Barcelona’s Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món has two locations: one at Montcada and one at Parc de Montjuïc. The Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc is home to a single signature installation entitled Feeling the Heritage, an eclectic exhibit that speaks to the notion that a diverse array of objects and artifacts can tell us much about the history and culture of those individuals and communities who once used them. The Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc stages occasional temporary exhibitions, too. It’s located near some of Barcelona’s most popular attractions.
History of the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc
The Barcelona attraction known today as the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc was once home to an institution known as the Museu Etnològic. That museum was established in 1973; for almost 40 years it occupied a striking building designed by Antoni Lozoya, Joan Puigdengoles, Bonaventura Bassegoda Nonell, and Jesús López according to the architectural principles of the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Museu Etnològic closed its doors in 2011, as it underwent an elaborate, four-year renovation under the watch of the architect Toni Gironès. When it finally reopened its doors to the public in 2015, it contained a revamped museography courtesy of Jesús Galdón. In 2017, the Museu Etnològic merged with the Museu de Cultures del Món; the Museu de Cultures del Món became the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Montcada, and the Museu Etnològic became the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc.
Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc Highlights
The permanent exhibition at the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc is entitled Feeling the Heritage. This unique installation contains a vast range of everyday items, historic objects, and religious artifacts that shed light on a number of past cultures and individual experiences.
Feeling the Heritage is an eclectic exhibition full of diverse objects that are likely to speak quite differently to anyone and everyone who passes through its galleries. That said, a few standout pieces here include an eighteenth-century apothecary cabinet, a Catalan diatonic accordion, a nineteenth-century board game, and a sixteenth-century dower chest.
In addition to its permanent installations, the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc regularly stages temporary exhibitions. By their very nature, these installations are subject to change, but for what it’s worth one of the museum’s most recent temporary exhibition was entitled Barcelona, Giant City: 600 Years of Celebration and Tradition.
More to See and Do at the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc
Here are a few more things to know about the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc.
*As you enjoy your time perusing the many distinctive objects of the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc’s Feeling the Heritage exhibit, don’t forget to take a look outside: within the museum’s two courtyards you’ll find several noteworthy sculptures, including giant statues of the thirteenth-century monarchs, Queen Violant and King Jaume I.
*There are numerous affordable ways to visit the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc. Admission to the attraction is covered by a couple different Barcelona tourist passes, or you can purchase one single ticket that grants you entry into the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Moncada, the Museu Egipci de Barcelona, and the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc for one combined, discounted price.
*Those Barcelona visitors who go on the Barcelona Bus Turístic can use their hop-on hop-off sightseeing privileges to visit the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc, as it’s near a major stop on the service’s Red Route.
Why the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc Should Be on Your Must-See List
One of the biggest reasons to make time in your busy Barcelona itinerary for a visit to the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at Parc de Montjuïc is its amazing location. The museum is beautifully situated on the northern edge of Montjuïc, very close to such popular Barcelona destinations as the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, Poble Espanyol, the Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch, Fundació Joan Miró (Joan Miró Museum), Montjuïc Castle, Telefèric de Montjuïc (Barcelona Cable Car), and both of Barcelona’s best botanic gardens. If you’re planning a dream day out and about in the midst of Parc de Montjuïc’s many charming attractions, you’ll want to consider setting aside an hour or so for the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món.