Festa de la Verge del Carme (Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)

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16th July

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Every 16th of July in Sitges, the boats go out in procession with the image of the Verge del Carme (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), the patron saint of sailors. It is one of the most popular traditions in Sitges. And it is a procession that can be seen… and heard, because when the boats pass in the afternoon in front of the Iglesia de Sant Bartomeu (Church of Saint Bartholomew) and the Ermita del Vinyet (Hermitage of Vinyet), shots with a historical flavour are fired into the air, the so-called ‘mortarets’ (small mortars).

Habaneras (traditional sea shanties) concert at night

The Festa de la Verge del Carme (Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), organised by the Cofradía de Pescadores de Sitges (Sitges Fishermen’s Guild) and the Centro de Interpretación de la Malvasia de Sitges (CIM) (Sitges Malvasia Interpretation Centre), sets the course in the afternoon, with the boats leaving the Port de Sitges-Aiguadolç heading west, where, near the cemetery, a floral offering is made as a symbol of devotion to the Virgin and to ask for protection for all those who work at sea.

The boats then return to the Port de Sitges-Aiguadolç, where the festival continues with the sung tradition of habaneras (sea shanties) accompanied by burnt rum, to which, of course (this is Sitges), you are invited.