An insider’s guide to Mataró

Basílica de Santa Maria de Mataró

The city is built around the iconic Basílica de Santa Maria. It was originally built on the site of a Roman temple and later became a Gothic building. The base of the bell tower,  designed by the Milanese architect Ercole Torelli in 1675, still survives today. Mataró was born around 80AD when the Roman city of Iluro was founded and is now the site of the old town.  Then, Iluro was one of the most important cities of Roman Catalonia, until the third century, when the Roman Empire began to decline.

Mataró became a small medieval town, made up of farmers under the rule of the feudal lords of Castell de Mata. It was brought under the authority of Barcelona in the 15th Century when the chains of feudalism were broken.

Despite not having a port at that time, cargo boats unloaded their goods on Mataró’s beaches to avoid the taxes and tariffs imposed by the Port of Barcelona.  Many Mataró locals decided to go to America to make their fortune, seeing maritime trade as a great opportunity. Some came back very wealthy, and used their money to help drive the Industrial Revolution.

The first railway in Spain was built between Barcelona and Mataró in 1851, demonstrating the historical importance of Mataró as a city for trade and exports. The early textile and knitwear factories took advantage of this and Mataró became one of the most important industrial cities in the country at that time. The textile industry was a point of attraction for people looking for work, a trend that caused the transformation of the city’s appearance through the construction of new working-class neighbourhoods.

Shop, shop, shop…

Plaza Santa Anna

There are many different shopping experiences to be had in Mataró and you can also combine it with some sightseeing, which is why Mataró’s old town is the perfect place to start. In the centre, there are long pedestrian streets, with plentiful shops ranging from local boutiques and independent shops to chain stores and contemporary markets. While strolling along the streets, you will inevitably come across some of Mataró’s many landmarks such as the Basílica de Santa Maria or the Antiga Presó (old prison).

However, if you’re looking for a more traditional shopping experience, then Mataró Parc is the place to be,  This popular mall offers stores with electronics, home decor, jewellery, toys, a large el Campo supermarket and of course many fashion stores. There is also an abundance of restaurants on the top floor as well as a cinema. Very close to the shopping centre, there is a large Decathlon where you can get anything for your sports endeavours. The best time to go is Spanish lunchtimes (from 2-4pm) when the stores tend to be much emptier.

For some of the best deals and local items, keep an eye out for upcoming Mataró markets. The Plaça de Cuba Market has flowers and vegetables for great prices from Tuesday to Saturday in the morning, through to the afternoon. Additionally, on Saturdays, there are smaller markets throughout the city, making it the perfect day to do some authentic Mataró shopping.

Head to the beach…