Can Maioles

Can Maioles is a grand masia — a traditional Catalan country house — in Vilassar de Dalt, in the Maresme district of Barcelona province. Perched on a hillside above the town, the building is listed as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest (BCIL).

What is the history behind Can Maioles?

The site's story reaches back to the Middle Ages. Fourteenth-century records already mention an older farmhouse here, mas Domènech, held under the feudal jurisdiction of Vilassar Castle. In the 15th century the estate passed to the Maioles family, who gave the property its present name. The next major turning point came in the mid-19th century, when the estate was bought by the Biada family — the entrepreneurs behind the first railway line on the Iberian Peninsula, linking Barcelona and Mataró. It was the Biadas who tore down the old mas Domènech and built the manor house that still stands today, turning a modest farmstead into a showpiece family residence. Income from the railway and from trade allowed them to shape the property into something that matched the ambitions of the newly wealthy 19th-century bourgeoisie.

What will you see on site?

The main building is a rectangular late-19th-century manor with a ground floor, two upper storeys and an attic beneath a double-pitched roof whose ridge runs parallel to the façade. An annex with a ground floor, one storey and a balustraded terrace adjoins the house. Its most distinctive feature is the staircase tower, topped with its own terrace ringed by a stone balustrade — the detail that makes Can Maioles recognizable from a distance, even through the trees covering the hillside.

The grounds also include a small chapel, added during the 19th-century renovation. Together with the landscaped garden, a bridge and other decorative elements, it forms part of a single design the owners conceived as one piece — house, garden and place of worship united by the same architectural idea.

How do you get to Can Maioles?

The masia stands within Vilassar de Dalt, a small town in the Maresme district a short distance northeast of Barcelona. Can Maioles lies along the Anella Verda ("Green Ring"), a walking loop around the town popular with both locals and visitors looking for a short countryside walk with views toward the coast. The easiest approach is by car, or by train to Vilassar de Dalt/Mar station, followed by a walk along the trail that climbs into the hills surrounding the town.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the visit involves a hillside walk, partly without shade, spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures and the greenest surroundings. In summer, an early-morning start is recommended to avoid the heat on the trail's exposed stretches. In winter the route tends to be quiet and empty, which some visitors consider an added appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Can Maioles? It is a historic masia built in the late 19th century by the Biada family on the site of the older mas Domènech, first documented in the 14th century.

Can visitors go inside the building? The building is private property protected as a local cultural asset, so visits are limited to viewing it from outside and from the Anella Verda trail.

Are there hiking routes nearby? Yes. Can Maioles stands along the Anella Verda, a walking loop around Vilassar de Dalt that connects several viewpoints and heritage sites.

Where does the estate's name come from? The name comes from the Maioles family, who took over the property in the 15th century; before that, it was known as mas Domènech.