Archaeology Museum of Catalonia
Discover the prehistory and ancient history of Catalonia in one of the old fair pavilions
A permanent exhibition of over 4,000 m² covering prehistory to the early medieval period. The Barcelona branch of the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia, located in what was the Palace of Graphic Arts during the 1929 International Exposition, offers a journey through the main archaeological sites of Catalonia, as well as others from across the Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean cultures.
Montjuïc Cable Car, on the Hola Barcelona app
Your app for discovering the city from the heights with the Montjuïc Cable Car: journey, stops and most iconic places. A comfortable way to carry your tickets too!
Discover the prehistory and ancient history of Catalonia in one of the old fair pavilions
On Montjuïc hill, you’ll find the Barcelona headquarters of the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia, founded in 1932 to provide a permanent exhibition of archaeological remains illustrating the evolution of Catalonia and its surroundings during prehistory and ancient history. The exhibition halls and offices are housed in what was the Graphic Arts Pavilion of the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, a building originally intended to be temporary, which architect Josep Gudiol adapted into a museum facility that has stood the test of time.
Renovated between 2010 and 2013, the permanent exhibition uses artifacts, texts, audiovisuals, educational resources, images, and scenography to highlight the most important aspects of the cultures established in Catalonia, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean.
Highlights include prehistory, with an audiovisual on Bronze Age funerary rituals; protohistory, featuring the Iberians; Greek and Phoenician colonization; and the establishment of the Roman Empire. Notable pieces include the crown from the Torredonjimeno Treasure (8th century), a Neanderthal jawbone from 53,200 years ago found in Sitges (one of the oldest human remains in Catalonia), the Iberian treasure of Tivissa (4th–3rd centuries BC), Phoenician votive figures, Greek pottery, and the Roman statue of Priapus from Hostafrancs (2nd century AD).
How to get to the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia?
To reach the museum, get off at the Fundació Joan Miró stop on the Red Route of the Barcelona Bus Turístic and walk along Passeig Santa Madrona, where you’ll also find the Ethnological Museum of Barcelona.
For the curious
- The Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia (MAC) is a networked museum composed of several branches and archaeological sites throughout Catalonia.
- In addition to the permanent collection, the museum offers various temporary exhibitions, educational workshops, and other activities for young visitors. Check out their programs!
