Girona Museums

(Girona, Catalonia, Spain)

You could easily spend a whole day browsing the city's museums and still have plenty to see. To get the most out of your holiday, therefore, it is probably better to spread your visits over a few days, if time allows.

Together, the museums of Girona cover the city's diverse and rich heritage, as well as its artistic past and present. Most of them offer a programme of activities, particularly during the main tourist season.

Amongst the most notable is the Museu d'Història, which is designed as a living history museum that reveals the evolution of the city. Exhibits help to tell the story of Girona, beginning with the first human remains and extending right up to the end of the Franco dictatorship, and the transition to democracy between 1975 and 1989.

City History Museum

Address: Carrer de la Forca 27, Girona, Spain
The City History Museum boasts a total of 14 exhibition rooms, as well as spaces that are dedicated to such themes as industry in this part of Catalonia and traditional Spanish dances. The museum building itself is situated in the heart of the old part of the city and is of historic interest in its own right. Built in the 18th century, it used to house a monastery of Capuchin friars.
Open: October to April, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:30 to 17:30, Sunday - 10:30 to 13:30; May to September, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:30 to 18:30, Sunday - 10:30 to 13:30
Admission: charge

Casa Masó

Address: Ballesteries 29, Girona, Spain
The Casa Masó was the birthplace of Rafael Maso, who died in 1935. The house itself is a remarkable work of architecture. It is also especially well preserved, with period furnishing and decor. From the house are great views over the river. Of note, the museum can only be viewed as part of a group tour, with these guided tours tending to last for approximately 50 minutes or thereabouts.
Open: Tuesday to Saturday - guided group tours only (phone ahead to book)
Admission: charge

Archaeology Museum of Catalonia

Address: Carrer de Santa Llúcia, Girona, Spain
Housed within the Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, this museum is one of the oldest in Catalonia. The Benedictine church itself dates back to the 12th century and is particularly renowned for its octagonal Romanesque belfry. Inside, the monastery is a remarkable collection of archaeological artefacts, which date back to the city's original settlers.
Open: June to September, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:30 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 19:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 14:00; October to May, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 18:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge

Museum of Cinema

Address: Calle de la Sèquia 1, Girona, Spain
Girona's Museum of Cinema is a must-see for aficionados of the big screen. Most notably it is home to the Thomas Mallol collection, which is made up of nearly 8,000 artefacts, including photographs, posters, films, books and magazines. The collection is particularly significant in that it includes all things related to the prehistory of cinema, and many of these important items went on to bring about cinema's invention in the late 19th century. Highlights include Chinese shadow theatre and magic lantern exhibits, camera obscura and projectors used by the nascent film industry. Also on display are photographs of film actors and actresses, film programmes and advertising material.
Open: October to April, Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 15:00; May, June and September - Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 15:00; July and August - Monday to Sunday - 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge

Museum of Jewish History

Address: Centre Bonastruc ca Porta, Carrer de la Forca 8, Girona, Spain
Situated within Girona's Jewish Quarter location and housed within a former synagogue, the Centre Bonastruc ca Porta is devoted to the preservation of the city's Jewish past. Conferences and exhibitions are staged within the museum. It is also home to a particularly fine collection of stone tablets and an extensive library.
Open: September to June, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday to Monday - 10:00 to 14:00; July to August, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge