Mataró: Modernisme, Roman Traces and Nature

Mataró offers a range of things to explore during a stay: Renaissance and Modernisme, Roman heritage and industrial history sit alongside Les Santes and nature. Its architectural and historical references span buildings and collections as well as a Roman villa.

Architecture, Museums and History

Can Serra is the history section of the Museu de Mataró. Its permanent exhibition covers the Roman period and the era from the Middle Ages to the present day. The building is a Renaissance mansion dating from 1565 that has preserved its original structure. Casa Coll i Regàs offers a different architectural focus: Josep Puig i Cadafalch designed and built it in 1898 for the textile industrialist Joaquim Coll i Regàs. The house has an atrium lit by a skylight.

Nau Gaudí includes a cotton bleaching hall built in 1883, where Gaudí first experimented with parabolic arches. Today, it is also home to the Bassat Collection, which comprises more than 2,000 paintings and sculptures, as well as an extensive collection of graphic works. Exhibition content may change. Can Marfà is another link to the city’s industrial history: the surviving complex dates from the last third of the 19th century and is associated with Mataró’s knitwear industry. The small building houses a branch of the Museu de Mataró dedicated to the industry’s heritage, as well as the collection of the Fundació Jaume Vilaseca.

At Torre Llauder, the grand rooms of a Roman villa built in the Augustan period, towards the end of the 1st century BC, have been preserved. Several areas can currently be visited, including mosaic floors, the peristyle columns, a hypocaust room, baths, latrines and sewers. Check access arrangements before your visit.

The modernist El Rengle market in Plaça Gran also brings together architecture and urban history. The small market has eight stalls that open directly onto the street. Josep Puig i Cadafalch redesigned its roof in the modernist style in 1893. The Basilica of Santa Maria houses the Conjunt dels Dolors, with its Sala de Juntes and crypt. It is considered one of the most significant examples of Catalan Baroque and is the work of Antoni Viladomat i Manalt.

Les Santes and Trails Around Mataró

Les Santes is celebrated from 24 to 29 July, with 27 July as the main day of the Festa Major. The festival is divided into four sections: Portal, Crida, Diada and Epíleg. On 27 July, the Ofici takes place at 10 a.m. at Santa Maria. Les Santes was recognised as a Festa Patrimonial d’Interès Nacional on 11 October 2010. If you are planning your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year.

Parc Forestal lies on the outskirts of Mataró, at the foot of Turó d’en Dori. Its facilities include public parking, sports grounds, a viewpoint, drinking fountains, a children’s play area, picnic tables, a bar and public toilets. The park has notable forestry and ecological value and is part of the Natura 2000 network. The signposted SL-C 74 El Pont de la Vila trail runs through Parc Forestal and serves as a starting point for exploring Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor.

There are ten signposted tourist trails in the area around the city, passing through natural and cultural heritage sites and ranging in difficulty. Signage and route details may change. The long-distance GR 83 trail begins at Platja del Callao beach and heads north through Maresme, Vallès Oriental, La Selva, Garrotxa, Ripollès, Vallespir and Conflent. It follows routes used in 1939 by people fleeing into exile in France, as well as by miners, carriers, carters, transhumant herders and millers.

The sea and beaches are also among Mataró’s natural attractions. Alguer de Mataró is a large seagrass meadow of Posidonia, a plant endemic to the Mediterranean; the seagrass habitat is rich in different marine species. Water sports on offer include sailing, jet skiing, rowing, windsurfing and fishing. Services provided by individual operators and their seasonal availability may change. Mataró’s beaches hold Q certifications for tourism quality; check the certification status for the current season.

Discover more destinations: Igualada, Sant Cugat Del Vallès, Esparreguera, Cabrera De Mar, L'Estany, Fogars de la Selva, Vilanova De Sau, Oleiros.

For the main travel overview: Barcelona.