A coastline stretching for more than 100km, golden, sandy, beaches where you can relax, crystal-clear waters that are perfect for water sports and beautiful seaside towns, like Sitges, the home of modernista artists, such as Ramón Casas and Santiago Rusiñol and Sant Pol de Mar, small fishing village that is the embodiment of Mediterranean hapiness.
A 100 miles of Happiness
The sweeping beaches of the Costa Barcelona are the perfect place for a peaceful stroll, sunbathing, enjoying sport on the sand, like beach volleyball or football, or in the water, like scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling and sailing.
Inland you’ll find vineyards and wineries where you can sample excellent wines and cavas with their own designation of origin.
Nature lovers can explore the Llobregat Delta Natural Area and spot the different bird species that live there.
You can enjoy different celebrations throughout the year: the unbridled energy of Sitges carnival in winter; the colourful carpets of flowers at Corpus Christi; the summer solstice we welcome in with big Midsummer’s Eve parties, where there is no shortage of the sweet flatbread, coca, cava and firecrackers; the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16th July), the patron saint of sailors and fishermen, where you can see the fishing boats go out to sea and enjoy a concert of Catalan sea shanties, havaneres, with a cup of flambéed rum; the festival celebrating the grape harvest, when you can pick grapes and make your own delicious wine or cava; or the main festivals held in every town and village, such as Les Santes in Mataró.
The Mediterranean has inspired so many artists with its colours and light… and on the Costa Barcelona you can see some of their works.
Catalonia’s home-grown art nouveau movement, modernisme, pervades every corner of the Costa Barcelona. Sitges is its epicentre. Here you can visit the Museu del Cau Ferrat (with Santiago Rusiñol’s collection) and the Museu de Maricel. You can visit Gaudí´s first building, the Nau Gaudí, in Mataró, which is home to the Bassat collection of contemporary art, and the Casa-Museu Domènech i Montaner in Canet de Mar.
The food on the Costa de Barcelona comes from the land, sea and vines. From the land you have to try the peas and strawberries from the Maresme and the artichokes from El Prat; from the sea, you’ll find all kinds of fresh fish, like sardines, anchovies and gilthead bream...; and from the vines, aromatic wines and cavas to accompany your meals.
This locally sourced produce is used to make dishes like xató, a salad of curly endives with salt cod and/or anchovies and romesco sauce; seafood rice dishes and game, like the Muscovy duck from the Penedès with prunes, or black rooster with langoustines.
