El Masnou

"El Masnou es un municipio de la provincia de Barcelona, Cataluña, España, situado en la costa del Maresme, a 17 km al noreste de Barcelona, entre los términos municipales de Montgat y Premiá de Mar, al norte Alella y al noreste Teiá."

"El Masnou (Catalan pronunciation: [ mznw], Catalan for the new farmhouse) is a municipality in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Montgat and Premià de Mar, to the north-east of the city of Barcelona, in the comarca (county) of el Maresme. The town is both a tourist centre and a (somewhat exclusive) dormitory town for Barcelona. The main N-II road and a RENFE railway line run through the town, while a local road links it with the A-19 autopista at Alella. The town center has buildings in a wide range of styles: neoclassical, modernista, noucentista and simply eclectic. The municipal museum has collections of archeology and of Catalan ceramics, and there is also a private museum of pharmacy and medicine. A Roman village called Cal Ros de les Cabres was one of the first settlements located on the site of the currenttown. The agriculture of El Masnou is mainly of flowers, especially carnations, and the industry has a predominance of textile, with several industries about ceramics, glass and pharmaceutical products. Famous Catalan Cellist Pablo Casals lived in El Masnou, and current basketball star Ricky Rubio is a native. Also, Bruno, a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion, was born in El Masnou. Other famous people who were born in El Masnou are: * Antoni Llampallas Alsina (1855-1923) Attorney and delegate to the Union Catalanista in the House of Manresa (1892). * Fèlix Oliver (Masnou, 1856 - Montevideo (Uruguay), 1932), a pioneer of cinema in Uruguay. * Jordi Pagans i Monsalvatje (1932): One of the most important Catalan contemporary figurative painters. Cousin of the renowned classical music composer Xavier Montsalvatge i Bassols. In his paintings the influence of the Empordà coast, especially the people of Cadaqués, can be seen clearly. * Lluís Millet i Pagès (1867-1941): musician, founder of the Catalan choir. * Pau Estape i Maristani: mayor of El Masnou."