Archaeological site of the Roman villa of Torre Llauder

The discovery of the Roman villa of Torre Llauder in 1961 by Marià Ribas and his team of collaborators marked a significant milestone in the history of 20th century archaeology in Matarò and Catalonia.

This important archaeological site is among the country's most remarkable and it even has be declared a cultural site of national interest (BCIN). It is located in the Pla d'en Boet district of Mataró and is named for the fortified 17th century ancestral home built around a 16th century defence tower, now known as Mas Llauder or Torre Llauder.

Given its importance, the villa remains were excluded from the industrial park constructed there and in 1964 were declared a Monument of National Historic and Artistic Interest (Monumento Histórico-Artístico de Interés Nacional). In 1965 the land was purchased by the Mataró Town Council.

The archaeological remains were abandoned for some time, during which they were plundered and became degraded. In 1972, the then Archaeological Sector of the Mataró Museum led an awareness-raising movement on the heritage of the town which allowed the town council, six years later, to receive funding from the Ministry for Public Works for the construction of a retaining wall, thus giving shape to the area now known as Clos Arqueològic de Torre Llauder, inaugurated in 1980. After the excavations finalised and the mosaics were restored (1982-1985), work was conducted to prepare the site for visitors. The work was financed by the Government of Catalonia and the town council, and the site was finally opened to the public in 1988.

To give the monument more value, in 2008 the town council passed a Directive Plan on the archaeological site of the Roman villa of Torre Llauder, where the directives and criteria of action in terms of research, conservation and restoration, and museumisation of the site were laid down.