Stray beyond Barcelona and you’ll find that Catalonia has some delightful spots for the adventurous boater hoping to make the most out of the Med
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Port Aiguadolç and Port Garraf
For a taste of Catalonia’s more rugged character, don’t miss the pleasant marina of Port Aiguadolç at Sitges – its dramatic backdrop of hills sheltering the town from chilly Levante north-easterlies.
This shield gives Sitges a mild winter climate, which over a century ago made the original village popular as a Spanish Riviera, though the Romans settled here long before that.
Sitges is an interesting, arty, counter-culture sort of town, with a famous autumn film festival and extravagant winter carnival.
Sitges Harbour – Picture: SantiMB
In the late 19th century the Catalan modernist painter Santiago Rusiñol lived here, producing strikingly vivid landscapes of Catalonia.
Exploring Sitges, stroll along the cobbled esplanade and be sure to visit the Thursday or Saturday markets in Plaça Catalunya.
For real Catalan cooking, it’s worth a short taxi ride out to La Masía on Passeig Vilanova, a lively restaurant in an old country house with balmy terrace gardens.
Seven miles east of Aiguadolç, Port Garraf is a large, surprisingly peaceful marina in a stunning position beneath the western peaks of the Sierra de la Gardia. Well worth a night or two, Garraf is perfectly snug and untouristy.
