Malgrat de Mar
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| General information | |||||
| Province | Barcelona | ||||
| Comarca | Maresme | ||||
| Demonym | Malgratenc, malgratenca | ||||
| Land Area | 8.82 km² | ||||
| Altitude | 4 m AMSL | ||||
| Population | 17,822 (2007) | ||||
| Density | 2,020.63 hab./km² | ||||
| Mayor | Conxita Campoy i Martí | ||||
Malgrat de Mar is a municipality in the comarca of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Santa Susanna and Blanes (Selva). Barcelona. A local road runs from the town to the main N-II road, while the B-682 connects it with Blanes, Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar It is served by a RENFE railway station on the line between Barcelona and Maçanet-Massanes.
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[edit] Demography
The town has grown very fast in the last 40 years, with a progressive increase of the population. In 2006 his population grow until 19,923 inhabitants (1 January), with a density of population of 2538.54 habs. by km ².
| 1900 | 1930 | 1950 | 1970 | 1986 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,738 | 4,607 | 4,859 | 9,174 | 10,799 | 17,822 |
[edit] Climate
The town is located 4 meters above the sea level. It has a coastal-mediterranian climate, with smoothed temperatures almost over the whole year. The annual precipitation amount averaged over the last 18 years is about 650 mm.
[edit] History
Malgrat de Mar was firtsly populated between centuries XIII and XIV, when it was known as Vilanova de Palafolls. However, it is known that the early inhabitants of Malgrat built their houses on the hill (named "El Castell") that is located in the middle of the town.
[edit] Monuments and places of interest
[edit] The downtown
Església de Sant Nicolau (Church of St Nicolau): It was built on XVI century, but later, on XVIII century it was widened. Because of the hugeness of the building, it is known as the Cathedral of the Coast.
Peixateries Velles (The old market): Initially, the central space was not covered. On the South side there were the meat market, while on the North side there were the fish market. On this later side, the stone-made waiter where the fish was sold is still conserved.
L'Ajuntament (The Town Hall). A Modernist style building, which was inaugurated on 15th August of 1913. Indoors has been completely renewed.
La Cooperativa (The Cooperative - The library): One of the oldest buildings in Malgrat, built by the Clapers, a very important family of the XVI century. Later, it was a blood hospital (XVVIII century), the Casino Malgratenc (a cultural society) on the XIX century, and a worker's cooperative on the XX century. Finally, it has become the popular library, on XXI century.
Ca l'Arnau: A Modernist style building, built on 1914. Recently, it had been renewed and it has become the Music School.
Antic Hospital (The Old Hospital): On 1441, Hug Descolomer founded this hospital to help the poor people. Nowadays it has become a therapeutical center, and its chapel is used as an exhibition gallery
El Castell (The castle): It is a tower located on the top of the hill which is situated just in the middle of the town. It is surrounded by a beautiful park, and it can be accessed by many streets. One of them is known as Hug Descolomer, totally constituted by steps, next to the Passatge dels Arcs (Archs passage). From the park it can be seen a huge panoramical view of Malgrat and its surrounding areas.
Torre de la Vídua de Can Sala: Another Modernist style building, very deteriorated but it still can be appreciated its beauty.
Can Campassol: Park located in Carrer de Mar (Mar st) where there was a colonial style house where Zenobia Camprubí was born (the wife of Juan Ramón Jiménez, Nobel Award of Literature, 1956). In the artificial lake of the park there is a sculpture remembering Zenobia.
La Pilona: It is an artificial platform located in the middle of the sea. In 1910s, it was used to charge ships with de mineral extracted from the mines of Can Palomeres, that were in the mountains located in the North of Malgrat. There were an aerial structure to transport the mineral from the mines towards the platform.
Torre de l'Esquena: A singular building that illustrates the typical architecture of 1800s.
Plaça de Marià Cubí (Marià Cubí sq.): Inaugurated on 1956. The sculpture is dedicated to Marià Cubí i Soler, born in Malgrat on 1801, who became a prestigious frenologist and linguist.
Escoles Montserrat (Montserrat Schools): They were inaugurated on 1927. The project was designed by Juli Maria Fosas, an architect who built many modernist houses in Barcelona. They had been recently remodeled.
[edit] Agricultural, natural and urban spaces
Pla de Pineda (The pine forest's land): It is located behind the hotels in Passeig Marítim. This space has conserved the agriculture in spite of the hard urbanistic pressure. It is very pleasant to take a walk around this place
Pla de Grau: It is located at the East of the town, between Malgrat and the Tordera river. It is the greatest agricultural space in Malgrat. They are cultivated a great variety of high quality agricultural products, like the well known fesols del ganxet (a variety of white beans). This space has been protected.
The Tordera mouth: Usually, the Tordera river is dry in many parts of its way, but there is a lake in its mouth. There can be found a lot of bird species.
Parc Francesc Macià: It is the newest and biggest park in Malgrat. Its fantastic figures inspired in well known children tales really impress all the foreign visitors.
[edit] The beaches
L'Astillero: Located opposite to the hotel's zone. It is very crown on summer.
Beach of Malgrat center: In front of the Malgrat downtown. Since 1997 has had the European Blue Flag every year in recognition of its quality.
Beach of the Tordera Mouth: It is the largest and quietest beach in Malgrat. It is extended from the Malgrat downtown to the Tordera mouth.
[edit] References
- Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).
[edit] External links
- Official website (Catalan)
- Information - Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan)
- Statistical information - Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (Catalan)
- Historic-artistic heritage
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