Museu Romàntic Can Papiol
Neoclassical 18th-century mansion in Vilanova i la Geltrú, converted into a museum of the life of a noble family in the 19th century.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Can Papiol was built between 1790 and 1801 by Maria Càndida Padró and Francesc de Papiol on the site of an old family orchard, at the northern end of the town, next to Carrer Major. The master builder Joan Pau Petxamé received the commission. The neoclassical façade combines painted architecture with a sculpted coat of arms that brings together the lineages Padró, Catà, Martí, Argullol and Papiol.
The Papiol family came from l'Arboç and settled in Vilanova in the middle of the 17th century; it gained influence through land, marriage alliances and titles such as the barony of Jafra. Maria Càndida, by then a widow, and her children moved into the house in 1800. Francesc de Papiol died without descendants in 1817, and the house passed to his nephews, first of the Rubinat family and then of the Torrents.
The Diputació de Barcelona acquired the building in 1959 and turned it into a museum, which opened in 1961. Today it is always visited with a guide and shows the house as a well-to-do family lived in it: the noble floor, with the ballroom, the music room and the games room; the library, with some 6,000 volumes from the 16th to the 19th centuries; the service quarters, with the kitchen, oven and pantry; and the agricultural areas, with granaries, cellars and stables.
The garden, laid out in the romantic style, is one of the few old gardens left in the historic centre of Vilanova and retains a sculptural group in stone and Carrara marble; under the porch, historic carriages and old bicycles are displayed.
Highlights
- Noble floor with ballroom, music room and games room
- Library of some 6,000 volumes from the 16th to the 19th centuries
- Kitchen, oven and pantry of the service quarters
- Romantic-style garden with a sculptural group in Carrara marble
- Historic carriages and old bicycles under the porch
Permanent exhibition
- Casa señorial de la familia Papiol – Guided tour of the noble floor, the library, the service quarters, the agricultural areas and the garden of a 19th-century neoclassical house.
- Founded
- 1961
- Operated by
- Institut Municipal de Patrimoni Cultural (Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrú); edificio propiedad de la Diputació de Barcelona
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50Children aged 4 to 11, students up to age 25, pensioners and retired people, unemployed people, large and single-parent families, holders of the Carnet Jove and Carnet +25, the Targeta Activa, and members of the Associació per a l'Estudi del Moble |
| Children & teens | €2.50free up to age 2 · Free for under-3s; ages 4 to 11, reduced rate. |
| Seniors | €2.50Reduced rate for pensioners and retired people. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission with the Generalitat disability card; the companion also enters free if the card recognises the need for a third person. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50Reduced rate up to age 25. |
| Groups | –Fixed price of €65 per group of up to 20 people, with admission and guided tour included. Booking at least one week in advance. |
| Families | €2.50Reduced rate for large, single-parent and single-mother families. |
With a library card from the Diputació de Barcelona, admission is 2 for 1. Free admission also for members of ICOM, teachers, friends of several partner museums, tourist guides and press card holders. Each discount must be proven. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance on the website.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The main floor is accessible by lift; please mention this when booking. The library and the service areas on the mezzanine are not part of the accessible route. The historic house has no air conditioning. Only guide dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €2.50 · Reduced rate for large, single-parent and single-mother families. |
The museum offers school visits adapted to each level, from early years to bachillerato, with workshops for early years and primary school and the resource “Com vivien al segle XIX?” (How did people live in the 19th century?), in which characters from 1800 explain everyday life. Under-14s must be accompanied.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 150 guests.
Interior garden of 600 m² (100 seated or 150 standing) and interior courtyard for wedding ceremonies (70 seated). The assembly halls on the fourth floor are currently not available. The historic rooms can be hired for filming and photo shoots. Rates follow the municipal fiscal ordinance.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash is allowed, following the staff's instructions; tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted, and guided tours may not be recorded. |
| Good to know | The visit is always guided. Backpacks and large objects, scooters and bicycles are not admitted. Touching the exhibits, eating, drinking and smoking are prohibited, including in the garden. Under-14s must be accompanied by an adult. Groups book by telephone, email or web form. |
