Can Padró

Can Padró is a historic farmhouse (masia) standing in Teià, a small town in the Maresme region, a short drive northeast of Barcelona. The building is listed in Catalonia's Inventory of Architectural Heritage, a clear sign for visitors that this is a documented historic property rather than an ordinary rural building.

What is the history behind Can Padró?

The oldest confirmed date on the building appears above the main entrance: a stone-carved inscription reads 1708, accompanied by a coat of arms bearing the cross of Barcelona Cathedral. This detail is no coincidence — Can Padró once served as a tithe-collection house, where dues and taxes were gathered on behalf of Barcelona Cathedral's chapter, which directly owned several properties in Teià at the time. The building is also known by a second name, Cal Terçó, a local term tied to its former tax-collecting role.

A more recent chapter in the property's story involves the Padró family, from whom the house takes its current name. Their connection to the building began in 1880, when the property was sold by Joaquim Jarrés i Navall to Mercedes Colomer i Lázaro, and lasted for close to a century, shaping the identity of the estate into more recent times.

What does the architecture of Can Padró look like?

The building follows the classic basilical layout common to Catalan masies: the side wings have a ground floor and one upper story, while the central body rises noticeably higher with two full floors. The roof over the tallest central section is double-pitched, with its ridge running perpendicular to the main façade — a design typical of older Catalan farmhouses that helped channel rainwater away from the highest part of the structure. The lower side wings, in turn, are covered by single-pitched roofs.

Doors and windows are framed in stone, with monolithic lintels and wedge-cut voussoir jambs — a technique that added structural stability and was typical of the region's wealthier farming estates. The entire property is enclosed by a rammed-earth wall, a common boundary feature of old Catalan masies that served both a practical and a defensive purpose.

How do you get to Can Padró?

Teià sits in the Maresme region, close to the coast and to the main routes linking Barcelona with the area. The easiest way to arrive is by car, since the town borders larger centers such as Alella and Masnou, connected by local roads. Travelers without a car can take a train or bus to nearby Masnou and continue from there by local transport or on foot into central Teià.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Beyond Can Padró itself, Teià and the neighboring Maresme towns offer plenty of examples of the region's traditional rural architecture — other masies, parish churches, and well-preserved historic centers. It's a good base for exploring a quieter, more authentic stretch of the Catalan coast, away from the crowded beaches.

Frequently asked questions

What is Can Padró? It's a historic masia in Teià, listed in Catalonia's Inventory of Architectural Heritage, that once served as a tithe-collection house for Barcelona Cathedral.

Where does the building's name come from? The name comes from the Padró family, connected to the estate from 1880 for nearly a century. Before that, the building was known as Cal Terçó.

Can visitors go inside the building? Can Padró is a private property — visitors can admire its architecture from the outside, in line with the usual access rules for this type of site.

What is the oldest surviving element of the building? The inscription above the entrance door dated 1708, together with the accompanying coat of arms bearing the cross of Barcelona Cathedral, are the oldest documented parts of the structure.