Archaeology Museum of Catalonia
Archaeological gems from Catalonia, the Iberian peninsula and the Mediterranean
A permanent exhibition covering more than 4,000 m² from prehistory to the start of the medieval period. The Archaeology Museum of Catalonia, which is housed in the Palau d’Arts Gràfiques built for the 1929 Universal Exposition, takes you on a journey through Catalonia’s main archaeological sites, in addition to other sites in Spain and other locations throughout the Mediterranean.
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Why visit the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia?
The Barcelona site of the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia, which is located on Montjuïc Mountain, was founded in 1932 with the aim of permanently exhibiting archaeological remains that illustrate the evolution of Catalonia and its environment in the prehistoric and ancient periods. The halls and offices are located in the Graphic Arts Pavilion of the 1929 Barcelona Universal Exposition, a temporary building that the architect Josep Gudiol refitted and converted into a museum that has weathered the passage of time.
Renovated from 2010 to 2013, the permanent exhibition uses objects, texts, audiovisual materials, didactic resources, images and dioramas to show the most significant aspects of the cultures that settled in Catalonia, the Iberian peninsula and the Mediterranean.
Prehistory, with an audiovisual presentation on Bronze Age funeral rites; protohistory, where the Iberians are the protagonists; Greek and Phoenician colonies, and the establishment of the Roman Empire are some of the highlights of the visit. Its outstanding pieces include a crown from the 8th-century Treasure of Torrdonjimeno; the jaw of a Neanderthal from 53,200 years ago, which was found in Sitges and is one of the oldest examples of human remains in Catalonia; the Iberian Treasure of Tivissa, from the 4th to 3rd centuries BC; Phoenician votive figures; Greek pottery; and the Roman statue of Priapus found at Hostafrancs, which is from the 2nd century.
How do you get to the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia?
To get to the museum hop off at the Fundació Joan Miró stop on the Red Route of Barcelona Bus Turístic and walk along Passeig de Santa Madrona, where you can also find Barcelona Ethnological Museum.
For the most curious of you
- Did you know? The Archaeology Museum of Catalonia (MAC) belongs to a network of museums located at archaeological sites throughout Catalonia.
- Local’s tip: In addition to its permanent collection, the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia also holds a variety of temporary exhibitions, didactic workshops and other educational activities for children, so it is a good idea to consult its activities before your visit.
- A must: For lovers of archaeology.
