Can Cendra

Can Cendra is a historic house and garden in the heart of Anglès, in Girona province.

What is Can Cendra?

The building stands at Carrer d'Avall 31, with a second façade facing Carrer de Girona. It grew out of an older house known as ca l'Espinàs, which was reshaped in the early 20th century for landowner Tomàs Cendra by architect Rafael Masó i Valentí, one of the leading figures of Catalan Noucentisme. The renovation took place between 1913 and 1915, with a further remodeling in 1930. The house is now listed in Catalonia's Inventory of Architectural Heritage and currently serves as the seat of Anglès town hall.

What can you see there?

The façade stands out for its floral sgraffito decoration, wrought-iron balconies and eaves finished in glazed ceramic — hallmarks of the Noucentista style, in which Masó blended local tradition with echoes of Central European architecture. Just as remarkable as the house is the garden attached to it, laid out at the same time as the building works and completed in 1914. It's considered the best-preserved of all the gardens Masó ever designed. Reached from Carrer de Girona through an avenue lined with lime trees, it leads to a pond with softly curved banks, while a staircase connects the grounds directly to the building's piano nobile.

How to get there and when to visit?

Can Cendra sits right in the center of Anglès, close to the Ter river, so it's an easy walk from anywhere in town. The municipality lies in the La Selva region, between Girona and Vic, well served by local roads. The garden now functions as a public park, open year-round and accessible from Carrer de Girona — spring and early summer are the best times to catch the greenery and the pond at their fullest. Since the building houses the town hall, the interior is generally only open during administrative office hours, while the garden and façade can be visited freely at any time.

Why is it worth a stop?

Anglès isn't a headline destination on Catalonia's tourist map, but Can Cendra shows how Noucentista architecture reached well beyond Barcelona into smaller towns across the Girona region. It's a chance to see Rafael Masó's work in a quieter, small-town setting, away from the crowds that gather at his better-known projects.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Can Cendra? Architect Rafael Masó i Valentí reshaped the old ca l'Espinàs house into its current form between 1913 and 1915, commissioned by landowner Tomàs Cendra.

Can visitors go inside the building? The building is the seat of Anglès town hall, so the interior is accessible during administrative office hours. The garden and façade can be viewed freely at any time.

What is Can Cendra best known for? Its garden, laid out together with the house renovation and finished in 1914, regarded as the best-preserved of all the gardens Rafael Masó designed, complete with a pond, winding paths and a lime-tree avenue.

Since when has Can Cendra belonged to the town? The Cendra family owned the property until 1986, when it was purchased by Anglès town hall.