Can Jaumetó

Can Jaumetó is an 18th-century masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in Vilassar de Dalt, a small town in the Maresme region about 25 km northeast of Barcelona. The building stands on Carrer Manuel Moreno and is listed in the cultural heritage register of the Barcelona provincial council (Mapes de Patrimoni Cultural). It is one of many masies scattered across the hills of Vilassar de Dalt — a town that has kept much of the rural, agricultural character typical of Maresme before the coast turned toward mass tourism.

What will you see?

Can Jaumetó represents what's classified as "modern popular" style architecture — plain, functional rural building without decorative flourishes, typical of 18th-century Catalan farmsteads. It has a rectangular floor plan, a ground floor plus two upper stories, and forms part of a row of terraced houses (built wall-to-wall with its neighbors). The roof is covered in traditional Arabic tiles, with two slopes and a ridge running parallel to the main façade.

The south-facing main entrance is marked by a rounded-arch portal built from dressed stone voussoirs — a detail that sets the building apart from simpler farmhouses nearby. The window openings on the first and second floors also feature carved stone surrounds, a sign that the original owners held a certain status in the area.

It's worth knowing that the building's current state is only partial: a significant stretch of the façade still stands, but the structure as a whole is not intact. That makes Can Jaumetó a more rewarding stop for visitors interested in rural architecture and Maresme's history than for anyone expecting a polished tourist attraction.

How to get there?

Vilassar de Dalt sits a few kilometers inland from the coastal town of Vilassar de Mar and is well connected via the C-32 highway and local rail links from Barcelona (train to Vilassar de Mar station, then a short bus or taxi ride up to Vilassar de Dalt). By car from central Barcelona, the trip takes roughly 30–40 minutes. Carrer Manuel Moreno lies within the built-up part of town, so reaching the house on foot from the center of Vilassar de Dalt is straightforward.

When to visit?

The Maresme region has a typical Mediterranean climate — spring (April to June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the most pleasant conditions for exploring, while summer can turn hot and humid. Since Can Jaumetó is mainly viewed from the outside, visiting in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer, brings out the detail in the stone portal and tiled roof best.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Can Jaumetó? No, the building is partially ruined and not open for interior visits. It's viewed from the outside as an example of Maresme's rural architecture.

What exactly is a masia? A masia is a traditional Catalan country house, usually tied to a working farm, built from stone and brick with a distinctive two-slope roof. Can Jaumetó is one of several such houses found around Vilassar de Dalt.

Is Can Jaumetó officially protected as heritage? Yes, the building appears in Catalonia's cultural heritage inventory (Mapes de Patrimoni Cultural), maintained by the Diputació de Barcelona, confirming its historical and architectural value.

What else is worth seeing in Vilassar de Dalt? The town has a compact historic center with several other masies and a 19th-century Archive-Museum. It makes a good base for visiting a handful of similar rural architecture sites around Maresme in a single trip.