Two tours through the history of the cemeteries of Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú

October 2017. – As part of All Saints Day, Àltima is organizing the traditional guided tours of the Sant Sebastià Cemetery in Sitges and the Vilanova i la Geltrú Cemetery, which house some of the most significant heritage legacies in our country. These two free tours will primarily explore the history of each municipality through the 'americanos' who once resided there. Also known as 'indianos,' these were affluent individuals who emigrated to America in the second half of the 19th century for business opportunities. Upon returning to Catalonia, they sought to showcase their power and wealth to everyone, including through the construction of monumental mausoleums and tombs.

These works of art, rich in funerary symbolism, were created by prestigious architects and sculptors, icons of Catalan Modernism, such as Josep Llimona, Domènech Estapà, Manel Fuxà, and Frederic Marès. They reflect the experiences that make up a significant part of the history of Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú.

The two cemeteries are part of the European Association of Significant Cemeteries (ASCE), which recognizes the valuable historical, cultural, and artistic heritage of these sites. The Sitges cemetery is also included in the ASCE European Cemetery Route, which marks a tourist trail through the main European cemeteries.

Sitges and the "Route of the Souls," Saturday, October 28 at 11:00 AM 

The old cemetery of Sitges, located next to the Sant Sebastià beach and inaugurated in 1814, contains a large number of Modernist graves by architects and sculptors such as Josep Llimona, Frederic Marès, Manuel Fuxà, Agapit Vallmitjana, Alexandre Mariotti, Josep Reynés, Joan Rebull, and Pere Jou. The route will explore this artistic legacy, which includes the mausoleums and tombs of some of the most illustrious figures of the town.

Vilanova i la Geltrú and "The Artistic Soul of the Cemetery," Sunday, October 29 at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM

This guided tour will reveal the history of the Garraf capital through the art and history of the graves and mausoleums of the 'americanos' buried in the cemetery, which opened its doors in 1855. The tour of the grand tombs of some of the most notable figures in politics, culture, and business buried here will allow visitors to discover true works of art by architects such as Bonaventura Pollés and Domènech Estapà. Examples include the mausoleums of the writers Víctor Balaguer and Manuel de Cabanyes, the painter Joaquim Mir, and the politician and businessman Francesc Gumà.