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Sign in with GoogleCasa Canals Tarragona – Neoclassical Noble House & MHT Museum
Explore Casa Canals, an 18th‑century neoclassical noble house built into Tarragona’s Roman wall. Visit the grand ballroom, chapel, garden and temporary exhibitions in the Part Alta
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About Casa Canals
Casa Canals is one of the six heritage spaces managed by the Museu d’Història de Tarragona (MHT) and one of the few fully preserved noble houses in the city. Located in the Part Alta between Passeig de Sant Antoni, Carrer Granada and Plaça de Sant Antoni, it offers a rare glimpse into the lifestyle, architecture and social world of Tarragona’s aristocracy.
The house is an 18th‑century Neoclassical stately home built directly into the city’s 2nd‑century Roman wall. This integration of Roman, medieval and modern‑era structures makes Casa Canals one of Tarragona’s most architecturally layered buildings. Archaeological research has revealed that the site once held a 14th‑century residence, and the basement contains a Spanish Civil War air‑raid shelter, a reminder of the turbulent 20th century.
The building is arranged across three floors. The ground floor originally housed carriage storage, service rooms and the kitchen. The noble floor above contains the grand ballroom, dining room, bedrooms, family chapel and a romantic first‑floor garden—an elevated patio with rockery fountains and ornamental details. The upper floor once served as the servants’ quarters and is now used for temporary art exhibitions, adding a contemporary layer to the historic setting.
Casa Canals occupies a privileged position in the upper city, with balconies that open directly onto the Roman wall. From here, visitors can enjoy panoramic views over the port, Miracle Beach, the Roman Amphitheatre and the coastline. These views were one of the reasons the house was chosen to host Carlos IV of Spain and Queen María Luisa de Borbón during their visit in 1802 for the inauguration of the port.
Owned by the Canals family for generations, the house preserves original furniture, portraits, mirrors, chandeliers and decorative styles ranging from Neoclassical to Elizabethan and Louis XV. In 1992 the property was transferred to the city and later incorporated into the MHT network, opening to the public in 2006 and expanding to full‑time hours in 2011.
Today, Casa Canals stands as one of Tarragona’s most atmospheric historic homes—a blend of aristocratic interiors, Roman foundations and modern cultural programming.
Image Gallery For Casa Canals
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Visiting Casa Canals
Casa Canals is one of the most atmospheric historic houses in Tarragona and offers a quiet, intimate visit compared with the city’s larger museums. The ticket office is located just inside the entrance, where reduced prices are available for seniors (65+), students and children. For information on the MHT multipass, see the Tarragona overview page’s #tickets section.
The visit takes you through the main areas of the house that have been preserved or adapted for cultural use:
- Ground floor: Originally used for carriage storage, service rooms and the kitchen. Today it houses the reception area and a room dedicated to pesebres (traditional Christmas nativity models), which are displayed seasonally.
- Noble floor: The highlight of the visit. The grand ballroom features neoclassical wall and ceiling decoration, likely created for the 1802 royal visit of Carlos IV and María Luisa de Borbón. The room preserves Elizabethan mirrors, 19th‑century furniture and three impressive chandeliers. Portraits of Maria Antònia Castellarnau and Joaquim Canals hang at either end of the hall.
- Chapel: A small family chapel crowned with a dome and decorated with the Canals family coat of arms and a Maltese cross. Joaquim Canals was a knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, and the chapel reflects this heritage.
- Bedrooms and living rooms: These rooms preserve a mix of 18th–20th century furniture, including examples of neo‑baroque, Louis XV, neoclassical and Elizabethan styles. The layout with antechamber and alcove reflects the typical design of noble homes of the period.
- Romantic garden: A charming first‑floor patio garden—not at street level—featuring rockery fountains and ornamental details. It offers a peaceful contrast to the formal interiors.
- Second floor: Once the servants’ quarters, this level no longer preserves its original layout. Today it hosts temporary art exhibitions, adding a contemporary cultural layer to the historic building. During my visit, the exhibition was Is this Desire by Susana Inglada.
The Civil War air‑raid shelter beneath the house is not open to the public due to structural issues and partial flooding, but its presence adds another historical dimension to the site.
Casa Canals is a rewarding stop for visitors interested in aristocratic interiors, neoclassical architecture, Tarragona’s noble families or the layered history of the Part Alta. Its elevated position also offers excellent views over the port, Miracle Beach and the Roman Amphitheatre from the balconies built into the Roman wall.
Casa Canals Opening Hours
Summer timetable: 1 April – 30 September
- Tuesday to Friday: 09:30–15:00
- Saturday & Sunday: 10:00–15:00
- Closed: Mondays
Winter timetable: 1 October – 31 March
- Tuesday to Friday: 09:30–20:00
- Saturday: 09:30–20:00
- Sunday & Public Holidays: 09:30–14:30
- Closed: Mondays, 24–26 December, 31 December, 1 January, 6 January, 1 November
Free Entry Days: 13–14 May, 20–21 May (Tarragona Live), International Museum Day (18 May), 19 August (Sant Magí), 16 September (Nit del Patrimoni), 23 September (Santa Tecla), 13–15 October (Jornades Europees de Patrimoni), 30 November (Els Monuments Romans), and the last Tuesday of January, February, March, May, October, November and December.
Access closes 30 minutes before the museum’s final closing time.
Accessibility to Casa Canals
Casa Canals is a historic 18th‑century building constructed directly against the Roman wall, and its interior layout reflects the architecture of the period. As a result, the museum is not adapted for reduced‑mobility access.
All three floors are connected only by the original staircases, and there is no lift due to the structural constraints of the Roman wall and the building’s protected heritage status. Visitors with limited mobility may find access challenging, particularly to the noble floor and the upper exhibition level.
The entrance from Carrer d’En Granada is at street level, but movement beyond the reception area requires climbing stairs. The romantic first‑floor garden, chapel, ballroom and temporary exhibition spaces are only accessible via staircases.
Visitors who can manage stairs will find handrails on the main staircase, and staff at the entrance can provide guidance on the layout before beginning the visit.
Casa Canals Summary of Prices
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Adult
€ 16.10
€ 5.00
Students, Over 65 years, 2.50 Euros
Child
€ 16.10
FREE
For under 16 Years
Group/Family Ticket?
See Website.
Notes
Combined ticket for all MHT 15.00 Euros.
Getting to Casa Canals
Address: Carrer d'En Granada 11, Tarragona, 43004
For detailed directions, see the #getting to section of the Tarragona overview page, which explains how to reach Tarragona by train, car or bus.
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