Nature
Nature in Vilanova
Between the Garraf massif and the sea: protected areas, coastline and town parks.
Garraf Natural Park
Vilanova within the Garraf Park
The Diputació’s cultural heritage record lists Vilanova i la Geltrú among the municipalities whose territory is part of the 12,820 ha Garraf Park. The source does not say what share of Vilanova’s territory lies inside the park.
Last foothills of the massif
According to the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, the north and northwest of the municipality are the last foothills of the Garraf massif, with areas above 300 m. The Pla de Jorba (268 m) and la Talaia (279 m) are named; the rest is coastal plain.
Park office – La Pleta
The Garraf Park office is on the Rat Penat to Plana Novella road, km 3.5 (Sitges). Phone 690 045 560 and email p.garraf@diba.cat, per the Diputació parks portal.
La Sala d’Olivella information centre
Garraf Park information centre in Pl. Major, Olivella, with information, itineraries, activities and publications. Open weekends and public holidays 10:00-14:00; closed in August.
On foot from Vilanova: GR 92
The GR 92 links Vilanova with Garraf: stage 22 (Garraf–Vilanova) is 22.0 km and stage 23 (Vilanova–Calafell) is 13.4 km, per Wikipedia.
Protected areas
Garraf Park (PEIN)
The Garraf Park is classified in the Pla d’Espais d’Interès Natural (PEIN), belongs to the Xarxa de Parcs Naturals and is managed by the Diputació de Barcelona. Vilanova i la Geltrú is one of its nine municipalities.
Costes del Garraf (Natura 2000, PEIN)
Marine SCI and SPA (ES5110020) and PEIN, 26,575 ha, between Castelldefels and Cunit down to the 20 m isobath. It protects Posidonia oceanica meadows and birds such as the Balearic shearwater; Vilanova’s coastal stretch lies within that range.
Coastline and coves
Seafront and beaches
The seafront is about 6 km long and the coast is low with very fine sand. The Ajuntament cites over six km of fine-sand beaches, many accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Racó de Santa Llúcia
Rocky stretch of coast where the traditional boundary between the parishes of Sant Antoni de Vilanova and Santa Maria de Cubelles ended. An urban development sits on the last coastal rocks before the Prat de Cubelles.
Punta Llarga, els Colls and Platja del Far
From the eastern edge of the municipality (Punta Llarga) to the Farola there is 1 km of rocks alternating with small beaches, including els Colls and Sant Cristòfol or del Far. The Far beach has grown in recent decades from sand built up beside the port’s eastern breakwater.
Ruta Litoral (5.3 km)
Low-difficulty Ajuntament route of 5,300 m from Torre de Ribes Roges to Torre d’Enveja and the Sant Joan chapel. It passes the Adarró ruins, Racó de Santa Llúcia and Masia d’en Seró.
Urban parks
Parks on the municipal map
The Ajuntament’s parks and gardens map lists these parks: Ribes Roges, Baix-a-mar, Gumà i Ferran, Pobles d’Espanya, Quadra d’Enveja and Solicrup, plus gardens and squares. Can Robert does not appear on that page.
Drought and green spaces
The municipal page states that, because of the drought emergency, irrigating green spaces with drinking water is prohibited and some lawns may turn yellow. It cites 18,356 trees across public green spaces.
Parc de Ribes Roges
Park by the beach with a 127 mm gauge miniature railway running steam, petrol and electric trains on holidays, managed by AFEVI.
Parc de la Quadra d’Enveja
Park with the Torre d’Enveja and Sant Joan chapel, a football pitch, basketball court, ping-pong tables, skate track, bike lanes, a children’s area and picnic tables shaded by pines, per a family guide.
Garraf fauna and flora
Scrub and dwarf fan palm (margalló)
The dominant vegetation is dense Mediterranean scrub 1 to 3 m tall, with holm oak and mastic, plus dwarf fan palm (margalló) and other species of African origin.
Aleppo pine and holm oak
Inland there are remnants of holm oak and Aleppo pine woodland, many recovering from fires, per the Diputació record.
Bonelli’s eagle and peregrine falcon
The Diputació record names Bonelli’s eagle and the peregrine falcon, both endangered, among the fauna adapted to the area, along with the blue rock thrush.
Black wheatear, tortoise and cave fauna
Spain.info highlights the black wheatear, northern wheatear and blue rock thrush, the Mediterranean tortoise and, in caves, bats, badger and stone marten.
Birdwatching
Canòpolis viewpoint (Sitges)
From this Garraf Park viewpoint on the Rat Penat to Plana Novella road, migrating birds heading to Africa can be watched. In 2017 there were ranger-led sessions from 29 August to 15 October; check whether they are repeated.
Seabirds of the Costes del Garraf
The marine SPA was designated for the Balearic shearwater, Cory’s shearwater, Audouin’s gull and Mediterranean gull. It is also a BirdLife Important Bird Area, ‘Aigües del Baix Llobregat – Garraf’.
Birds of the Serres del Litoral Central SPA
The SPA record (ES5110013) lists Bonelli’s eagle, eagle owl, European nightjar, tawny pipit, black wheatear, Dartford warbler and ortolan bunting. The record mentions Begues and does not name Vilanova.
Advice
Pla Alfa: risk levels
The Agents Rurals rate daily risk from 0 to 4. At level 3 fire-risk activities are suspended and open fires banned; at level 4, access to protected natural areas may be restricted except for residents and services. Check the Generalitat’s map.
Garraf access restrictions (2023)
In July 2023, with Pla Alfa at level 3, the Diputació regulated access and mobility in the Garraf, Olèrdola and Foix parks, closed car parks and facilities and suspended activities. Vilanova i la Geltrú is among the municipalities affected.
Fire and barbecues (15 March – 15 October)
Between 15 March and 15 October, fire activities within 500 m of forest land require authorisation. At very high or extreme risk all are prohibited; burning plant waste is banned year-round.
Diputació’s eight tips
The Diputació advises not parking on verges or in fields, since hot vehicle parts can ignite vegetation and block emergency crews, not leaving waste in the forest, and calling 112 if you see a fire.
Extreme heat: example of a park alert
In a July 2022 alert at Collserola (another Diputació park), visitors were asked not to enter the park during the high-temperature, high fire-risk episode, and viewpoints and car parks were closed. It is not a Garraf notice.
Hunting season
Hunting seasons and days are set each year by species and territory and can be checked in the Generalitat’s hunting viewer. Hunting takes place on common-use land and hunting areas and is banned in wildlife refuges and safety zones.
Walks and hiking
Walks and hiking
The Coastal Route, the GR 92 and other walks from Vilanova.
Official information
Vilanova Sí is an independent community website. Always check the official sources.