Agriculture recovers its splendour: the transformations of the 18th century and the best rural houses.

After the recovery of the end of the 15^th century and the beginning of the 16^th century, Catalonia suffered a new period of decadence which lasted part of that century and into the next. However, in the 18^th century things changed dramatically, with a population boom and great transformations in the countryside. Agriculture recovered its importance affectnig the Penedès region in a very direct way. This positive situation was fostered by the authorization of commerce with America (1767), which supported agricultural and vineyard production along with wine exportation, significantly marking the future of the region.

This is the period of the consolidation and extension of the Masies. Big rural landowners gave them an important role at the centre of their lives and of agricultural production. Consequently, the biggest rural houses are located in the best flat lands. Most of them are still inhabited, the larger part having been preserved as they were, although others were later transformed during a period of greater prosperity (the end of the 19^th century). People interested in understanding the history of the Penedès region should have a look at the proportions of Can Morgades de Castellví, Can Lleó in Sant Martí or La Senabra in Monjos, big rural houses with annex buildings, including churches. They should also stop to admire the beautiful proportions of Can Casesblanques in Avinyonet, Can Sadurní in Olèrdola, Can Martí de Baix in Gelida, La Bardera and Can Ros in Subirats, La Passada in Sant Quintí, Can Cassanyes in Castellet or Can Montsarra in Torrelles. The Masia Porroig is magnificent with two imposing arch galleries and Mas de Pontons is a perfect building in an isolated location, still preserving the structure of a fortified rural house with four defence towers.

As well as these general improvements there were also other ameliorations such as the creation of “streets”, population centres located around a Masia where the people who worked for the Masia lived: such is the case of Pau Xic or Cal Rovira in Subirats, Les Cases Noves and Les Casetes d’en Raspall in Font-Rubí or Can Catassús in Sant Sadurní.
Economic prosperity reached the countryside, but was also reflected in the towns. There are imposing buildings such as Cal Terra in Gelida, Ca la Senyora in Pontons or Ca l’Arnan in Riudebitlles. One of the consequences was the positioning and extension of the parish temples. In most cases they were built on top of old medieval buildings such as El Pla, Riudebitlles, La Granada, in others on new foundations such as in Font-Rubí, Sant Cugat Olesa de Bonesvalls or with the huge temple of Torrelles de Foix. In the capital of the region – Vilafranca - we can find examples from this period in El Gran Casal, located in Milà Square. The Marquess of Alfarràs also built his new palace here (nowadays the School of Sant Ramon) along with the Chapel of Els Dolors – a modest but important Neo-Classical building.

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