eL gARRAF

With its capital in Vilanova i la Geltrú, El Garraf has an area of 184.10 km and is located on the Catalan Coast, sheltered by the Massif that bears its name. The region borders Alt Penedès to the north, Baix Llobregat to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Baix Penedès to the west.

Between the sea and the mountains, we find El Garraf, a land of farmers and sailors, many of whom went to “make it in the Americas” (indianos), and upon their return left us a unique heritage.

Farmhouses, “Indiano” houses, Small Palaces, Defense Towers, and Castles have turned El Garraf into an open-air museum, especially of romanticism and modernism.

El Garraf lives intensely between the peace of nature and the revelry of festivals.

NATURE AND ACTIVE TOURISM

The territory of the region that extends between the sea and the mountains is a serene undulating plain where the most populated centers of El Garraf are located. A territory in constant change due to human action, where agricultural activity can still be perceived in a mosaic of vineyards, carob trees, and olive trees, among bushes and some white pine forests that spread timidly.

In this landscape, it is easy to observe vestiges of rural architecture that testify to the close link between man and the land: “mulasses” or huts, lime kilns, stone walls (marges)…, as well as architectural and artistic manifestations: churches, castles, large farmhouses, and manor houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries, a time of great economic splendor for the region thanks to vine cultivation, wine export, and trade with the American continent.
This entire area open to the sea is practically sheltered by hills that hide a natural, historical, and cultural hinterland of character, preserved and protected thanks to the Garraf, Olèrdola, and Foix parks.

BEACHES AND PORTS

The Garraf coast, varied and imposing, with haughty cliffs that drop sheer, small coves nestled at the foot of the massif, and twenty-five kilometers of fine-grained golden sand beaches with calm, shallow waters, has been until today the indisputable attraction of the region.


Many nautical activities are practiced in El Garraf. Nautical clubs and nearly 30 specialized companies allow for a very solid and varied offer along the Garraf coast: courses and outings with all types of sailing, kayaking, surfing, nautical charters, etc., in addition to numerous regattas, some of international scope. The beaches and marinas are therefore starting points where the visitor can be the protagonist of many proposals related to the sea.


If you want to delve deeper into the knowledge of the coastline and the seafaring life of El Garraf, you can visit different spaces, museums, and traveling exhibitions in Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú to learn about the ecosystem of this coast; and also grasp the unique relationship between the fishermen of the region’s seafaring towns and the sea through collections of all kinds of objects. In addition, it is interesting to take a walk through the fishing port of Vilanova, especially at the hours the fleet arrives, at eight in the morning and early in the afternoon.

NATURE AND SPORTS

The maritime area of El Garraf presents splendid conditions for nautical sports, with four marinas, three located in Sitges and one in Vilanova i la Geltrú.

The Garraf Natural Park, bounded by fine sand beaches and the mountain ranges that form it, offers a privileged environment and climate, being ideal for people who love nature and enjoy walks, bicycle routes, or nautical sports.

The Garraf Natural Park shows an exotic landscape and native vegetation, among which the European fan palm (“margalló”) stands out. The natural wealth of El Garraf is one of the green paradises of the Mediterranean coast.

There are several routes to take within the park that can be done by bicycle, guided, literary, etc.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

The historical background and the architectural and artistic heritage of the region offer you today the possibility of also enjoying a perfect combination of leisure and culture in El Garraf. To get closer to our history and discover our cultural heritage, we suggest visiting the museums, taking a stroll through the urban centers of the towns, or going on any of the cultural routes organized by specialized companies, always led by specialized guides.

The most important museums in the region Vilanova i la Geltrú:

  • The Railway Museum.

  • Torre Blava-Espai Guinovart.

  • Roig Toqués Museum of Maritime Curiosities.

  • Casa Papiol Romantic Museum.

Sitges:

  • Cau Ferrat Museum.

  • Maricel del Mar Museum.

  • Can Llopis Romantic Museum.

Cubelles and Olivella:

  • Charlie Rivel Hall Museum.

  • Palau Novella Museum.

LIVING CULTURE

Like all Mediterranean towns, festivals are of paramount importance and have their own characteristics; they are festivals full of fire and color. The people gather in various places in the region, around a series of mythological characters such as demons, giants, dwarfs, “carnestoltes”, “vidalots”, the “mulasses” of Vilanova, the “cubanitos” and the eagle of Sitges, the “Drac dels Tres Caps” (Three-Headed Dragon) of Sant Pere de Ribes. And to round off the party, “castellers” (human towers) and “gralla” music are not to be missed.

In Garraf, this cult honors the patron saints of droughts and floods, such as the “Mare de Déu de les Neus” in Vilanova i la Geltrú; Sant Bartomeu in Sitges; among others or with other religious festivals or those linked to the cycles of the land, such as the Sitges Harvest Festivals or “Els Tres Tombs” in Vilanova i la Geltrú. But not everything is religious festivals, and so we can find other sporting events, such as the Barcelona to Sitges vintage car rally, the Sitges Horror Film Festival.

But above all, we can highlight two festivals that make the region famous: the Corpus of Sitges, where hundreds of residents gather to decorate squares and streets with flower carpets in an incomparable burst of color, and the other is Carnival, which is very important in both Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sitges.

GASTRONOMY

The natural cuisine of El Garraf is that of the fishermen. Its dishes are a combination of everything the sea provides with the right contribution of products from the land. One of the dishes that has given Vilanova the most fame, which is simple and exquisite, is “all cremat”, which is cooked with fish from the boat and a seasoning of garlic. But apart from this, we must speak of other dishes that are emblems of the region, such as “rossejat”, white soup, “bull de tonyina”.

Nevertheless, the most representative dish is “xató”, which together with meringue, cannot be missing from the table during festivals, especially for Carnival. The “xatonada” is lively and spicy: a sauce based on garlic, almonds, bread, red pepper, and a touch of vinegar, mixed with appetizing endive, anchovies, shredded cod, and some olives.

This salad is usually accompanied by bean, sausage, or artichoke omelets. But inland, fish gives way to cold meats and meat, especially grilled with a good slice of bread with tomato on the side. To accompany these exquisite meals, nothing better than a good Penedès wine aged with maritime air.

For dessert, Sitges Malvasia can accompany sweets such as “llunes”, also known by the nickname “pecallunes” of the Vilanovins.

Did you know?

  • El Garraf is the second smallest region in Catalonia.
  • El Garraf has more than 25 km of coastline.
  • Half of the area of the Garraf region is occupied by a natural park.
  • The Iberians were the first documented settlers of El Garraf.

Come and discover more things!