Antonieta Cartró Robert

Sitges 1886-1969

She was known as la Cartrona, was the daughter of Antoni Cartró Escales and Maria Robert Camps, and sister to Isidor Cartró, town mayor (1939-1941), president of the Casino Prado Suburense and justice of the peace.

She was a nice lady who liked to dress extravagantly, especially on Sundays and important occasions like Festa Major.

As is customary in many small towns, Antonieta was given a nickname: the feminine form of her family name (Cartró-Cartrona) Her manner of dressing and her fondness of make up made her a very popular character. In fact, when a person was all dressed up people would say “you look like ‘La Cartrona’”. The nickname is friendly and reminiscent; it has never been used disparagingly.

In 2010, the Agrupació de Balls Populars presented a capgros (a large papier maché head) of la Cartona which we can see dancing with other capgrossos of past illustrious figures of the Sitges history like Santiago Rusiñol, Enric Morella, Pep Capella or Francesc Suárez in Festa Major and Santa Tecla, the town’s patron saint festivals.

Antonieta Cartró Robert

Sitges 1886-1969

Known as la Cartrona, was the daughter of Antoni Cartró Escales and Maria Robert Camps, and sister to Isidor Cartró, town mayor (1939-1941), president of the Casino Prado Suburense and justice of the peace. She lived in carrer Major, 12 (which used to be number 8); on the ground floor we found her father's woodshop. She was a nice lady who liked to dress extravagantly, especially on Sundays and important occasions like Festa Major.

As is customary in many small towns, Antonieta was given a nickname: the feminine form of her family name (Cartró-Cartrona), and the nickname stuck with her for life (and afterlife). Her manner of dressing and her fondness of make up made her a very popular character. In fact, when a person was all dressed up people would say "you look like 'La Cartrona'".

Back then, in Barcelona "la Monyos" was a loved personality who dressed and coiffured in an extravagant manner; she originated the local turn of phrase, "You're more famous than la Monyos", or, if you were all dressed up, "you look like la Monyos". Sitges developed its own local variant of the phrase, which can still be heard at times.

Antonieta participated actively in the town's social life and was secretary of the Germandat de Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla Sisterhood). She was also particularly fond of animals (pigeons, hens, cats…).

Vinyet Panyella recalls her "all dressed up as only she knew how in the days of Festa Major, loaded with necklaces, bracelets and brooches, with her blonde wig and Fellinian make up." Lali Vergés says she was "a nice and friendly person, she had many friends, many true friends."