port city, Barcelona provincia (province), in the comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Catalonia, northeastern Spain, on the Mediterranean coast. The city originated as the Roman Iluro and is divided into an older, Moorish sector on a rise surrounded by walls and a modern sector. The first railway in Spain was built (1848) between Mataró and Barcelona city, 18 miles (29 km) southwest. Mataró's church of Santa María has a Baroque altar and fine paintings by Antonio Viladomat and Pedro Montana. Wine, carnations, and potatoes are produced and exported; hosiery and underwear, knitting machinery, soap, paper, chemicals, and bus and truck bodies are manufactured. Nearby is the carbonated mineral spring of Argentona. Pop. (2007 est.) mun., 119,035.