Introduction
"Mataro" redirects here. For the wine grape, see Mourvèdre. For ancient lake in the Andes, see Mataro (ancient lake).
For the locomotive, see Mataró (locomotive).
Municipality in Catalonia, SpainMataróMunicipalityPort of Mataró
FlagCoat of armsLocation in Maresme countyInteractive map of MataróMataróLocation of MataróShow map of CataloniaMataróMataró (Spain)Show map of SpainCoordinates: 41°32′N 2°27′E / 41.533°N 2.450°E / 41.533; 2.450CountrySpainAutonomous CommunityCataloniaRegionBarcelonaCountyMaresmeProvinceBarcelonaGovernment • MayorDavid Boté Paz (2015) (PSC)Area • Total22.5 km2 (8.7 sq mi)Elevation28 m (92 ft)Population (2025-01-01) • Total131,683 • Density5,850/km2 (15,200/sq mi)DemonymMataroníPostal code08301-08304Websitemataro.cat
Mataró (Catalan pronunciation: [mətəˈɾo]) is the capital and largest town of the Maresme county in Catalonia, Spain. It is located on the Maresme coast, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-east of Barcelona. As of 2021[update], it had a population of 129,749.
History
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Mataró dates back to Roman times when it was a village known as "Iluro" or "Illuro". The ruins of a first-century BC Roman bath house (known locally as the Torre Llauder) were recently discovered and can be visited. The coastal N-II highway follows the same path as the original Roman road, Via Augusta.
The Turó d'Onofre Arnau, an isolated hill which rises to an altitude of 131 metres and which is located close to Mataró. An eleventh-century fortification on the summit of this hill - the "Castell de Mata" - may have given its name to that of Mataró. The castle has since disappeared almost completely. The hill overlooks fields and greenhouses where fruit and vegetables are cultivated.
Roman villa of Can Llauder.
Mataró was declared a city by royal decree, even though at the time (nineteenth century) the population fell short of the requirement for city status.
The first railway in peninsular Spain was the Mataró – Barcelona line which opened on 28 October 1848 by the Catalan businessman and Mataró native Miquel Biada. This line now forms part of the Renfe/Rodalies de Catalunya R1 suburban service between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Maçanet-Massanes. Mataró is also connected with Barcelona and Girona by the C-32 autopista (freeway) and with Granollers by the C-60 autopista.
During the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Mataró was the starting point for the marathon events.
