Arenys de Mar, Coastal municipality in Barcelona Province, Spain
Arenys de Mar is a coastal town along the Mediterranean that stretches with beaches, narrow streets, and old defensive towers set against descending hills. The center features an Art Nouveau building that now serves as the main market, while two museums display local craft traditions and mineral collections.
The settlement developed with defensive structures built to protect against pirate raids, as shown by the watchtowers still visible today. In the 16th century the parish church was built, later receiving a notable Baroque altarpiece crafted in the 18th century.
Lace-making has deep roots here, and you can still see how locals value this traditional craft through museum displays and local practice. The community's connection to the sea and surrounding land appears in how these skills are passed down through generations.
The market in the Art Nouveau building opens in the mornings and Friday afternoons, with an additional street market on Saturday mornings. Plan your visit around these market days to experience the local trade and explore the narrow streets at different times.
The cemetery atop Turó de la Pietat follows an old Mediterranean burial tradition with graves oriented toward the sea. This westward alignment creates an unexpected connection between the burial ground and the sea horizon that most visitors overlook.
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