Enjoy the sea and mountain with a getaway to Maresme

Set in the centrally located Plaça de l'Església, this museum has an excellent collection of pitchers, some of which are very original and funny. The collection is the result of the donations and acquisitions made since 1975. The explanations on the history and manufacturing process of these objects make for an educational experience that’s suitable for all ages. The museum also stages major temporary exhibitions.

Essayist, poet and writer Josep Palau i Fabre maintained a close friendship with Pablo Ruiz Picasso. His Foundation in Caldes d’Estrac contains work by Picasso from his private collection as well as works by other artists like Miro and Gargallo. Aside from the permanent exhibitions, the centre has rooms for temporary exhibits and hosts many other activities throughout the year, such as the Festival Poesia i +, roundtables, conferences and workshops.

Lluís Domènech i Montaner is one of the most important names in the history of Catalan modernism and he left behind a rich legacy, both in architectural and personal terms, in his home town of Canet de Mar. The museum that bears his name is made up of two buildings: Masia Rocosa and Casa Domènech. The first building was his workshop and offers insights into his professional life; while the second is a building he designed for his family and offers a more personal vision of the man. The museum also has spaces for a permanent exhibition on the history of the town and for temporary exhibitions.

In Arenys de Mar lace-making has a long history. So a Lace Museum makes perfect sense here. The Marès Museum has several valuable collections, starting with that of Frederic Marès, who acquired pieces from the Marquis de Valverde, among others. Other highlights include the collection that once belonged to the dancer Carmen Tórtola Valencia, who designed her own costumes, the Castells collection, with laces, patterns and frames from one of the lace manufacturers in Arenys.

The building that houses the Museum-Archive has a number of different sections, but the Gallart Gallery on the first floor is a real stand-out. It contains more than 200 works, mostly figurative oil paintings and drawings by local artist Lluís Gallart i Garcia which are exposed on a rotating basis. But since you’re here, you should also go up to the second floor and visit the modernista-style Barri pharmacy. The other exhibition spaces in this multi-disciplinary museum are given over to dresses and embroidery.

Set in a renaissance-style building in Plaça de l'Ajuntament, the first floor of the museum is reserved for temporary exhibitions. The first and second floors take you on a chronological trip through the history of Mataró from the Roman era to the present, with special attention given to the industrial development of the city as a textile manufacturing centre. The museum has other sections in a number of building around the town, such as Ca l'Arenas (C/ Argentona 64), which hosts an art collection.