Can Torredà

Can Torredà is a historic masia — a traditional Catalan farmhouse — in the town of Tiana, in the Maresme district of Barcelona province.

The building stands on Carrer d'Edith Llaurador 31, at the eastern edge of town, right where Tiana's streets give way to the road heading toward La Conreria and the hills of Serralada de Marina. It's one of more than a dozen historic masies scattered across the municipality, remnants of an era when the local economy ran on farming and vineyards.

What is this building?

Can Torredà dates from the 17th century and follows the classic basilical layout of Catalan rural architecture: a raised central volume under a two-slope roof, flanked by two lower wings with single-slope roofs. The house rises three levels — ground floor, first floor, and an attic (golfes). Its most valuable architectural feature is the original main doorway, crowned by a semicircular arch built from carefully cut voussoirs; the rest of the window and door openings have been altered over the centuries.

On the right side of the house, a small chapel annex survives, no longer in use. It has a rectangular entrance framed in stone, a round oculus above the door, and a cornice with concave-cut corners whose central section is missing — it likely once supported a small bell gable (espadanya).

Historically, the property was known as the house of Don Antonio de Barata, and its land bordered the neighboring masia Can Nolis. Can Torredà is now listed on Catalonia's heritage register as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Local (an asset of local cultural interest).

How do you get there?

Tiana sits roughly 15 km northeast of central Barcelona, just inland from Badalona, off the Maresme coastline. The easiest way in is by car or local bus — the town has no train station of its own; the nearest Rodalies stops are in Badalona and El Masnou. From the center of Tiana, it's a walk of about fifteen minutes to Can Torredà, out toward the exit road to La Conreria.

What will you see?

Can Torredà is a private residence, so it's visited from the outside, as a stop on a walking route through Tiana's historic farmhouses. Look for the balanced basilical proportions, the stone voussoir arch of the main portal, and the disused chapel detail on the side of the house — a rare surviving example of a private household chapel attached to a Catalan masia. Together, these details give a clear picture of what a well-off farming family's estate looked like here in the 1600s.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn bring the mildest weather around Barcelona and make for the most comfortable walking conditions on the hills around Tiana, where views take in the town's masies and the nearby Serralada de Marina park. In summer, aim for morning or early evening to avoid the midday heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Can Torredà? No — it's a private property, viewable only from the outside as part of a walk through Tiana's historic farmhouses.

How old is the building? It dates from the 17th century and follows the traditional basilical layout of a Catalan masia.

How do you reach Tiana without a car? The nearest train stations are in Badalona and El Masnou, both connected to Tiana by local bus services.

What is the chapel-like annex on the side of the house? It's a small, now-disused household chapel with a stone-framed doorway and an oculus window, likely once topped by a small bell gable.