Can Dalmases

Can Dalmases is a historic masia — a Catalan country estate — in Cabrera de Mar, a town on the Maresme coast north of Barcelona, close to Mataró.

What is Can Dalmases?

The estate is also known under several other names — Can Ros, Cal Conde, and Can Vilardaga — a reminder of the different families who owned and reshaped it over the centuries. It was originally the residence of the lords of Cabrera and is now listed as a cultural asset of local interest. Today the building belongs to the Cabrera de Mar town council and ranks among the most significant sites of the municipality's architectural heritage.

What is the history behind the building?

The earliest record of the estate dates back to 1231. In 1529 it was bought by Pau Ros, whose descendant Caterina Ros later married the merchant Pau Dalmases i Castells — the union that gave the house its lasting name. Their son, Pau Ignasi de Dalmases i Ros, ordered a major renovation, with the year 1676 carved into the rear façade as a record of the work. Further alterations followed in the second half of the 18th century, and in 1806 Ramon de Corbera i Dalmases added a chapel to the property. In 1924 the estate passed to the Count of Vilardaga, who carried out a complete restoration. The most recent chapter began in 2010, when the building became municipal property.

What can you see there?

Centuries of successive owners left Can Dalmases with a layered architectural mix of Renaissance, Baroque, historicist, and modernist elements, each renovation adding a new stylistic layer rather than erasing the last. One highlight stands in front of the main façade: a pool and washhouse decorated with a polychrome tiled scene depicting Saint Paul, dated 1763. It is one of the most photogenic details of the whole estate and a fine example of the ceramic craftsmanship once practiced in the Maresme region.

How do you get there?

Cabrera de Mar sits on the Maresme coast between Barcelona and Mataró, making it an easy day-trip destination from either city or from nearby seaside towns. The most practical route is by car or by regional train to Mataró, followed by local transport or a short taxi ride into the centre of Cabrera de Mar.

When is the best time to visit?

The Maresme region enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, so Can Dalmases can be visited year-round. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for walking around the town, while a summer visit pairs well with a stop at the nearby beaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Can Dalmases? The building is owned by the town council, but access to the interior depends on the current schedule of events and any ongoing conservation work, so it is worth checking ahead of a visit.

Why does the building have so many names? Can Ros, Cal Conde, and Can Vilardaga all reflect the succession of owning families — the Ros, the Dalmases, and later the Counts of Vilardaga — who held and remodelled the estate at different points in its history.

What is the oldest part of the building? The estate itself has been documented since 1231, but the structure visible today largely reflects the 1676 renovation along with later work carried out in the 18th and 20th centuries.

What is the tiled scene by the pool? It is a polychrome ceramic decoration from 1763 depicting Saint Paul, one of the estate's most distinctive decorative features.