomous community of Catalonia. A comarca (meaning Shire or County, Spanish and Portuguese plural comarcas, Catalan plural Garraf is a comarca (county in Barcelona province Catalonia, Spain. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Socialists' Party of Catalonia (Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya PSC is a Political party in Catalonia, Spain. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Altitude is the Elevation of a point or object from a known level or datum (plural data The term above mean sea level ( AMSL) refers to the Elevation (on the ground or Altitude (in the Air) of any object relative to the In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology 642 (2006)
Density	558,04 hab/km² hab. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different /km² (2006)

Sitges (pronounced [ˈsidʒəs] in Catalan; [ˈsɪdʒəs] in English), Catalonia, Spain is a small city about 35 kilometers southwest of Barcelona renowned worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia A film festival is the presentation or showcasing of Films in one or more Movie theaters or screening venues Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March Between the hills and the sea, it is known for its much-frequented beaches, nightspots, and historical sites.

While the roots of Sitges' artsy reputation date back to the late 19th century, when Catalan painter Santiago Rusiñol took up residence there during the summer, the town really came into its own during the 1960s, when it was the only center for the counterculture on the mainland of Spain (then still under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco), and became known as a sort of "Ibiza in miniature". Santiago Rusiñol (1861 - 1931 was a Spanish Catalan post-impressionist / Decadent painter author and playwright Counterculture (also " counter-culture " is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a Cultural group, or Ibiza (Eivissa is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea about 80 km off the coast of Spain

Today, Sitges can be considered a dynamic cultural oasis, basing its economy on tourism and culture offering more than 4,500 hotel beds, half of them in four-star hotels. The firm commitment for quality infrastructures has converted Sitges into a first-class destination in terms of tourism of congresses, conferences, seminars and company meetings in the Mediterranean area.

It is also a gay tourist town - in July and August gay men and lesbians visit Sitges as "one of the most popular gay holiday spots in Europe". Gay tourism or LGBT tourism is a form of niche Tourism marketed to gay people who are open about their Sexual orientation and who wish to travel In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. A lesbian is a Woman who is romantically or sexually attracted only to other women ^[1]

Sitges is very international. Almost 35% of the ca. 25. 642 inhabitants are from the Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Scandinavia whose children can attend international schools.

Contents 1 Real Estate 2 Demography 3 Events 4 The Carnival 5 Culture 6 Museums 7 Gastronomy 8 Beaches 9 Sister cities 10 Motor Racing 11 References 12 External links

Real Estate

Sitges is also called the St. Tropez of Spain with property prices approaching those of the most expensive European cities, the main reason for this being the beautiful setting by the sea and the surrounding Parc Natural del Garraf. San Tropez redirects here For other uses see Saint-Tropez (disambiguation Saint-Tropez ( Sant Tropetz in Occitan language Proximity to Barcelona airport is also a major advantage.

Demography

1900	1930	1950	1970	1986	2006
3162	6962	8607	11,451	11,889	25,642

Events

1853:First play of Sitges Ball de diables in "Festa Major". Year 1853 ( MDCCCLIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common (Festa Major is an Annual Festival celebrated every 23 and 24 of August. In a "Festa Major" you can find a wide range of different activities and events to look at or join).

1896:First reference to 'Xató' in a newspaper. Year 1896 ( MDCCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Xató is a local dish. Xató is a typical Catalan dish Xató is a sauce made with Almonds Hazelnuts Breadcrumbs Vinegar, Garlic, Olive oil

1923:Albert Divo won the only Spanish Grand Prix held at the banked 'Sitges Terramar' driving a Sunbeam

1958:First Barcelona-Sitges Antique Car Rally. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Albert Divo (1895-1966 was a Grand Prix motor racing driver He was born in Paris, France. The Spanish Grand Prix ( Español Gran Premio de España, Català Gran Premi d'Espanya) is a Formula One Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

1966:Ricardo Urgell opens the first Pacha club in Sitges. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Pacha is a clubbing franchise with headquarters in Ibiza. The first Pacha club was opened in Sitges outside Barcelona in 1967.

1967:First Festival de Cine de Sitges (Nowadays the Festival is called the International Film Festival of Catalonia. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. The Festival de Cine de Sitges (also known as Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya) is one of the most recognizable )

1991:'Festa Major' is declared an event of national interest. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar.

