La Riera, 124-182
The Col·legi Maristes de Valldemia school is one of the oldest in Mataró and one of the best examples of neoclassical architecture. It was founded in 1855 as the Col·legi de Catalunya, but some years later, when the Marists took over, it took on its current name in honour of its founder, Ermengol Coll de Valldemia.
The original construction, built outside the city walls, was the work of the architect Jeroni Boada. Josep Goday was responsible for the extension. Several elements allow us to classify this building as neoclassical: its sgraffito decoration, the Corinthian-inspired columns, the symmetrical layout of the façade and the proportionality and elegance of the elements.
At the end of the 19th century, the Maristas de Valldemia was known as a school promoting a modern and Christian education. It received the gold medal for educational quality at the Paris Universal Exhibitions in 1878 and 1900. Such a distinction is beyond the reach of most!
This building, however, has not always been used as a school. During the Civil War it was a Blood Hospital and more recently it has been used several times as a film set. Do you remember the film Black Bread by Agustí Villaronga? Some scenes were filmed in this building.
