Canet de Mar town hall

Canet de Mar Town Hall is the seat of local government in this small coastal town on the Maresme coast, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia. Standing on Carrer Ample right in the heart of Canet de Mar, the building has served as the town's administrative center for more than a century.

Why stop at the town hall?

Canet de Mar is known for its Modernista architecture — it's the birthplace of Lluís Domènech i Montaner, one of the leading Catalan architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While the town hall was built in a different style, it belongs to the same era of civic building that reshaped the town, and it makes a natural landmark when exploring the historic center. The building is listed as a Local Cultural Heritage Asset (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local), underlining its role in the town's identity.

What does the building look like, and in what style was it built?

The current town hall was raised in the historicist style (historicisme), fashionable across Catalonia at the turn of the 20th century and drawing on earlier architectural periods for inspiration. Its facade on Carrer Ample gives the building a formal, civic presence that stands out from the residential streets around it.

How did the town hall end up at this address?

The story of Canet de Mar's municipal seat goes back further than the current building suggests. The town's first council dates to 1599, originally meeting at Torre de Mar, near the mouth of the Torre stream. For a long stretch afterward, the council had no fixed home at all — sessions were held in the private houses of whichever councillors were in office. Only in the 19th century were dedicated buildings set aside for municipal business: first on Carrer Font, then by the Lledoners stream, and later on Carrer Vall.

The turning point came in 1903, when the executors of the marriage estate of Eusebi Golart and Teresa Palau purchased two houses on Carrer Ample specifically to build a new Casa de la Vila. The project was assigned to architect Emili Cabanyes i Rabassa, with construction carried out by surveyor Joan Dotras Manyà. The new town hall was formally inaugurated on June 28, 1906.

Has the building changed since it was built?

Yes. As the town grew and municipal administration expanded, the original floor space soon proved too small. In the late 1980s, the adjoining property at number 13 Carrer Ample was incorporated into the complex, adding office space and improving services for residents. The extension preserved the historic facade while giving the town hall the extra rooms it needed to keep functioning.

What else is nearby?

The town hall sits right in the center of Canet de Mar, an easy walk from the beach and the main streets of the old town. It's a good starting point for exploring a town known for its Modernista buildings — including several tied to the Domènech i Montaner family — as well as its narrow, atmospheric lanes leading down to the sea.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the town hall? The building is an active local government office, so public access is generally limited to opening hours and common areas such as the entrance hall.

When was the current town hall built? Construction began in 1903 and the building was formally inaugurated on June 28, 1906.

Who designed the building? The architect was Emili Cabanyes i Rabassa, with construction overseen by surveyor Joan Dotras Manyà.

Is the building protected as heritage? Yes, it's listed as a Local Cultural Heritage Asset (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local).

Where exactly is the town hall located? On Carrer Ample, in the center of Canet de Mar, in the province of Barcelona, on the Maresme coast.