1994:First running of Barcelona-Sitges Veteran Motorbike Rally. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar)

2000:TV3, the Catalonian TV station begins the new year from Sitges. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. TV3 is the name of Catalonia 's first public television channel.

2006:Rusiñol Year. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Commemorates the 75th anniversary of the death of Santiago Rusiñol. Santiago Rusiñol (1861 - 1931 was a Spanish Catalan post-impressionist / Decadent painter author and playwright

The Carnival

For over 100 years, Sitges has been celebrating nonstop –between the months of February and March, according to the liturgical calendar- Carnestoltes, or Carnival. Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March

The festivities begin on Dijous Gras, or Fat Thursday, with the arribo, King Carnestoltes’ spectacular arrival. From the moment this character appears until the burial of the sardine – late afternoon on Ash Wednesday – you could well say that life in Sitges moves to a new beat.

Here there is even room for youngsters to step into the limelight with children’s "ruas", or Carnival parades, on Sunday and Tuesday afternoon.

Folk dances and xatonades (traditional local salad served with assorted omelets) are also characteristic carnival elements. Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances mostly of European origin that tend to share the following attributes originally danced in about the The two most important moments are the Rua de la Disbauxa, or the Debauchery Parade, on Sunday night and the Rua de l‘Extermini, or Extermination Parade, on Tuesday night. Some forty-odd floats with more than 2,000 participants leave a jam-packed Sitges completely breathless.

Culture

Modern Sitges, preserving important references from the Middle Age and the old farmers’ and fishermen’s town, offers visitors an impressive architectural and cultural heritage, the result of initiatives by artists, cultural energizers and patrons like Santiago Rusiñol, Ramon Casas, Miquel Utrillo or Charles Deering. Thanks to them, Sitges was a reference point for writers, musicians and other intellectuals and became an important center for disseminating Modernism and the "Americanos", who, after returning with their "fortune" from their American adventure, commissioned large mansions from Modernist and Noucentista (post Art Nouveau) architects.

The museums, guided tours or walks around the old quarter allow us to visit and relive this important legacy. This creative impetus has made it possible to create new projects like The International Barcelona-Sitges Vintage Car Rally, the International Film Festival, the International Jazz Festival or the Summer Concerts Series.

Museums

Cau Ferrat Museum : Cau Ferrat was the house-cum-studio of artist and writer Santiago Rusiñol ( b. Santiago Rusiñol (1861 - 1931 was a Spanish Catalan post-impressionist / Decadent painter author and playwright Barcelona 1861; d. Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Aranjuez 1931 ), one of the leading figures of Catalan Modernisme. Population 2002 40928 2004 46891 2005 48139 May 2007 52873 Government

Maricel Museum : The American Charles Deering (1852-1927) had the Palau Maricel built to house his art collection in an attempt to copy the precedent set by Cau Ferrat. Charles Deering (born July 31, 1852, Paris Maine; died February 5, 1927, Miami Florida) was a U In 1921 Deering returned to the U. S. and the palace was emptied. In 1969 however, the building regained the use to which it had seemed destined since its creation, by welcoming a major private collection, a donation by Dr. Pérez Rosales, mostly dedicated to medieval art.

Museu Romàntic "Can Llopis": The Museu Romàntic "Can Llopis" is a perfectly preserved 19th century house which allows us to take a closer look at the lifestyle of a family of Catalan householders who lived their splendour during the years of Romanticism. Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the It was built at the end of the 18th century in a neo-classical style with sober, elegant lines and very little decoration. Faithful to the Mediterranean tradition, the house has a central patio with a staircase leading to the main living quarters. The interior design shows how tastes changed from the time the building was built - when they were strongly influence by aristocratic styles - to the triumph of the forms of bourgeois Romanticism. Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the

