Happy TravellerWelcome to Mataró, the capital and largest town of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Community, Spain. Located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-east of Barcelona, Mataró is a hidden gem that offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Mataró dates back to Roman times when it was a village known as Iluro or Illuro. The ruins of a first-century BC Roman bath house (known locally as the Torre Llauder) were recently discovered and can be visited. The coastal N-II highway follows the same path as the original Roman road, Via Augusta. Mataró was declared a city by royal decree, even though at the time (nineteenth century) the population fell short of the requirement for city status.
Mataró is the birthplace of noucentista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who designed the ajuntament (town hall) and several other notable buildings in the town: Casa Coll i Regàs, Casa Parera, Casa Sisternes, El Rengle, Hermitage of St. Simon, and La Beneficiència. Nearby the town are the archaeological remains of the Roman villa of Can Llauder.
The traditional vineyards were devastated by Phylloxera in the nineteenth century and only partially replanted, due to the growth of the tourist industry and the development of irrigation in the area. Potatoes were one of the first replacement crops to be introduced, especially the Royal Kidney variety, and Mataró obtained a Denominació dOrigen in 1932. Trocadero lettuce and peas are also grown, mostly for export. The production of cut flowers is less important than in other towns of the Maresme. Irrigated land made up 9.13 square kilometres (3.53 sq mi) of the 10.57 square kilometres (4.08 sq mi) of agricultural land in the municipality in 1986 (47% of the municipal territory). In modern viticulture, the red mourvèdre grape variety is a better-known synonym for the grape known in Spain, the U.S., and Australia as mataro. Mataró, the city, is thought to be the likely origin of mataro, the wine grape.
Mataró has a borderline humid subtropical climate (Cfa in Köppen climate classification) bordering with a Hot-summer mediterranean climate, (Köppen Csa).
Several major events are celebrated annually in Mataró. Some of them are also celebrated in the rest of Catalonia and others, which have a religious origin, are part of the folklore and traditions of Spain and some other countries. Among all of them the most popular ones are: The three wise men in Mataró, Carnival in Mataró, Easter in Mataró, Saint George in Mataró, St. John the Baptist in Mataró, and Les Santes. Mataró also celebrates several fairs such as: Tres Tombs and Saint Ponç. In May, it is celebrated a fair called Mercat de Sant Ponç. At the fair, handicraft products, medicinal herbs, natural products like honey, cheese, fruits, flowers, jam, and salami are sold. Sant Ponç is the patron saint of the herbalists and beekeepers. The fair has been done for centuries. Its origins date to the 16th century when in Spring herbalists took medicine to the sick. Today Sant Ponç fair is celebrated to preserve the antique customs. Festival Cultural Crossroad and International Dance Festival Days of Dance are also celebrated in Mataró.
Mataró is twinned with Cehegín, Spain, Dürnau, Germany, Gammelshausen, Germany, Créteil, France, Corsico, Italy, and Fort Lauderdale, The United States of America.
Come and explore the hidden treasures of Mataró, a city that offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Plan your trip today and experience the magic of this enchanting destination.
