Sitges and Vilanova explore the history of the 'Americans' through tombs and poetry

October 22, 2012 - On All Saints' Day, Serveis Funeraris Integrals (SFI) is organizing two special tours that explore the history and art of two of the most emblematic cemeteries in Garraf: Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sant Sebastià in Sitges.

Vilanova i la Geltrú – The Artistic Soul of the Cemetery

The tour “The Artistic Soul of the Cemetery” will visit the graves of some of the most famous figures buried in the cemetery of Vilanova i la Geltrú. Examples include writers like Víctor Balaguer and Manuel de Cabanyes, painter Joaquim Mir, and politician and businessman Francesc Gumà, who was involved in various railway and banking ventures in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. Some of these graves are the work of notable architects of the time, such as Bonaventura Pollés or Domènech Estapà.

Sitges – Soul Route with Poetry

On the other hand, the “Soul Route” will take place at the Municipal Cemetery of Sant Sebastià, which features graves that are true works of Catalan modernist art. These graves belong to the "americanos" or "indianos," families who left for America in the 19th century seeking fortune. This route through Sant Sebastià will reveal one of the most significant monumental funerary heritages of that era and up to the early 20th century, with works by sculptors like Josep Llimona, Frederic Marès, Manuel Fuxà, Agapit Vallmitjana, Alexandre Mariotti, and Pere Jou, among other renowned architects. The tour will also highlight other illustrious figures from Sitges buried in the town itself. This year, the route through the old cemetery of Sant Sebastià will introduce a new element to approach the All Saints' Day celebration differently: poetry. Through the reading of verses by authors such as Joan Maragall, Jaume Carreres i Carreres, Jacint Verdaguer, and Pere Quart, participants in the route will have the opportunity to recite and engage in an artistic, literary, and highly original visit.

Vilanova and Sant Sebastià, Cemeteries of Cultural and Artistic Interest

Their historical, cultural, and artistic value has led the cemeteries of Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sant Sebastià in Sitges to become part of ASCE (Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe), a European association that groups various cemeteries of cultural and historical interest across the continent.

Inaugurated in the 19th century, Sant Sebastià in 1814 and Vilanova in 1855, both cemeteries represent a valuable testament to the modernist era in the Garraf region. This was a time when several families from these towns went to America (known as americanos or indianos) and returned wealthy. Evidence of this are the ostentatious mausoleums still visible today, created by some of the most prestigious sculptors of the time, such as Josep Llimona, Domènech Estapà, and Frederic Marès.