Museu Geològic del Seminari de Barcelona

About the museum

The Museu Geològic del Seminari de Barcelona presents itself as the oldest museum in Barcelona. Its origins lie in the Gabinet d'Història Natural created in 1817, and in 1874 it was founded as a museum under the direction of Jaume Almera (1845–1919), a geologist who in 1885 drew up the geological map of the province of Barcelona on commission from the Diputació. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Barcelona.

After Almera's death the museum went through difficult times. Josep Ramon Bataller directed the institution from 1926; it was almost destroyed in the Civil War, and he led its reconstruction. Lluís Via, director from 1962, expanded the facilities, the display cases and the specialist library, and opened the museum to researchers and enthusiasts. With Sebastià Calzada, director from 1991, the Associació d'Amics del Museu was created in 1994 and, in 2000, the Sala Carles, a teaching room.

The palaeontology collection is the largest, with around one million specimens, including more than 700 holotypes. The holdings are completed by the mineralogy and malacology collections, a library of about 17,000 titles, a historical archive, a photograph library and a map library. In 2009 the museum received the Creu de Sant Jordi from the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Highlights

• Around one million fossils, including a type collection of more than 700 holotypes
• Mineralogy collection and rocks from notable sites
• Malacology collection with nearly 10,000 records of living species
• Specialist library of about 17,000 titles and historical archive
• Free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Paleontología – Reference collection for the international scientific community, with around 90,000 records and nearly one million fossil specimens, including a type collection of more than 700 holotypes.
• Mineralogía – Large collection of minerals and rocks from several notable sites, used for petrographic study.
• Malacología – Almost 10,000 records of molluscs of living species, used to study fossil forms.

Founded

1874

Operated by

Arquebisbat de Barcelona

Director

Sebastián Calzada Badía

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

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

The Barcelona municipal guide states that the museum is accessible for people with physical disabilities; the museum's website gives no further details.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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