Costa de Barcelona

The Costa de Barcelona-Maresme, lying between the city of Barcelona and the Costa Brava, comprises some thirty towns along 38 kilometres of coastline. The Maresme region is formed by a narrow strip of land located between the Mediterranean sea and the coastal mountains of the Serralada Litoral and the Montnegre and Corredor massifs.

Maresme´s cultural heritage stretches across all eras, and includes prehistoric remains, such as the Roca d'en Toni in the Serralada Litoral park, and many Roman sites (Can Ferrarons in Premià de Mar, the Pineda de Mar aqueduct, etc.). Its most important religious sites include the church of Santa Maria de Mataró, dating back to the 18th century; Sant Cristòfor, in Premià de Mar, with its entrance porch decorated with seafaring motifs; the Romanesque chapel of Mare de Déu del Viver, in Argentona, and the Baroque altarpiece in the church of Santa Maria in Arenys de Mar.The modernist architects also left their mark, as can be seen from following the routes that take in the work of Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner in Canet de Mar, Mataró and Argentona.

The Garraf region can boast two towns that attract large numbers of tourists: Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú. Sitges has been a favourite destination for cultural and cosmopolitan tourism since Santiago Rusiñol first chose it as a meeting place for Modernist artists, and built his house and workshop, the Cau Ferrat. The fortunes made by the "indianos" (prosperous Catalans returning from the Americas) filled the town with the finest examples of 20th century architecture (Villa Avelina, Casa del Rellotge). Other interesting sites in the town include the Maricel group of buildings, the Terramar gardens, the Vidal i Quadras bastion and the church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, symbol of the town.

Every autumn, Sitges hosts the International Film Festival of Catalonia, the country´s main film event. Sea and culture are also the main attractions in Vilanova i la Geltrú. It has one of the main Catalan fishing ports, a lighthouse housing the Museu del Mar (museum of the sea) and a seafront promenade packed with recreational facilities and some excellent architecture (Torre de Ribes Roges, Ca l'Alsina). The Víctor Balaguer Library and Museum commemorates this writer and politician and houses his art collection. The Baix Llobregat region preserves remains of ancient settlements, such as the prehistoric mines of Gavà and the Roman thermal baths at Sant Boi. 

The original Antoni Gaudí crypt in the Colònia Güell (Santa Coloma de Cervelló) is the most important modernist site, next to the Josep Maria Jujol buildings in Sant Joan Despí. The region has a rich industrial heritage, exemplified by sites such as the Pujol i Bausis ceramics factory in Esplugues de Llobregat, the Colònia Sedó in Esparreguera and the Museu Agbar de l'Aigua, in Cornellà de Llobregat.The two largest towns in the Alt Penedès draw together the region´s most remarkable heritage sites. 

The Gothic style is the most typically found in Vilafranca del Penedès, with buildings such as the basilica of Santa Maria (which houses a group of sculptures by Josep Llimona), the old Palau Reial (now home to the Museu del Vi, the wine museum) and the Palau Baltà.The Gothic style is also in evidence in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia (the rectory and the church bell tower), although the most striking example of modernism can be seen on the façade of the Casa de la Vila (town hall), the Casa Berger and the cellars ("cavas") of Codorníu (the work of Puig i Cadafalch) and Freixenet.

The extensive beaches of the Maresme are a hugely popular holiday destination, drawing large numbers of visitors from both home and abroad. This has made it into the fourth busiest area in Catalonia in terms of visitor numbers and overnight stays. The towns with the greatest hotel activity are Calella, Malgrat de Mar and Pineda de Mar. Other frequently visited towns are Sant Pol de Mar, Arenys de Mar, Canet de Mar and the area capital, Mataró. Many of the beaches in the Maresme have been awarded Blue Flag quality status, including those at Canet, Malgrat Centre, Pineda de Mar, Sant Pol and Sant Vicenç de Montalt. Calella, Santa Susanna and Pineda de Mar hold awards for being Family Holiday Destinations (DTF). Other coastal towns, such as Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and Cabrils, combine town centres with wide areas where people have second homes. The main natural park in the Maresme is Montnegre i el Corredor. It covers 15,000 hectares of Mediterranean forest with pines, holm oak, common oak and cork oak. The oldest signs of human habitation are the dolmens of de Pedra Gentil and Pedra Arca, together with a number of Iberian settlements. There are also many churches and parishes, such as that of Sant Cristòfol, dating back to the 11th century, an ideal place for enjoying views from the paths and trails that run along the coast.

The second park in the area is the Serralada Litoral. It consists of three areas: La Conreria, Sant Mateu and Céllecs, linking the coast with the valleys further inland. It spreads over 4,000 hectares of very diverse landscapes that bear visible signs of human activity. The most important remains are the castles of Burriac, La Roca, Castellruf and Sant Miquel, listed as Cultural Assets of National Interest.

The most closely-linked creators and traditions are also drawn together in the region´s museums. The Museu Marés de la Punta in Arenys de Mar houses valuable examples of all kinds of techniques used by the town´s traditional craft workers. The Museu del Càntir in Argentona is a unique exhibition of pottery work and techniques. The Casa Museu Lluís Domènech i Montaner in Canet de Mar takes a look at this modernist architect´s life and career. The Palau i Fabre Foundation in Caldes d’Estrac is devoted to Picasso´s work. Other museums include the Mollfulleda de Mineralogia in Arenys de Mar and the Museu de l’Estampació in Premià de Mar.

CoastlineThe extensive beaches of the Maresme is a hugely popular holiday destination, drawing large numbers of visitors from both home and abroad. This has made it into the fourth busiest area in Catalonia in terms of visitor numbers and overnight stays. The towns with the greatest hotel activity are Calella, Malgrat de Mar and Pineda de Mar. Other frequently visited towns are Sant Pol de Mar, Arenys de Mar, Canet de Mar and the area capital, Mataró.Many of the beaches in the Maresme have been awarded Blue Flag quality status, including those at Canet, Malgrat Centre, Pineda de Mar, Sant Pol and Sant Vicenç de Montalt.Calella, Santa Susanna and Pineda de Mar hold awards for being Family Tourist Destinations (DTF). Other coastal towns, such as Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and Cabrils, combine town centres with wide areas where people have second homes.