What's on in Mataró

Mataró is the capital of the Maresme, a working coastal city just up the line from Barcelona — close enough for an easy day trip, but a real Catalan town in its own right, with a Roman past, a busy port and a long beach. It's the kind of place locals live and work in rather than holiday in, which is part of its appeal.

Its big event is Les Santes, the explosive late-July festival with giants, fire-runs (correfocs) and human towers taking over the streets for a week. The calendar also makes room for thoughtful exhibitions, from the feminist asylum show "They Are Refuge" to Q+OMICS, an illustrated look at LGBTIQ+ comics. Here's what's on while you're here.