Hermitage of Sant Ramon

Sant Boi is a city near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the south of Catalonia, 11 km from the biggest city, Barcelona. It has a population of 83,000 (2018).

Understand

The weather is Mediterranean, with hot summers and soft winters; it usually rains in spring and in autumn.

Get in

It is near Barcelona and the town has a very good connection with it, by rail and by bus. Both depart from Plaça d'Espanya. Trains are faster and run every 5 minutes on average, but the train stop is not central. Buses are slower and run less frequently, but will allow you to reach more places. Bear in mind that buses from Barcelona and trains run apart from each other. There are bus stops near the rail station but none of these buses will reach Barcelona; instead, they go to other neighbouring towns like Cornellà, Viladecans or El Prat (including the airport).

Get around

Sant Boi de Llobregat is in Barcelona's Zone 1: a single metro or bus ticket costs €2.40 (Sep 2023). Information on the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona website

See

Church of St. Baldiri

• Saint Baldiri church. Built in the 13th century. From this, you have a very nice view you can see the Llobregat river and the bridge of AVE. 
• Saint Ramon hermitage. One of the nicest views of Sant Boi is at night: the church reflected on the Llobregat river and the illuminated hermitage hung in the sky (the mountain is not visible). 
• 1 Sant Boi de Llobregat Museum (Catalan: Museu de Sant Boi), Carrer del Pont, 7 (Can Barraquer), ☏ +34 936 351 250. Tu-Sa 17:00-20:00 and Sa Su 11:00-14:00. The museum conserves and carries out research into the cultural heritage and historic memory of the town. The main museum collections are those of Iberian, Roman and Medieval archaeological remains unearthed during the different excavations carried out in the town and different ethnographic sources. €2. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 The Roman Baths and Museum (Termes Romanes), Avinguda Maria Girona, on the corner of Carrer Hospital. Tu-Sa 17:00-20:00 and Sa Su 11:00-14:00. €1. 
• 3 Torre de Benviure, Carrer de Can Paulet, 40 (at the west side of the town; FGC Sant Boi train station. Lines S8, S33 and R5). Sep-Jul: Su 11:30-13:30. This medieval defensive tower was built in the 10th century to defend the city of Barcelona from attacks from the kingdoms of Al-Andalus. €1. (updated Sep 2023)
• Rafael Casanova’s tomb. Rafael Casanova died and was buried here. He was a Spanish jurist, and supporter of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor as a claimant to the Crown of Spain during the War of the Spanish succession.  

Do

• La Muntanyeta Park. The biggest park of Sant Boi. There is a lake, a swimming pool, restaurants, skating rink, auditorium, picnic place, and roads for walking around and riding by bicycle. Near the park, two years ago, the big public library was built, which has big windows, a lot of books and computers, and a good restaurant. 

Festivals

In December, Sant Boi is famous for the Purissima's fair where different sectors of industry and trade show their new products. Also, there is a beautiful exhibition of fruits and vegetables by farmers, craft stalls and many activities for children and old people. In September we celebrate the festival of music Altaveu' which brings together many groups and Catalan singers. In December there is a popular festival called Fira de la Purísima there are a lot of exhibitions of vegetables, plants, decoration objects and machines. Another important festival takes place in May; La Festa Major and on 20th May honours the patron saint Sant Baldiri with firework displays. In summer, each neighbourhood celebrates its events with dances, parades and fireworks.

Buy

There are a lot of shops and five markets. Every Saturday, people can visit the two street markets in Sant Boi. There is a bigger shopping area called Alcampo where there are a lot of supermarkets: Alcampo, Kiabi, Toyr's, Leroy Merlin, Decathon and Boulangere.

Sleep

• Hotel El Castillo, Carrer Castell 1, ☏ +34 93 6400700. 
• NH Sant Boi, Highway from Barcelona to Santa Creu Calafell, 101 (C-245), ☏ +34 93 6358185. 
• Frontair Congress, Carrer Alberedes 16 (CC Alcampo), ☏ +34 93 6307923.