Centre d'Exposicions Martorell
Science exhibition hall of the Museu de Ciències Naturals in the former Museu Martorell, a neoclassical building from 1882 in the Ciutadella park.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In 1878 the naturalist Francesc Martorell i Peña donated to the city of Barcelona his collections of natural sciences and archaeology, together with funds to build a museum to house them. The neoclassical building, designed by the architect Antoni Rovira i Trias, opened in 1882 in the Ciutadella park. It was the first building constructed as a public museum in Barcelona and in Catalonia.
The collections grew until the building became too small. In 1924 the Museu Martorell specialised in geology: the zoological collections were moved to the nearby Castell dels Tres Dragons and the botanical ones to Montjuïc. The geology museum closed to the public in 2010.
After a comprehensive renovation, the building reopened in February 2024 as the Centre Martorell d'Exposicions, the second public venue of the Ciutadella del Coneixement project and part of the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. It hosts science exhibitions on the climate and biodiversity crises and on the current frontiers of knowledge.
Highlights
- Neoclassical building by Antoni Rovira i Trias, opened in 1882
- First building constructed as a public museum in Barcelona and Catalonia
- Science exhibitions of the Museu de Ciències Naturals
- Located in the Ciutadella park
- Founded
- 2024
- Operated by
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona (Ayuntamiento de Barcelona)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4.50People aged 16 to 29 and 65 or over, unemployed people, holders of the reduced Targeta Rosa, families (up to two accompanying adults with at least one child under 16), foster families, large and single-parent families with the relevant card, holders of the Barcelona libraries card, and groups of 10 or more people. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Free admission for children under 16. |
| Seniors | €4.50Reduced admission from age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission with a disability card, including for the companion who needs support. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4.50 per personGroups of 10 or more people: reduced admission. Study groups, during school hours and with advance booking, enter free. |
| Families | €4.50Reduced admission for families with at least one child under 16 and up to two accompanying adults. |
Free admission: The first Sunday of each month all day, and every Sunday from 15:00.
Free admission also for members of ICOM and the Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya, professional tour guides on duty, teachers accompanying school groups, holders of the free Targeta Rosa, the BCN Card or those registered in Gaudir Més, journalists and heritage donors. Anyone who buys the exhibition catalogue receives two reduced tickets, and an individual visitor with a validated ticket can make a second free visit to the permanent exhibition within six months. The right to each discount must be proven.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €4.50 · Reduced admission for families with at least one child under 16 and up to two accompanying adults. |
Children under 16 enter free.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Jaume I (L4) / Arc de Triomf (L1)
Metro: L4, stations Jaume I and Bogatell; L1, station Arc de Triomf. Tram: T4, stop Marina. Buses: V19, H16, B20 and B25. Bicing: stations on passeig de Lluís Companys, carrer del Comerç and avinguda del Marquès de l'Argentera.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The centre has no car park of its own; there are nearby car parks on passeig de Lluís Companys, passeig del Born, plaça de la Catedral, avinguda de Cambó and Via Laietana.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | School-hours visits for study groups are free and require advance booking (Monday to Friday 9:00–13:00, phone +34 932 562 220 or activmuseuciencies@bcn.cat). |
