In the sun-beaten interior of Catalonia, away from Barcelona’s beach bars and beyond the well-trodden hiking paths of Montserrat, a quiet decay is unfolding.
Scattered across the region’s hills and valleys, half-hidden among olive groves or perched on lonely ridges, lie the masias – centuries-old stone farmhouses that once beat with the heart of rural life. Today, many are crumbling.
At first glance, these structures appear like romantic relics – think arched doorways, terracotta roofs, and thick stone walls aged by generations of sun, rain, and human toil. But behind their exteriors is a story of depopulation, economic change, and a cultural identity under quiet threat.
According to a study by Cottage Properties, there are more than 22,000 properties listed as masias throughout the Catalonia region.
Angels Sabater, director of Cottage Properties, told the Spanish Eye: ‘It was a surprise to see there are at least 22,000 masias in Catalonia.
‘We have been buying, selling and restoring masias for over 30 years, and the story was always that masias are disappearing and we need to save them.
‘It’s likely that a lot of these masias are actually still in ruins. But at least now they are officially documented and with rules on restoring them without losing their history and architectural value’
What is a masia?
A masia (plural: masias) is more than a farmhouse. It’s a symbol of Catalan self-sufficiency, a traditional rural dwelling that served as both home and workplace for peasant families since at least the Middle Ages.
Usually isolated, masias were built to endure both the climate and the weight of agrarian life. Thick-walled and often two or three stories high, they were strategically located near water sources and farmland, forming the nucleus of a family’s agricultural enterprise.
Some date back to the 12th century. Others were modified in the 18th and 19th centuries. In all cases, they were designed to be passed down through generations.
Why are they abandoned?
In the mid-20th century, Spain underwent a dramatic demographic shift. Rural populations migrated en masse to urban centres in search of better jobs and modern comforts.
Tractors replaced oxen, supermarkets supplanted subsistence farming, and young Catalans, once destined to inherit stone walls and olive presses, chose Barcelona flats and tech jobs instead.
By the 1970s and ’80s, many masias stood empty. With no one to maintain them – and with inheritance laws often splintering ownership among distant cousins and disinterested heirs – they began to rot.
Roofs collapsed. Vines crept in. Furniture was left to gather dust or be pilfered. Nature reclaimed what had been borrowed.
Future of the masias
Masias have begun to attract interest from a new demographic: foreigners. Drawn by the romantic ruin and the promise of rustic reinvention, some Europeans and Americans are buying up derelict masias, restoring them into boutique hotels, yoga retreats, or Airbnb hideaways.
The prices, while a fraction of Barcelona’s real estate bubble, are climbing – especially in picturesque regions like Emporda or the Garrotxa.
There are also local efforts to preserve them. Some municipalities offer subsidies for restoration.
A few NGOs have tried to map and catalog masias, arguing that they should be protected like Romanesque churches or modernist architecture.
How to purchase a masia
Several real estate agencies have masias on their listings.
You should be able to purchase a masia much like any other property, but you must be prepared for the work involved.
There may be extra bureaucracy and steps due to the amount of restoration involved, and especially if you want to turn your masia into a business like a hotel or restaurant.
