Sitges: A Barcelona Getaway
Just a short train ride away, lies a super charming “getaway” from the city of Barcelona. Sitges (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsidʒəs]) is a town about 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona, renowned worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival. Located between the Garraf Massif and the sea, it is known for its beaches, nightspots, and historical sites.
I discovered this wonderful seaside village during my backpacking days twenty-plus (gulp!) years ago, and think it’s just a great place to “escape” for a day or two.
Combo artsy and yes, touristy, it has has a really friendly atmosphere along with a lovely white sand beach (as well as a good amount of nightlife). It is often referred to as”Ibiza in miniature”.
Also, one of my absolute favorite Spanish dishes comes from the area. “Xató” is a sauce made with almonds, hazelnuts, breadcrumbs, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, salt, and the nyora pepper. It is usually served with an endive salad prepared with anchovies, tuna or salted cod (bacallà).
Sitges can easily be reached from Barcelona. Trains to Sitges from Barcelona run approximately every twenty minutes, The journey lasts 46 minutes from Estacio de França, 37 minutes from Passeig de Gracia and 30 minutes from Estacio Sants. Train times are subject to change — it is therefore best to check the Official Renfe website for more details — this is its branch for local trains, known as Cercanias.
