Can Vilomara

Can Vilomara (also spelled Can Vilumara) is a 19th-century country residence in Cabrils, in the Maresme region, roughly 25 kilometres north of Barcelona. The house stands on Camí del Coll de Port, surrounded by the orchards and hillside villas typical of Maresme, and counts among the best-preserved examples of the area's late-19th-century residential architecture.

What is the history behind the house?

The building went up in 1883, a date forged into the iron gate of its garden, which still lets historians pin down the construction year precisely. It was built for the Vilumara family, tied to Catalonia's silk industry. Ramon Vilumara Broquetas, one of the family's members, was a well-known entrepreneur in that sector during the 19th century, and the Vilumaras were also behind the founding of a financial institution in 1862. His son, Josep Vilumara i Saus, carried the family's business forward. Ownership later passed to descendants, the Vallet Nubiola family.

One notable episode in the house's history took place in the summer of 1902, when Ramona Vilumara hosted the writer Dolors Monserdà there. Monserdà was the author of "La Fabricanta", a significant 19th-century Catalan novel portraying the country's industrial society. Over the following decades the building underwent several rounds of modification and expansion, altering its layout while keeping the essential character of a period country house.

What will you see at Can Vilomara?

The building follows a layout typical of elegant Maresme country houses from the late 1800s: a rectangular footprint, a flat roof terrace ringed with balustrades on all four sides, and a distinctive square tower rising between two wings, also finished with a flat, balustraded roof. The composition pairs a front and a rear rectangular volume, with the rear one lower than the front, giving the house a layered silhouette that is visible from the road. Its style leans eclectic with neoclassical touches, in keeping with Catalan country-house architecture of the period.

Within the grounds there is also a small chapel and a water well — features common to the larger masies and country estates of Maresme, reflecting how self-sufficient such properties needed to be in the 19th century.

Keep in mind that Can Vilomara is a private property and is not open for interior visits. The main draw for visitors is the architecture itself, seen from outside: the tower and terraces fit neatly into the landscape of Cabrils, where similar period residences are scattered among the hills and orchards.

When is the best time to visit?

Cabrils sits inland, in the gentle hill country of Maresme, so spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons for exploring the area, with mild temperatures and greener surroundings. In summer, aim for the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. The village pairs well with a visit to the nearby Maresme coastline, only a few kilometres away.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Can Vilomara? No, it is a private residence. You can view it from outside along Camí del Coll de Port.

How do you get to Can Vilomara? The house is in Cabrils, in the Maresme region, reachable by car from Barcelona (about 25–30 km) or from the nearby coastal towns of Maresme.

Where does the name come from? The name comes from the Vilumara family (also spelled Vilomara), who built the house in 1883 and were linked to Catalonia's silk industry.

Does the building have historical significance? Yes — beyond its architectural value, it is tied to the history of Catalonia's silk industry and to the 1902 stay of writer Dolors Monserdà.