Museu de Menorca

About the museum

The museum's precursor was the Museo Municipal de Maó, set up from private donations, which opened in 1889 in the Principal de Guardia. In 1944 the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes was founded in the Can Mercadal building, which it shared with the public library. The collections grew thanks to donations and to excavations promoted by the Comisaría Insular de Excavaciones. In the 1980s and 1990s the museum moved to its permanent home, the convent of San Francisco, and in 1998 it opened its first permanent exhibition. The new Museu de Menorca was inaugurated on 18 July 2018.

The building is the former convent of Jesús, founded in 1459 as the first Franciscan convent in Maó. It was destroyed in the Turkish attack of 1535, and the new convent of San Francisco was completed at the beginning of the 18th century on the same site; it retains a Baroque cloister of great sobriety. After the disentailment of 1835 it was put to various uses: Casa de la Misericordia, a naval school and a secondary school (instituto de enseñanza secundaria).

The permanent exhibition traces the history of Menorca from prehistory to the present day across eight rooms, with more than 1,500 objects, videos, interactive elements and educational boxes. The museum depends on the Consell Insular de Menorca.

Highlights

• Former Franciscan convent with a Baroque cloister
• More than 1,500 objects in eight rooms, from prehistory to the 20th century
• Room devoted to Talayotic culture
• Play room “Jugamos con la historia” for families
• Accessible audio guides with audio description and sign language

Permanent exhibition

• Exposición permanente: ocho salas de historia de Menorca – A journey through time from prehistory and Talayotic culture to the 20th century, with more than 1,500 objects, videos, interactive elements and educational boxes.

Founded

1889

Operated by

Consell Insular de Menorca

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every Sunday; Tuesdays and Thursdays 15:00–19:00 from October to May; 18 May (International Museum Day)

Unemployed people, members of ICOM and of the museum's friends association, official tourist guides, accredited teachers, school groups with their teachers, and researchers and members of professional associations (colegiados) also enter free. Temporary exhibitions are free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The circulation areas are wide and the entrance doors are automatic. The public lift (8 persons) has numbering and a visual and braille directory and is fully accessible by wheelchair. Wheelchairs and pushchairs are lent free of charge. There are two adapted parking spaces in the plaza des Monestir. Accessible toilets are on the ground floor and have illuminated and audible emergency signals. The accessible audio guide for mobile phones includes subtitles, audio description and sign language in Catalan, Spanish, English and French; a loop system is available in the assembly hall.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Play room “Jugamos con la historia” on the first floor, also suitable for breastfeeding. Baby-changing tables in the ground-floor toilets and free loan of pushchairs. The rooms include videos, interactive elements and educational boxes. The museum allows children's birthday parties in its spaces.

Getting there & parking

From the city centre it is a walk of about 5 minutes, following the “Museu de Menorca” signs. From the port, go up to the centre by the steps opposite the cruise ship exit.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi in the bar and the assembly hall. Cloakroom with 22 lockers. Bar area with a games space for the youngest visitors.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties: not available
• Corporate events: not available
• Weddings / ceremonies: not available

Up to 130 guests.

The spaces are intended for public cultural events; private or business events are not admitted, except authorised children's birthday parties. Assembly hall of 100 m² with 70 seats, cloister of 196 m² with 130 seats and a stage, and a rest room for 30 people.

Plan your visit