Tourism in Sitges – A walk through Vinyet and Terramar

This blog post outlines a detailed architectural tour through the Vinyet and Terramar neighborhoods of Sitges, Spain, highlighting a collection of significant historical buildings. The route commences at Plaza de la Fragata, beneath the Parish Church of La Punta, and proceeds along Passeig de la Ribera, showcasing a series of architecturally distinct houses. The tour begins with "Villa Lola" (Josep Barnet Albareda’s house), a modernist structure from 1907 (rebuilt in 1976), known for its floral ornamentation and curved iron balconies. Next is the Simó Llauradó House (1908, Gaietà Miret), now Hotel Celimar, characterized by its three-story facade adorned with intricate modernist windows. Adjacent is the Casa Francesc Robert i Yarzàbal (1901, Salvador Viñals), notable for its covered, sea-facing balcony. The Isabel Ferret House (1899, Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia) features varied window types across its three floors and an eclectic style, including a wooden and tiled barbican with battlement-like railing. Casa Marina Planas (1908, Gaietà Miret) exhibits modernist floral motifs on window edges and the roof railing. Josep Sunyer House – Villa Candelaria (1920, Josep M. Martino Arroyo) is a Noucentista-style building distinguished by its gallery of round arches and sgraffito ornaments around the windows. Pilar Parellada House (1916, J. Domènech Estapà) is a popular work with a ground floor and two upper floors, decorated with a painted sundial and a protruding tiled cornice. The Gili Casanovas House (1909, Marcelí Coquillat), currently Hotel Santa María, is a modernist building featuring a stone railing with floral ornamentation on window moldings and a curved roof railing. Continuing the route, the Llúcia Catasús Soler House (1915, Josep Graner) exemplifies eclectic style with a Catalan-style terrace, a central relief of Sant Jordi, and a second-floor gallery with round arched windows. Further inland, Casa Ferratges (1910) on Bassa Rodona is a large modernist building with floral decorations on the first-floor lintels. The tour then moves to Avinguda Sofía, featuring grand houses such as Casa Emili Sacanella (1925, Albert Carbó Pompido), a Noucentista design with a tower inspired by traditional Catalan architecture and a sundial. Casa Antoni Ferratges (1928, Josep M. Martino Arroyo), now Hotel Capri, is another notable structure in this area. The architectural exploration extends into the Terramar neighborhood, a garden-city project initiated in 1923 by Josep Armengol i Durán. Most buildings in Terramar were designed by Josep M. Martino and are largely Noucentista in style, characterized by prominent central bodies, sea-facing facades, terraces, and porches. Key examples include Casa Vilella (1919, Joan Rubió i Bellver), now Hotel Casa Vilella, a modernist building reminiscent of Catalan “masías” with a raised ground floor and arched galleries. Casa Francesc Armengol, Villa Florentina (1919, Josep Renom i Costa), comprises juxtaposed volumes, a steep glazed-tile roof, and Noucentista friezes. Casa Sansalvador (1923, Josep M. Martino Arroyo) features multiple volumes crowned with balustrades, a tower with a sgraffito sundial, and a porticoed front porch. La Reserva (1924, Josep M. Martino Arroyo) is a neoclassical residence with a portico tower, ionic columns, and a balustraded terrace. Finally, Casa Josep Freixa (1919, Josep M. Martino Arroyo) is a classic Noucentisme example with a pediment, cornice, and floral designs and carved vases above the entrance, supported by Ionic columns. The route concludes with the Terramar Park, designed by Miquel Utrillo, which includes a tree-lined path and a central pond, as well as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Vinyet. This 18th-century neoclassical sanctuary, modified over centuries, is known for its single nave, ten richly decorated Baroque side chapels, and a bell tower from 1872. It holds significant cultural and religious importance to the people of Sitges, particularly sailors, with its interior adorned with ex-voto model ships. #SitgesTourism #ArchitecturalTour #VinyetNeighborhood #TerramarNeighborhood #ModernistArchitecture #NoucentistaStyle #HistoricalBuildings #CatalanArchitecture #CulturalHeritage #JosepMartinoArroyo #SitgesTourism #ArchitecturalTour #VinyetNeighborhood #TerramarNeighborhood #ModernistArchitecture #NoucentistaStyle #HistoricalBuildings #CatalanArchitecture #CulturalHeritage #JosepMartinoArroyo