Palau de Maricel
Seafront Noucentista palace with decorated halls and Mediterranean views, a venue for concerts and weddings.
A palace that is, in fact, a collage of all Spain
The Palau de Maricel is not an ancient building: it is a brilliant assemblage from the early twentieth century. It was commissioned by Charles Deering, a Chicago industrialist who wanted a seafront residence to display his collection of Hispanic art, and he entrusted the project to Miquel Utrillo between 1910 and 1921. What makes it remarkable is that Utrillo did not build from scratch — he pieced together original elements brought from across the Iberian Peninsula: the Gothic doorway comes from the Palau Villena in Cadalso de los Vidrios (Madrid), a door from the Palacio de Raixa (Mallorca), the figure of Sant Miquel from a bridge in Balaguer (Lleida) and a balcony from Santa Coloma de Queralt. As you walk through the Saló d'Or, the Saló Blau, the Sala Vaixells and the terraces overlooking the Mediterranean, the guide tells you how the story ended: in 1921 Deering fell out with Utrillo and left, taking all his Goyas, Velázquezes and El Grecos — which now hang in the Art Institute of Chicago. The city council bought the empty palace in 1952. Ask to be shown the concealed door in the main salon: it connected to his private quarters in the building opposite via a gallery suspended above the street.
Prices, opening hours and how to avoid the busiest session
Entry is only possible with a guided tour — there is no free-roaming option — which keeps things well organised. The general ticket costs €12, the family reduced rate is €10 and the super-reduced rate is €7 (pensioners, Carnet Jove, Carnet Blau). Admission is free on the first Wednesday of the month, on Museum Day and Museum Night, and always for under-17s. The tour itself lasts 60–90 minutes. In low season (September–June) the palace only opens on Sundays: 10 am in English, 11 am and 12 pm in Catalan, 1 pm in Spanish. In high season (July–August) it also opens on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with sessions at 10 am (English), 11 am (Spanish) and 12 pm (Catalan). Capacity is limited and sessions sell out, so book in advance at botiga.museusdesitges.cat. Insider tip: the 10 am English session is the least crowded; in summer Tuesdays are quieter than Wednesdays; and the 12 pm session in August should be avoided as it coincides with peak footfall in the old town.
How to get there and a couple of practical tips
The Palau is on Carrer de la Davallada, right in the pedestrianised old town next to the seafront promenade. From Barcelona the easiest option is the Rodalies commuter train (R2 Sud / R2) from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia, running roughly every 30 minutes; Sitges station is about a 7-minute walk away. Note: improvement works have been announced between Garraf and Sitges for 2026 — check the current status at rodalies.gencat.cat before you travel. By bus, line 72 (Bus Garraf) stops at Oasis, around 3 minutes on foot. Inside the Palau there is no shop or café, but the adjacent Museu de Maricel — independently accessible — has both: if you are up for it, combine the two in the same afternoon and make the most of the journey. One final note: the building is available for hire for weddings and events and may occasionally be closed to visitors, so confirm on the website before you go. Contact number: 938 940 364.
Frequently asked questions
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