Mataró town hall

Mataró Town Hall (Ajuntament de Mataró) sits on Plaça de l'Ajuntament, right in the heart of this coastal city in the Barcelona province, and has served for generations as the seat of local government and a landmark of civic identity.

Where does the building come from?

Locals know the building as Casa Gran, and its origins trace back to the 17th century. It rose during a period when Mataró was expanding as a trading and manufacturing hub on the Catalan coast, and the city's authorities needed a headquarters that matched that growing standing. The façade and interior halls were shaped in a Neoclassical style — the language public buildings of the era often reached for when they wanted to project order and permanence.

Given its historical and architectural value, the building was declared a Cultural Asset of Local Interest (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local) on April 7, 2003. That formal recognition confirms the town hall is more than an administrative office — it's a monument that records successive stages of the city's growth.

What's inside?

A few rooms are worth knowing about before a visit. The Saló de Sessions, the council chamber, was remodeled under the direction of Josep Puig i Cadafalch — an architect born in Mataró itself, best known as one of the leading figures of Catalan modernism and a contemporary of Gaudí within Barcelona's architectural circles of the period. His intervention gave the chamber a character that stands apart from the building's plainer Neoclassical exterior.

The town hall also houses the Sala dels Lleons (Hall of Lions) and the Galeria d'Il·lustres Mataronins, a space dedicated to figures who shaped the city's history. Together these rooms show how the local administration has, over the centuries, built its own narrative around the city and the people connected to it.

Why this spot, and not another building in town?

The square where the town hall stands has a history of its own, separate from the building. The current layout of Plaça de l'Ajuntament results from an expansion carried out in 1773, when a small medieval square was enlarged into the form still recognizable today. That combination — an older public square paired with a seat of government that kept developing across centuries — explains why this spot has long functioned as the city's central point.

It's also worth noting that Mataró's 19th-century growth was tied to the textile industry: the city was among the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution on the Iberian Peninsula, and traces of that era show up across the surrounding architecture, not only at the town hall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors go inside Mataró Town Hall? The building houses an active city administration, so access to the interior depends on current visiting arrangements and office hours — it's worth checking locally before a visit, since these can change.

What's the most interesting part of the interior? Visitors and locals most often point to the Saló de Sessions, remodeled by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, and the Sala dels Lleons — the features that set this town hall's interior apart from others in the region.

How old is the town hall building? The core structure, known as Casa Gran, dates from the 17th century, though the square around it only took its present shape after an expansion in 1773.

Does the town hall have heritage protection? Yes, since 2003 the building has been listed as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest, recognizing its historical value for Mataró.