History Museum of Barcelona

The Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) is a fascinating institution that tells the millennia-old history of Barcelona, from its Roman origins to modern times. Located mainly in Plaça del Rei, in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, the museum offers an extraordinary journey through time thanks to a combination of medieval buildings and archaeological ruins that allow visitors to explore the city’s past. Officially founded in 1943, MUHBA was inaugurated under the direction of Agustí Duran i Sanpere. The decision to create a museum dedicated to the history of Barcelona was influenced by the Universal Exposition of 1929, which featured a temporary exhibition dedicated to the city’s history. This event was the prelude to the foundation of the museum, which would later find its permanent location in Plaça del Rei. One of the most fascinating aspects of MUHBA is its ability to bring Roman Barcelona back to life through a series of archaeological excavations that have unearthed an entire neighborhood of Barcino, the ancient Roman city. Visitors can stroll through Roman streets, explore houses, warehouses, laundries, factories for salted fish and garum, and even an ancient chapel. These excavations, accessible from Casa Padellàs, a late 15th-century palace moved stone by stone to Plaça del Rei in 1931, offer a unique glimpse into daily life in ancient Barcelona. The museum tour continues through the medieval and modern eras, exploring Barcelona’s transformation from a Roman colony to the capital of the empire. The exhibits include artifacts from the Visigothic, Aragonese, and Catalan eras, offering a comprehensive overview of the city’s urban, social, and cultural evolution. Casa Padellàs also houses the Saló del Tinell, a magnificent 14th-century hall used for events and temporary exhibitions, and the palatine chapel of Sant’Agata, with its Gothic altar. One of MUHBA’s most innovative exhibitions is “Barcelona Flashback,” which uses 100 objects to tell the city’s history through an accessible and interactive museum approach. This exhibition encourages visitors to critically reflect on Barcelona’s history, examining how the lives of ancient inhabitants relate to those of today. The exhibition is organized into colorful sections by historical period, each accompanied by stimulating questions that invite reflection and dialogue. MUHBA is not limited to just Plaça del Rei. It has several venues scattered throughout the city, each telling a different piece of Barcelona’s history. Among these, the Monastery of Pedralbes offers insight into medieval religious and social life, and the Verdaguer Museum is dedicated to the famous Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer. Other venues include the Roman Sepulchral Way in Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, which preserves a Roman necropolis, and Park Güell, where one of the pavilions hosts an exhibition on Gaudí’s architecture and the park’s history. MUHBA’s approach to the preservation and presentation of history has been constantly updated, especially after Franco’s death and the transition to democracy in Spain. The museum has become a dynamic place for dialogue and reflection, integrating recent archaeological discoveries and adopting new technologies to enhance visitors’ experience.