Sitges museums

The three museums in Sitges are all close together and worth visiting, displaying some impressive collections of art, glassware, ironwork and antique dolls in buildings that are also architectural treasures.

The Cau Ferrat museum is on the sea front in a converted fisherman's house which was bought by one of Catalonia's most important painters and collectors, Santiago Rusiñol (1861-1931) to house his studio and art collections. Some of his own favourite pieces are on display but the house is absolutely packed with interesting art, including pictures by Picasso and El Greco which he bought with funds from his inheritance from a wealthy textile family. As well as art there are important collections of pottery, glass and metal objects, mainly of Catalan origin.

The Maricel museum is next door and is another impressive house built by an American millionaire and subsequently bought by the town to house it's various art collections, the main one coming from the local doctor and collector Jesus Perez-Rosales. Spread over three floors we have sculptures, furniture and even one whole part dedicated just to Catalan maritime history, fishing and models of ships from the 19th century.

The Romantic museum is set in an impressive local merchants house preserved to show how the upper classes lived in the 18th and 19th centuries, how they dressed and what were their pastimes and interests. One of the most extensive collections of painted dolls are displayed upstairs.

There are some very fine pieces here and this is a great way to pass a few hours out of the sun discovering the artists who made the area famous.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from gironaJ