Can Santpare

Can Santpare is a historic masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in Dosrius, a village in the Maresme county of Barcelona province. The building stands at Carrer de Pablo Picasso 30 and is one of around fifteen rural properties listed in the municipality's cultural heritage inventory.

What makes Can Santpare worth knowing about?

The farmhouse dates to the 17th century and belongs to what is classified as the popular modern style, typical of rural Catalan construction from that era. Its layout is irregular, the result of several sections built onto one another over time. The main volume has two storeys (ground floor and upper floor), while some of the attached sections are single-storey. The roof is covered in traditional Arab tile, with two slopes and a ridge running perpendicular to the main façade — a common trait of older masies in the area.

The façade features a rectangular entrance portal with stone jambs and a wooden lintel. The upper-floor windows are rectangular, framed in stone and resting on stone corbels. In front of the main façade stands a covered circular well built of stone and brick, a typical feature of old Catalan farm properties. The main, restored section shows exposed stone masonry, while the secondary wing is rendered.

Over time Can Santpare was split into separate dwellings — historically at least four independent units occupied the property, which explains the complex, multi-part shape of the building seen today.

What is the history behind the building?

The earliest known record of the property dates to 1632, when it appears in Dosrius documents as the house of the "Monner" family. In later centuries the estate was linked to the Martorell and Munné families. It shows up in property tax records from 1779–1792 and was mapped on the municipal cadastral survey of 1853. In 1970 the roof was rebuilt using concrete beams and the interior was renovated, and in the late 1970s and early 1980s one of the attached sections, known as "Can Bernat," underwent an extensive renovation.

How do you get to Can Santpare?

Dosrius sits inland from the Maresme coast, a short drive from Mataró and the Costa del Maresme beaches. The easiest way to reach it is by car, leaving the C-32 motorway or the N-II road toward the interior of the municipality; Carrer de Pablo Picasso lies within the built-up part of the village. Regional buses connecting Mataró with Maresme towns also serve the area, with a short walk from the nearest stop. Keep in mind that Can Santpare is a residential building, now divided into private dwellings, so visits are limited to viewing the façade and surroundings from the outside.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with mild Maresme temperatures that suit walking routes through the Corredor and Sant Mateu hills combined with a look at Dosrius's rural architecture. Summer can be hot and the coast gets crowded, but the inland part of the municipality stays quieter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Can Santpare? No — it is a private residential building divided into separate dwellings, so it can only be viewed from the outside.

How old is the building? It dates to the 17th century, though the earliest written record of a farmhouse on the site goes back to 1632.

What are the most distinctive architectural features? The irregular shape formed by several joined sections, the Arab-tile roof, and the stone well preserved in front of the main façade.

What's the best way to get to Dosrius? By car from around Mataró or via the C-32 motorway, or by regional bus serving the Maresme towns.