Arenys de Mar (, ''arenys'' being

Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...

for "sands (of a seasonal creek)", and ''de mar'' for "by the sea" as opposed to

Arenys de Munt Arenys de Munt (, ''arenys'' being Catalan for "sands (of a seasonal creek)", and ''de munt'' for "up hill" as opposed to Arenys de Mar, "sands by the sea") is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated i ...

, "sands up hill") is one of the main municipalities of the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...

Maresme Maresme () is a '' comarca'' (county) located along the Catalan Mediterranean coast in Spain, between the ''comarques'' of Barcelonès (at the Southwest) and Selva (at the Northeast), and also bordering with Vallès Oriental (at the west). It ...

, Barcelona Province,

Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It is situated on the coast between

Caldes d'Estrac Caldes d'Estrac (, also known as Caldetes) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Sant Vicenç de Montalt and Arenys de Mar. It is served by the main N-II road along the coast and ...

and

Canet de Mar Canet de Mar () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Arenys de Mar and Sant Pol de Mar. and el Montnegre ranges. It is a tourist centre, but is also known for the cultivatio ...

, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

. , it had a population of 14,688. Arenys' harbour was for many years the only existing port on the north coast of

. The beaches, framed by hills which run right down to the sea, give a preview of the neighbouring

Costa Brava The Costa Brava (, ; "Wild Coast" or "Rough Coast") is a coastal region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. Whilst sources differ on the exact definition of the Costa Brava, it can be regarded as stretching from the town of Blanes, northeast o ...

Main sights

The beaches at Arenys are large, and are formed by the coarse grained sand (Platja del Cabaió). Sights include the parish church of Santa Maria, with a Baroque

reredo A reredos ( , , ) is a large altarpiece, a screen, or decoration placed behind the altar in a church. It often includes religious images. The term ''reredos'' may also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular architecture, for e ...

, built in 1704 by the sculptor Pau Costa. Along Church Street are the Marés Museum of Lace-making and the Mollfulleda Museum of Mineralogy, forming the

Arenys de Mar Museum Arenys de Mar Museum ( ca, Museu d'Arenys de Mar) is a museum in Arenys de Mar, Spain. It is made up of two different sections: the Marès Lace Museum and the Mollfulleda Mineralogy Museum, and it also conserves and exhibits the collection from t ...

. Some of the defense towers built to protect against pirates, are still conserved. Arenys cemetery, known as Cementiri de Sinera, is a characteristic example of Mediterranean marine cemeteries. It is oriented westward, on top of the Turó de la Pietat.

Economy and culture

Arenys is the capital of the county district.

Fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

and related industries are the principal economic activity of the town. Two industrial zones are being developed under public and private promotion. Agriculture has gone down in the last years, but the cultivation of fruits and vegetables is still thriving. The fishing and the various related industries which have grown around the harbour move a considerable part of the economic activity of the town. The harbour is the most important one in the Maresme and has practically the whole fishing fleet of the region. A fish

auction An auction is usually a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder. Some exceptions to this definition ex ...

takes place every afternoon when the boats return. There is ample space in the port reserved for

yacht A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

s. During the summer, many sailing boats anchor here on their

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...

journey. The

shipyard A shipyard, also called a dockyard or boatyard, is a place where ships are built and repaired. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance a ...

is still an important local industry. The Riera (the dry uncovered river bed) is the commercial centre and the hub of all local activities. The market, an

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...

building, remains open every morning as well as Friday afternoons. Inside, it is bustling with people and constant activity. On Saturday mornings, the commercial hustle takes itself to the Riera in the form of a weekly street market. Two village festivals are held in honour of Saint Zenon (9 July) and Saint Roc (16 August), and a big fair is celebrated on Saint Joan's Day (24 June). Arenys de Mar possesses a grammar school, an agricultural school for chicken farming, a school of music and various schools where the old craft of

lace-making Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is divided into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...

is taught.

Transport

Arenys is to

by the N-II road or the A-19 highway. The district train ( R1 line) covers the distance to

Plaça de Catalunya Plaça de Catalunya (, meaning in English language, English "Catalonia Square"; sometimes referred to as Plaza de Cataluña, its Spanish name) is a large square in central Barcelona that is generally considered to be both its city centre and the p ...

, in the centre of

in 50 minutes. The road B-511 communicates with the highway A-7 (exit Sant Celoni) through Collsacreu. The Montseny massif is quite close, while the Natural Parks of Montnegre and the Corredor are just round the corner.

Girona Girona (officially and in Catalan language, Catalan , Spanish: ''Gerona'' ) is a city in northern Catalonia, Spain, at the confluence of the Ter River, Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell rivers. The city had an official population of 103,369 in ...

is away, and for a trip to

Montserrat Montserrat ( ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is part of the Leeward Islands, the northern portion of the Lesser Antilles chain of the West Indies. Montserrat is about long and wide, with r ...

you need little more than an hour.

Barcelona International Airport Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

is away, that of Girona-Costa Brava, . Arenys de Mar also has a bus line that connects the town with

and

Sant Iscle de Vallalta Sant Iscle de Vallalta is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Comarques of Catalonia, ''comarca'' of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated inland from the coast, in the valley of the Sant Pol river below the Montnegre range. A ...

People

* Santa Paula Montal (1799–1889), founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Sisters of the Pious Schools * Fidel Fita i Colomer, a Jesuit and director of the Royal Academy of History of Spain * , businessman *

Maurici de Sivatte i de Bobadilla Maurici de Sivatte i de Bobadilla ( es, Mauricio de Sivatte y de Bobadilla) (1901–1980) was a Spanish Carlist politician. He is known as leader of Catalans, Catalan Carlism in two separate strings, briefly in the early 1930s and then in th ...

(1901-1980), Carlist politician * Jaime Partagás y Ravell, founded the cigar brand that bears his name *

Salvador Espriu Salvador Espriu i Castelló (; 10 July 1913 – 22 February 1985) was a Catalan poet. Biography Espriu was born in Santa Coloma de Farners, Catalonia, Spain. He was the son of an attorney. He spent his childhood between his home town, Barcelon ...

(1913–1985), poet * , writer, politician and historian * (1972-), film director *

Cesc Fàbregas Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas Soler (; ; born 4 May 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Italian Serie B club Como. Fàbregas came through ''La Masia'', Barcelona's youth academy, leaving at 16 when ...

(1987-), footballer * Sergi Gomez (1992-), footballer

References

Bibliography

* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). ''Guia de Catalunya'', Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. (Spanish). (Catalan).

External links

Official website

Government data pages
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arenys De Mar Municipalities in Maresme Spa towns in Catalonia Populated places in Maresme Seaside resorts in Spain