Mas Terrillo

Mas Terrillo is a protected heritage house in Cabrera de Mar, a small town in the Maresme region of Catalonia, Spain. Tucked away from the coastline on Carrer de Xaloc, it's a rewarding stop for travelers who enjoy discovering lesser-known corners of the Catalan countryside rather than sticking to the beach.

Where is Mas Terrillo located?

The house stands inland within the municipality of Cabrera de Mar, roughly half an hour northeast of Barcelona by road, close to coordinates 41.522, 2.396. The surrounding area mixes residential streets with open green patches typical of the land just behind the Maresme shoreline, quite different from the busier zone closer to the beach.

How do you get there?

By car, take the C-32 motorway or the N-II road toward Cabrera de Mar, then follow signs inland to Carrer de Xaloc. If you prefer public transport, the Rodalies R1 commuter train stops at Cabrera de Mar-Vilassar de Mar station; from there it's a short walk inland, away from the sea, to reach the property.

What will you see?

Mas Terrillo is a textbook example of a Catalan masia (country manor) reworked into a Neoclassical residence. The main block is made up of five sections set perpendicular to the façade, rising through a ground floor, first floor and attic, with a lower wing attached on the east side and a columned gallery running along the upper floor. The real draw is the façade itself: classical-style sgraffito decoration added in 1943-45, showing Ionic columns, garlands and ornamental urns. Next to the house stands a small chapel dedicated to Sant Marçal, built in 1947.

Where does the name come from?

"Terrillo" most likely refers to the trade once carried out on the site — hauling earth by cart — practiced by whoever farmed the older house that stood here before the current building was raised.

A short history

An older, more modest farmhouse occupied the plot before the present building. In 1860, Marcial Pérez y Huergo, who had come from Logroño, bought the property after marrying into the Capdevila family of Mataró. In the early 20th century, architect Agustí Borrell remodeled the house into its current form. The sgraffito façade and the chapel came decades later, added as a tribute to Marcial, the ancestor who first acquired the estate.

When should you visit, and what else is there to do?

The grounds around Mas Terrillo now serve the whole community: the Cabrera de Mar town council has set up a multi-sport field and a fenced dog park on the site, so it attracts plenty of local families and pet owners. Since there's little shade and the site is fairly compact, mornings in spring or autumn work best, when the light brings out the detail in the façade's sgraffito. Access is limited to the exterior — the house itself remains private property and stays closed to visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Mas Terrillo? No. It's privately owned, so visitors can only view it from the street and the adjoining public grounds.

How long does a visit take? Seeing the façade, the chapel and the immediate surroundings usually takes 15-20 minutes, longer if you linger at the sports field or dog park next door.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the surrounding grounds are open to the public and free to visit.

Is it worth combining with other sights in Cabrera de Mar? Yes — the town is also known for the Iberian ruins at Burriac and its historic center, both easy to fit into the same day trip.