The presentation of the project to digitize the capitals of Pere Jou of the Palacio de Maricel starts the European Heritage Days 2025 in Sitges

In addition, within the framework of these Conferences, several activities will take place this weekend and three videos starring three people from the field of communication linked to the town, such as Anna Grimau, Rita Marzoa and Jaume Freixes, will be presented through social networks, which highlight the artistic and cultural heritage of the Sitges Museums, specifically the Luminist School, Modernisme and Noucentisme.

The event was attended by Mònica Urquizu and Lucía Ponce, conservators-restorers and digital heritage technicians, and Oriol Vicente Campos, coordinator of the CORE in Cultural Heritage and Vice-Rector for Research at the UAB. In addition, the head of the Collections and Exhibitions Section of the Sitges Heritage Consortium, Ignasi Domènech i Vives, gave an introduction to the sculptural ensemble of the capitals.

The project aims to preserve, research and disseminate one of the most unique sculptural ensembles of Sitges' Noucentisme: the capitals made between 1915 and 1920 by the sculptor Pere Jou, which decorate the façade and cloister of the Palau de Maricel.

The capitals —carved in Vinaixa stone— reproduce classical fables (La Fontaine, Aesop, Iriarte), moral allegories (laziness, diligence, scarcity or abundance) and historical scenes and portraits of relevant figures of the time such as Miquel Utrillo, Charles Deering, Francesc Cambó, Prat de la Riba, Pi i Margall or Àngel Guimerà. Some of the original pieces were lost and were replaced by copies made in 1995.

The digitization project has incorporated advanced techniques such as photogrammetry with a drone and digital camera, post-processing with 3D modeling tools, 3D printing of replicas for research and pedagogical use, and 360o scanning for the creation of immersive and accessible models online.

According to UAB officials, digitization not only guarantees conservation against natural degradation caused by wind and sea, but also allows for new avenues for interdisciplinary research and educational and cultural dissemination, with interactive resources available on digital platforms such as Sketchfab.

With this project, the Sitges Museums reinforce their commitment to innovation and the preservation of cultural heritage, positioning the Palau de Maricel

as a reference space in the use of technology applied to the research and dissemination of artistic legacy.

Other scheduled activities

The program of the European Heritage Days 2025 in Sitges is completed over the weekend with several outreach activities and open houses that allow the public to get closer to the rich cultural heritage of the town:

On Saturday, October 11, the Friends of the Sitges Museums and the Ram de Tot l'Any Association will be able to enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the exhibition "The Praise of Drawing. The Manuel Puig Collection", in the Sala Vaixells of the Palau de Maricel, with sessions at 11am (Catalan) and 12pm (Spanish). The activity is free with prior reservation.

In the afternoon, specifically at 5pm (Spanish) and 6pm (Catalan), guided tours will also be offered for the general public, highlighting that the 6pm tour in Catalan will be adapted for people with blindness or low vision, in the same exhibition, which highlights drawing as a fundamental and at the same time uncommon discipline in artistic practice. This activity costs €7 (with discounts available) and requires prior reservation.

On Sunday 12 October, an open day will be held at the Palau de Maricel, with free guided tours in different languages ​​(10am English, 11am and 12pm Catalan, 1pm Spanish, 4pm English, 5pm Catalan and 6pm Spanish). The tours do not require prior reservation and have a limited capacity, on a first-come, first-served basis, to 25 people per session.

On the same day, from 10am to 7pm, the Cau Ferrat Museum and the Maricel Museum will open their doors for free, offering visitors the opportunity to discover their most emblematic collections and spaces.