La Riera, 48
You are now facing Mataró City Hall. A curious fact about this building, unlike many other similar constructions in Catalonia, is that the square is behind and not in front of the council building. This, however, has been no impediment on large parties being held annually under this balcony and on important historical events taking place here.
The City Hall is a building that has undergone numerous reforms. In fact, until 1635, this site was also that of the Santa Magdalena Hospital, which shared the space with the University Council, the former municipal government institution.
The building’s present appearance dates from the mid-19th century and is the work of Miquel Garriga i Roca from Alella, the then municipal architect of Mataró. Following the neoclassical architectural style, the exterior of the building presents a very austere and formal harmony. Virtually only the niches, lintels and some sculptural elements stand out.
The symmetry of the façade is presided over by two allegorical sculptures by Josep Aniceto Santigosa, representing prudence and justice, which are very useful values to run a city. If you look a little closer, they can easily be made out. Prudence carries a mirror with a snake in one hand and a book in the other; while justice holds some scales and a Roman staff.
Above the balconies of the first floor, there are the ancient coats of arms of Mataró and Barcelona, since the city had had the privilege of being a street in the Catalan capital, and three medallions with the faces of people of Mataró who have stood out for their virtues: bishop Creus, sculptor Damià Campeny and philologist Antoni Puig Blanch.
There are more interesting elements inside. When the first floor is open, you can see the modernist coffered ceiling of the Sessions Hall, which intercalates coats of arms of the Principality, of the City, of Saint George and of the arts and crafts of Mataró. This is the work of Josep Puig i Cadafalch when he was the municipal architect.
On the same floor, you can see the Gallery of the Illustrious of Mataró, among whom is the poet Terenci Thos i Codina and the developer of the first train on the peninsula, Miquel Biada, among many others. And in the so-called Sala dels Lleons (Lions Hall) you can admire the work “Los últimos mártires del cristianismo” [The Last Martyrs of Christianity] by the painter José Bermudo, dating from 1884.
