Can Boter

Can Boter is a historic masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in Tiana, a small town in the Maresme district just north of the Barcelona metropolitan area. The building stands on the street that bears its name, set among the hills separating the coast from the Vallès valley, and for decades it has functioned less as a private residence and more as a local arts and culture workshop.

What will you see there?

Can Boter follows the classic layout of a Catalan masia: a ground floor, an upper floor and an attic under a sloped roof. Stone walls combined with a timber structure reinforced by metal profiles point to repeated rebuilding over the centuries. The right-hand section of the house is noticeably taller than the rest, and together with the texture of the stonework this gives the building an irregular, "grown-in-stages" look typical of masies extended by successive generations of owners.

The most distinctive architectural details are two pieces of stonework: a semi-circular arched gateway built from cut stone voussoirs, and an upper-floor window topped with a stone lintel carved into a trefoil arch. Both details point to an older core of the building and are the reason it is listed as a local cultural heritage asset (BCIL).

Since the spring of 1977, Can Boter has had a second life as home to a group of artists — among them Núria Fàbregas and Joan Armengol i Moliner — who founded the theatre company La Tràgica on the premises. Over time the farmhouse turned into a workshop producing large festive figures: giants (gegants) for Sant Climent de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, the cadafal for Viladecans, and Tiana's own giants. This artistic activity is precisely why Can Boter is cited as one of the places that shaped Tiana's identity as a town open to art and Mediterranean culture.

Today the building houses the association "El Taller de Can Boter," which combines visual arts with gastronomy-related activities and cultural events for residents and visitors alike.

How do you get there?

Tiana lies a little over ten kilometres northeast of central Barcelona, between Montgat and Alella. Driving is the most convenient option — take the C-32 out of Barcelona and continue on local roads into the Maresme hills. Travellers without a car can take the train to Montgat or Badalona and connect with local buses running toward Tiana. The farmhouse itself sits inside the village, so once you reach Tiana's centre it is only a few minutes on foot to the site.

When should you visit?

Can Boter is best combined with a day exploring Tiana and the surrounding Maresme hills — spring and autumn are ideal for walking the area without the summer heat typical of coastal Catalonia. It is worth checking the schedule of "El Taller de Can Boter" beforehand, since some activities — art workshops, cultural gatherings, gastronomic events — run on a periodic basis rather than daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Can Boter be viewed from the outside without booking ahead? Yes. The building's exterior, including the stone gateway and the trefoil-arch window, can be viewed freely from the street — it is part of the village fabric, not a closed private site.

What sets Can Boter apart from other masies in the region? Beyond its irregular silhouette and carved stonework, its main distinction is artistic continuity: since 1977 it has housed a living workshop that creates giants and other festive figures used in celebrations across several Catalan towns.

Does Can Boter host events for visitors? Yes, the association running the site organizes art workshops and gatherings that combine culture with gastronomy — check the current calendar before planning a visit.

Is Tiana suitable for a day trip from Barcelona? Yes. Its proximity to Barcelona, just over ten kilometres away, and its compact size make it easy to pair a visit to Can Boter with a walk through Tiana's centre and the nearby Maresme hills in a single day.