Ca n'Altimira

Ca n'Altimira is a historic masia — a traditional Catalan country estate — standing in the center of Cerdanyola del Vallès, near Barcelona. The building is one of the last visible traces of the town's rural past, now surrounded by the dense urban fabric of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

What is the history behind Ca n'Altimira?

Records of a building on this site go back to the 15th century, when it was known as Mas Campanyà. From the 16th century the property became linked to the Altimira (Altamira) family, whose name it still carries today. The structure standing now is what remains of a larger masia built around a closed courtyard that has since disappeared — the current, neoclassical-style building took its present shape at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The estate's last private owner, J. Altimira i Roca, donated the building to the town council, marking the shift from family residence to a place open for public use.

What can you see at Ca n'Altimira?

The façade keeps its classicist character: a flat-arched portal and windows framed by drip moldings, with the central window crowned by a triangular pediment. These are typical features of turn-of-the-century Catalan rural architecture, blending working-farm practicality with a touch of formal representation.

The building underwent restoration work in the 1980s and later went through further historic-artistic conservation, aimed at preserving the original stonework and façade details.

How was Ca n'Altimira used by the town?

In May 1991 the building opened as the town's public library, taking the masia's name — Biblioteca Ca n'Altimira. It served readers here until March 2015, when the town's new Central Library took over as Cerdanyola's main library. For more than two decades, Ca n'Altimira was a meeting point for the community and one of the town's cultural landmarks.

How do you get to Ca n'Altimira?

The building sits right in the center of Cerdanyola del Vallès, a town in Barcelona province close to the Catalan capital. It's easily reached via the local train and bus network connecting Cerdanyola to Barcelona, a route regularly used by residents of the metropolitan area.

When is the best time to visit?

Since Ca n'Altimira is primarily an architectural landmark woven into the town's streetscape, its exterior can be admired year-round. It's worth pairing a visit with other historic masies in Cerdanyola, which together trace the rural roots of what is now a largely urbanized town.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ca n'Altimira? A historic masia in Cerdanyola del Vallès, originally part of a larger rural estate, rebuilt in a neoclassical style at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Where does the building's name come from? From the Altimira (Altamira) family, linked to the property from the 16th century until its last owner, J. Altimira i Roca, donated it to the town council.

Does the library still operate there? No — the public library ran there from 1991 until March 2015, when Cerdanyola's new Central Library took over that role.

What architectural details stand out on the building? A classicist façade with a flat-arched portal and drip-molded windows, the central one topped with a triangular pediment.