Can Rogiet

Can Rogiet is a heritage house in Alella, a small town in the Maresme region, roughly a dozen kilometres northeast of Barcelona. Locally the building is also known as "ca l'Italià" — a nickname reflecting its distinctive, southern-European, eclectic look, which sets it apart from the typical rural Catalan architecture around it. It stands on Carrer Calderó, in a quiet part of town, behind a garden closed off by a wrought-iron gate.

What will you see at Can Rogiet?

The house has an almost square floor plan and an eclectic facade typical of the well-off homes built around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in this part of Catalonia. The walls are rendered to imitate cut stone blocks — a popular decorative trick of the period, meant to give a building an air of solidity and prestige without the cost of real stonework.

The most striking feature of the facade is its paired windows topped with semicircular arches, repeated along both the front and side elevations, creating a clear, rhythmic pattern that catches the eye immediately. On the first floor, prominent balconies project from the facade, lending the building a lighter feel while underlining its representative character. At the centre of the roofline rises a raised body — essentially an extra, smaller storey — that provides access to a rooftop terrace, from which the rooftops of Alella and the surrounding vineyard-covered hills come into view.

Can Rogiet is listed in the local cultural heritage catalogue with local-interest protected status (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local), meaning its facade and overall structure are subject to special oversight by the municipality.

How do you get to Can Rogiet?

Alella sits right off the C-32 motorway, about a 20-minute drive from central Barcelona toward the Maresme coast. The town is also reachable by regional train (the Barcelona–Mataró–Blanes line), getting off at Alella-Masnou-Teià station and continuing by local bus or taxi, since the station itself lies outside the town centre. Can Rogiet is located within Alella's historic core, within walking distance of the main square and parish church, making it easy to combine with a stroll through the old town.

The building is privately owned, so visits are limited to viewing the facade and exterior — which is enough to appreciate the architectural details, especially the arched windows and balconies.

When should you visit Alella?

The best time to visit is spring (April–June) or early autumn (September–October), when temperatures are mild and the surrounding vineyards of the DO Alella wine region look their best — green with new growth in spring, or colourful during the grape harvest in autumn. Summers can get hot and crowded on the nearby Maresme beaches, worth keeping in mind if you plan to walk around town in the middle of the day.

Alella makes a good base for exploring nearby vineyards and tasting local DO Alella wines, and a visit to Can Rogiet pairs easily with a walk past the other heritage houses scattered through the town's historic centre.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Can Rogiet? No — it's a private residence, so it can only be viewed from the outside.

Where does the nickname "ca l'Italià" come from? It's a local nickname referring to the building's eclectic, southern-European architectural style, which stands out from the surrounding regional architecture.

Is Can Rogiet a protected heritage building? Yes, it is listed in the local cultural heritage catalogue with municipal protected status.

How much time should you set aside for the area? Viewing the house itself takes only a few minutes, but plan for 1–2 hours to explore Alella's historic centre and nearby streets.