Can Genové

Can Genové is a late-19th-century residential mansion in El Masnou, a seaside town in the Maresme region roughly 20 km northeast of Barcelona. The house was built in 1880 for Pere Genové i Colomer (1834–1900), a local pharmacist and politician, and still stands on Avinguda de Joan XXIII, one of the town's main streets.

How do you get to Can Genové?

El Masnou sits on the Rodalies R1 commuter line connecting Barcelona with Mataró and Girona, so the train ride from central Barcelona takes under half an hour. From the station it's a short walk inland to Avinguda de Joan XXIII 16, away from the seafront. The house stands within an ordinary residential block, so the easiest way to see it is on foot, folding it into a walk through El Masnou's older streets.

What does the building look like?

Can Genové is a freestanding house on a rectangular plan, with a ground floor and two upper storeys, topped by a two-sloped roof that forms a triangular pediment on both the front and back façades. The main façade is laid out symmetrically around three vertical axes, with pilasters and simple mouldings framing the door and window openings — a composition typical of the homes built for well-off Maresme families around the turn of the 20th century. The top floor was designed as an open gallery, which lightens the overall silhouette despite the house's solid proportions.

The house was originally surrounded by an extensive garden attributed to Gaietà Buïgas i Monravà, the Catalan architect best known for designing Barcelona's Columbus Monument. The garden connected to the house through a semi-basement level. Over time, part of the grounds was built over with apartment blocks, so the original green space has shrunk considerably, though its layout can still be traced when walking around the property.

Can you visit the interior?

Can Genové remains a private residence, so there is no organized visiting schedule or public access to the interior. Its interest for visitors lies mainly in the façade and overall volume, viewed from the street — one of the clearer surviving examples of El Masnou's residential architecture from the late 19th century, and a natural stop on a walk through the town's historic core.

Why is the building protected?

Can Genové is listed as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Local (BCIL), a heritage designation for assets of local cultural significance, under catalogue number 8593-I. It also appears in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia, card number 8607. This dual heritage listing confirms the house's recognized value as part of the local architectural record, even though it remains privately owned.

When is the best time to visit?

Since a visit is limited to viewing the exterior, the season matters less here than it would for a museum or a site with restricted opening hours. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable times for walking around El Masnou — mild temperatures make strolling pleasant, and the town isn't as crowded as it gets during the peak summer season along the Maresme coast. It's worth pairing the visit with a walk along the seafront promenade and the rest of the town's historic buildings.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Can Genové? No — it's a private residence with no organized public access. It's meant to be viewed from the outside.

Who built Can Genové, and when? The house was built in 1880 for Pere Genové i Colomer, a local pharmacist and politician.

What's the story behind the garden? The original, extensive garden was designed by Gaietà Buïgas i Monravà, who also designed Barcelona's Columbus Monument. Part of the grounds was later built over, so today's garden is much smaller than the original.

Is the building protected as heritage? Yes, it's listed as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Local (BCIL) and included in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia.