Between a Roman villa, Modernisme houses and trails on the outskirts, Mataró reveals very different sides of its history and landscape. When planning your trip, you can focus on architecture and collections, take the July festivities into account, or combine culture with time outdoors. The contrast between these themes makes it easier to choose: the buildings tell the story of different eras, while parks and trails bring nature and cultural heritage within reach.
Roman history and collections from the Middle Ages to the present
Can Serra is the historical section of the Museu de Mataró. Its permanent exhibition spans from the Roman era through the Middle Ages to the present day. The building itself is a Renaissance mansion dating from 1565, which has preserved its original structure. Here, a long exhibition chronology meets a building from a clearly defined historical period.
The Torre Llauder Archaeological Complex offers another Roman perspective. The stately rooms of a Roman villa, built during the Augustan period towards the end of the 1st century BC, have been preserved there. Several areas can currently be visited, including mosaic floors, peristyle columns, a hypocaust room, baths, latrines and sewers. The different rooms offer a glimpse of both the ceremonial and practical aspects of the villa complex. Check current access arrangements before your visit.
Modernisme, industrial history and art
Casa Coll i Regàs is an emblematic Modernisme building in Mataró. Josep Puig i Cadafalch designed and built it for the textile entrepreneur Joaquim Coll i Regàs. The house dates from 1898; its notable architectural features include an atrium lit by a skylight. The building reveals both its connection to a specific client and the design of Modernisme.
Nau Gaudí also brings architecture together with Mataró’s industrial history. Built in 1883, the cotton bleaching factory was where Gaudí first experimented with parabolic arches. Nau Gaudí 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. The size of the collection and the variety of art forms offer a different way to explore the city’s culture than the architecture of individual houses.
Can Marfà adds the knitwear industry to these themes. This surviving industrial complex dates from the last third of the 19th century and is linked to an industry of great importance to Mataró. The smaller building houses an outpost of the Museu de Mataró dedicated to the heritage of the knitwear industry; it also holds the collection of the Fundació Jaume Vilaseca. El Rengle offers a smaller, urban-scale example: the market in Plaça Gran is a Modernisme building with eight stalls opening directly onto the street. In 1893, Josep Puig i Cadafalch redesigned its roof in the Modernisme style.
The cultural heritage also includes the Conjunt dels Dolors, with its Sala de Juntes and crypt in the Basilica of Santa Maria. It is considered one of the most significant expressions of Catalan Baroque and is a work by Antoni Viladomat i Manalt. Exploring Mataró through its buildings lets you consider the Renaissance, Roman remains, Modernisme and Baroque as distinct focuses for your trip.
Les Santes in July
Les Santes, Mataró’s Festa Major, is celebrated from 24 to 29 July, with 27 July as the main day. The festival is divided into four sections: Portal, Crida, Diada and Epíleg. On 11 October 2010, Les Santes was officially recognized as a Festa Patrimonial d’Interès Nacional.
A regular part of the festivities is the Ofici, held every year at 10 am on 27 July in Santa Maria. The Missa de Glòria by Mataró composer Manuel Blanch premiered in 1848 and has been performed almost continuously in the church of Santa Maria on 27 July. If you plan to time your trip around Les Santes, check the latest event dates in advance.
Parks, trails and the coast
Parc Forestal is on the outskirts of Mataró, at the foot of Turó d’en Dori. Its facilities include public parking, sports fields, 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.
There are various options for walks and hikes. The marked 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. In addition, there are ten marked tourist trails in the area around Mataró, passing through natural and cultural heritage sites and ranging in difficulty. Check current signage and trail details before setting out.
The long-distance GR 83 trail offers a broader perspective: it starts at Platja del Callao and heads north through Maresme, Vallès Oriental, La Selva, Garrotxa, Ripollès, Vallespir and Conflent. The route follows paths used in 1939 by people fleeing into exile in France and by traditional occupational groups, including miners, porters, carters, transhumant herders and millers. The Alguer de Mataró, in turn, draws attention to the underwater world: this extensive seagrass meadow consists of Posidonia, a plant endemic to the Mediterranean, and is rich in a variety of marine species.
Water sports available in Mataró include sailing, jet skiing, rowing, windsurfing and fishing. Providers and seasonal availability may vary. Alongside the cultural sites, trails and Parc Forestal, these activities offer a range of options for different travel interests, without requiring every activity to be part of the same outing.
Discover more destinations: Carme, Vilobí Del Penedès, Aiguafreda, Premià De Dalt, Castellbisbal, Fígols, Santa Perpetua De Moguda, Fonollosa.
For the main travel overview: Barcelona.
