Along the coast between Barcelona
and the Costa Brava,
a narrow strip on the slopes and at the foot of
the mountains of the coastal range —Sant Mateu,
Corredor and Montnegre ranges (the last two are
a natural park)— with long sandy beaches.
A number of streams, dry for much of the year, flow
down to the shore from the mountains. Mataró
is the capital and there are other towns of great
character and vitality: Arenys
de Mar, Calella, El Masnou, Premià de Mar
and Vilassar de Mar, among others. The geographical
unity of the district is by no means reflected in
its history: the sector from Montgat
to Caldes d'Estrac (Baix
Maresme) has been part of the diocese, county and
magistrature of Barcelona since the Middle Ages,
whilst the sector from Arenys
de Mar to Tordera
(Alt Maresme) has been part of the diocese, county
and magistrature of Girona. Because of the danger
from marauding pirates, the original villages were
built away from the coast (they have the words "de
Dalt" or "de Munt" added), whilst
the old
fishermen’s quarters became important towns
from the 18th century on. The economy has been traditionally
based on agriculture (market gardening, flowers),
the sea (fishing and shipping) and industry (particularly
textiles).
But over the last few decades, the mildness of the
climate, the beauty of the landscape and the fact
that it is so close to Barcelona have made it one
of the leading tourist destinations, especially Alt
Maresme (Calella, Pineda, Malgrat, Arenys), and residential
areas, again because it is within commuting distance
of Barcelona, especially Baix Maresme. The district
has a first rate tourist infrastructure (hotels, camping
sites, yachting harbours, golf, etc.).