Gastronomy

Xató is Sitges' most typical dish. Xató is a typical Catalan dish Xató is a sauce made with Almonds Hazelnuts Breadcrumbs Vinegar, Garlic, Olive oil It appeared in the press for the first time in a report about Maundy Thursday published in the local newspaper Eco de Sitges the 16th of February of 1896. The report refers to a meal that three days before had gathered together a selected group of Catalan artists and intellectuals, Santiago Rusiñol, Miquel Utrillo, Gaietà Buigas and others. Santiago Rusiñol (1861 - 1931 was a Spanish Catalan post-impressionist / Decadent painter author and playwright The name “xató” comes from an expression pronounced years before by Canudas, a member of the Rusiñol's group. The main ingredients of xató are escarole salad, cod, tuna, anchovies and arbequine and black olives. Xató is a typical Catalan dish Xató is a sauce made with Almonds Hazelnuts Breadcrumbs Vinegar, Garlic, Olive oil However, the essence of the dish is its sauce, made with scalded chillies, toasted almonds, garlic, olive oil, salt, vinegar and hot peppers. The complete xató meal consists of some different omelettes or fricandó (a typical Catalan hot meal) and as a dessert coca de llardons (typical Catalan cake, made from pork scratchings). And to drink a good bottle of Penedès black wine.

Apart from the xató, there are some other typical dishes from Sitgetan cuisine, which turn fish into an unequivocal sign of identity. Xató is a typical Catalan dish Xató is a sauce made with Almonds Hazelnuts Breadcrumbs Vinegar, Garlic, Olive oil Rice in the Sitgetan way, stewed sepia with potatoes and all-i-oli (typical Catalan garlic sauce), bull de tonyina (typical sailors´ dish made with tuna fish), fideuà (typical sailors´ dish similar to paella, but with noodles and seafood) or stuffed peppers with cod. Such variety guarantees the extraordinary richness and singularity of our gastronomy.

As for drinks, malvasia is the most representative one. Malvasia (also known as Malvazia) is a group of wine Grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region and the island of Madeira We are talking about an oloroso and delicate liquor wine, excellent for desserts. The name “malvasia” comes from the Peloponnesian port Monembasía. In Sitges, the Hospital Sant Joan Baptista continues producing and marketing malvasia according to the traditional method and for charity. The annual production is approximately of 4. 000 bottles (produced by the vines owned by the Hospital). The Sitgetan malvasia is produced and matured in the wine cellars of the Hospital.

Beaches

Sitges has 17 sand beaches. Four of them are in the East: the first one called Les Botigues at the beginning of the coast, next to the beachs of Castelldefels and the other three are following the coast of Garraf (Road C-31). There are eleven urban beaches and two in the west. These last two have difficult access. The last one (Playa del Muerto) is the gay beach.

All the eastern and urban beaches have access facilities, flags indicating the state of the sea and most of them have quality diplomas and blue flags awarded by the European Union. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Sister cities

• Bagnères-de-Luchon (France)

Motor Racing

Sitges is part of the long history of motor racing in Catalonia, from 1908-1920 events were staged over public roads from Sitges to Canyelles to Vilanova i la Geltrú, and from Mataro to Vilassar de Mar and Argentona. Bagnères-de-Luchon, also referred to as Luchon, is a Spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. Lloret de Mar (ʎuˈɾɛt dəˈma in Catalan is a coastal town in Catalonia on the Mediterranean primarily known as a tourist resort Vilanova i la Geltrú is in the province of Barcelona. A major Catalonian fishing port with a growing population of approximately 62000 the town is Mataró (Iluro is the capital and largest city of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Vilassar de Mar is a Municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. Argentona is a Municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. In 1922 and 1923 the Real Moto Club de Catalunya ran the Penya Rhin Grand Prix over a 9 mile circuit around the town of Vilafranca del Penedès until it was replaced by a short lived purpose built circuit, the banked Autodromo Sitges Terramar, which is still visible at 41°14′18.35″N, 1°46′50.20″E. The Spanish Grand Prix ( Español Gran Premio de España, Català Gran Premi d'Espanya) is a Formula One Vilafranca del Penedès, or simply Vilafranca, is the capital of the ''comarca'' of the Alt Penedès in Catalonia, Spain. Albert Divo won the only Spanish Grand Prix held at the banked 'Sitges Terramar' driving a Sunbeam

References

External links

• Tourism Services in Sitges, official site.
• Gay Guide to Sitges, Gay Sitges Guide.
• Guide to Sitges, Full listing of restaurants, shops, hotels etc.
• Sitges Tango Festival, official site
• Sitges International Film Festival, official site.
• Ajuntament de Sitges English-language portal page, official site.
• Artistic and historical buildings (in Catalan)

---

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic