Quinta Santana

Quinta Santana is an eclectic-style mansion in Montgat, a small coastal town in the Maresme region just north of Barcelona. The building stands along the road to Tiana and has functioned as a Claretian minor seminary for decades, but its architecture still catches the eye of anyone passing by, even without stepping onto the grounds.

What will you see?

Quinta Santana is a square-plan building with a ground floor and two upper stories, topped by a four-sloped roof. At its center rises a square tower that gives the whole structure a villa-like silhouette. The windows and doors on the lower floors are topped with round arches, a hallmark of eclectic architecture from the second half of the 19th century. The facade is decorated with large wrought-iron balconies and a canopy, while ornamental moldings mark the transition between floors — the uppermost one lined with a row of blind arches in a classicist style.

The grounds are worth a look too: an avenue lined with greenery leads to the building, flanked by stone hydria vases and balustrades, completing the impression of a 19th-century leisure residence. The wrought-iron entrance gate bears the date 1870, although the building itself was constructed earlier, in the mid-19th century.

What is the history behind it?

Quinta Santana was built as a private summer residence in the mid-19th century. Such "quintas" were popular among wealthy Barcelona families seeking a retreat on the Maresme coast. On July 16, 1948, the property was acquired by the Claretian order (Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary), who converted it into a seminary.

Adapting the building to its new role required remodeling the top floor and the roof. During the 1948 renovation, the original round-arched windows on the upper level were replaced with straight-lintel ones — a detail still visible today when comparing the top floor with the lower ones, where the original arches remain intact. The building still operates as the Seminari Menor dels Claretians, the order's minor seminary.

Because of its architectural value, Quinta Santana is listed in the Inventory of Catalan Architectural Heritage (Inventari del Patrimoni Arquitectònic Català), which formally protects it as part of the region's historic fabric.

How do you get there?

Quinta Santana sits on Carretera de Tiana in Montgat, a town well connected to Barcelona by the Rodalies commuter train, which reaches the city center in around 20 minutes. From the station, it's a walk toward the hills that separate Montgat from Tiana. Since the building is an active seminary, the interior is generally not open to visitors, but it's worth stopping by the gate to admire the facade and tower up close.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for a walk around the area, when temperatures along the Maresme coast are mild and the greenery around the building looks its best. Montgat can get crowded in summer because of its beaches, but Quinta Santana itself, set slightly inland near the hills, keeps a quiet character regardless of the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Quinta Santana? The building is used as a Claretian minor seminary, so the interior is not open to the general public. The facade and garden can still be admired from outside.

Who built Quinta Santana? It was built in the mid-19th century as a private summer residence, typical of wealthy Barcelona families vacationing on the Maresme coast.

Why is it also called Seminari Menor dels Claretians? Since 1948 the property has belonged to the Claretian order, which turned it into a minor seminary — hence its second, functional name.

Is Quinta Santana a protected building? Yes, it is listed in the Inventory of Catalan Architectural Heritage as a site of historic and architectural value.