La Miralda

La Miralda is a historic estate in Alella, a small town in the Maresme comarca roughly 20 km northeast of Barcelona. The complex is listed as a local cultural heritage asset (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local) and ranks among the region's notable examples of 19th-century residential architecture.

Where does the name come from and what is its history?

The story of La Miralda begins in 1833, when the merchant Carles Torrents i Miralda, originally from Manresa, bought a plot of land beside a seasonal stream and began building a house there. Construction stretched over more than two decades, finishing in 1856, and the estate takes its name from its founder. Toward the end of the 19th century the property passed to the Lluçà family, who later sold it on to the Oliva-Rifà family. In the mid-20th century, architect Francesc Mitjans i Miró oversaw a major renovation of the façades, giving the building the appearance it retains today.

What will you actually see there?

The main house is built in the Neoclassical style. Its central section, laid out on a cross-shaped plan, rises through a ground floor and two upper storeys, flanked by lower wings of one floor plus an attic level that form wide galleries carried on rounded arches. The house sits within an extensive garden that still contains outbuildings and decorative details added during the various renovation phases. The estate is located at Riera Principal 5, in a quiet part of Alella away from the main tourist flow.

It's worth noting that La Miralda is not a museum and isn't permanently open to visitors — it remains an important architectural landmark in the town, best appreciated from the outside while exploring Alella on foot.

Why has La Miralda been in the local news?

Covering roughly 112,000 square metres and split across around a dozen individual plots, the estate has for several years been at the centre of a planning debate. The land sits between the highway, Emili Pòlit street, the Can Torras area and neighbouring Masnou. Proposals have included a business and research park — the Àgora Alella-La Miralda project — focused on health innovation and community wellbeing, involving Catalan universities and health institutions. Alongside this, other voices have pushed for protecting the land as a nature reserve with vineyards and local wildlife. The town hall has held several public hearings on the matter, and the outcome remains undecided.

How do you get to La Miralda?

Alella lies less than half an hour by car from central Barcelona via the C-32 motorway. Travellers without a car can take a train or bus to nearby Masnou and continue by local transport or taxi. The estate itself sits on the edge of town, so it pairs well with a walk through Alella's old centre, known for its winemaking tradition and views over the Mediterranean.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early autumn bring the mildest weather to the Maresme and show the surrounding vineyards at their best. Summer tends to be hot and busy, given the pull of the nearby Costa del Maresme beaches, while winter offers a quieter, more low-key visit to Alella.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside La Miralda? No, it isn't open to the public on a regular basis — it's a private estate best seen from the outside during a walk through the surrounding area.

Where does the name La Miralda come from? It comes from Carles Torrents i Miralda, the Manresa merchant who bought the land in 1833 and built the original house there.

What is the Àgora Alella-La Miralda project? It's a proposed business and research park focused on public health, planned for the estate's grounds, and it's currently the subject of ongoing public consultation.

What's the easiest way to reach Alella? Driving via the C-32 motorway from Barcelona takes about 20-30 minutes; alternatively, take a train or bus to Masnou and continue locally from there.