Barcelona Apartments - Akaza Holiday Apartments in Barcelona

CosmoCaixa: Science Museum

This amazing museum, which opened in 2005, has been heralded as the finest science museum in Europe. CosmoCaixa Barcelona has an enormous variety of content and an innovative layout, turning it into one of the most modern museums of its kind. The new 50.000 m2 building increases the scientific offer of its predecessor.

The exhibitions are distributed throughout various rooms, including the Amazon Forest, the Geological Wall, Planetarium, etc. Visitors are invited to interact with many of the scientific experiments, making the whole experience richer and more entertaining, particularly for children.

Inside the Amazon rainforest & the Aquarium

Over an area of 1,000 m² a small part of the Amazonian rainforest is recreated here. The larger trees are made of plastic; however this detail goes unnoticed, being combined with small natural plants. All of the animals that you see along the way are authentic. Along with the humidity of the air, which gives an overall impression of 100%, a slightly musty smell and a background noise of birds and running water, it gives you the impression of being in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest. Here, you will find 13 different species of trees, as well as 58 plant and 36 animal species.

On the other side of the museum, it is masterfully shown how we, as human beings, have taken advantage of forms of nature, such as snails and honeycombs. There is also a representation of the origins of the human race. And many other things besides- physics experiments that show the effects of light, the force of gravity etc.

On the upper level of the building you will find the temporary exhibitions. Previous exhibitions have looked at drugs and illustrated their effects upon the psyche, reaction times and the body. Other temporary exhibitions have included the importance of numbers in daily life, illusions of science and an exhibition on Charles Darwin.

On the return walk to the ground floor, you pass by the Planetarium and Toca toca! (Touch touch). The planetarium gives you a virtual tour across the universe, via the creation of the planets, finding ourselves almost in the centre of the Big Bang. Toca toca! allows you to experiment with the environment using all of the senses. There are animals from different habitats, such as water, desert and the forest, and you are also able to touch them. This is the place for those who’ve always wanted to touch a hairy spider, supposedly slippery snakes or tortoises. Both of these attractions are only available at weekends, as during the week only school groups are able to enter.

Barcelona features more than 80 museums. Without doubt there is a lot to see in all of them, but it is hard to find one as entertaining as the CosmoCaixa. In this museum, everybody, young or old can enjoy themselves and learn a lot about Natural Sciences, trying out many things, and even experience tropical rain. CosmoCaixa surprises, not only due to the wealth of information and activities on offer, but also with its affordable prices. Experimenting is not just something for kids to do here, but rather an experience for all of the family. CosmoCaixa has a total area of 30,000 m2, or in other words enough space for exhibitions, a planetarium, a tropical rainforest, conference rooms, a shop, cafe and picnic areas.

• Address: Teodor Roviralta, 47-51
  08022, Barcelona
• How to get there: Bus Lines: 17, 22, 58, 60, 73, 75. Metro & FGC: First go to Diagonal Station (L5), connect with Ferrocarils de la Generalitat to Avinguda del Tibidabo Station, then take the "Tramvía Blau", the Blue Tram.
• Prices: Click the logo to see prices and buy tickets
• Opening hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 to 20h. Closed on Mondays (except holidays) and on December 25th and January 1st
• Telephone(s): 902223040
• Nearest landmarks: Tibidabo

Museo Picasso

Let's salute the best-known artist of the 20th century in the museum filled with treasures. The museum that focuses on the formation of Pablo Picasso boasts the world's largest collection of his early works. Picasso had remarkable artistic inclinations when he was only 10 years old. In 1895, at age 14, his family moved to Barcelona from the city of La Coruna, where his artistic career flourished. In the Museu Picasso the visitors can really get to know the artists due to the valuable sketches of the school and family portraits selected from the works of the striking blue and pink period.

Fundació Joan Miró

The Joan Miró Museum – founded by Joan Miró himself in 1975 - is a tribute in front of a man whose legacy can be seen throughout the city. The museums preserve more than 11.000 colorful paintings, drawings and statues of the artist. We can follow the evolution of Miró from the surrealism in the 1920’s until the 1960’s, when he became one of the biggest masters in the world.

Museu de Art Contemporani and Centre de Cultura Contemporánia

The contemporary museums are in a sharp contrast to their environment. The two institutions together are the centre of the modern Barcelona and had a really important part in the renewal of El Raval. You can find the work of the most famous artists from all over the world. These museums are definitely the centre of the culture and contemporary art.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

One of the world's most important medieval collection can be found in the museum that is located in the majestic Palau Nacional which was built in 1929. The museum's gems can be found in the of Romanesque art department, for example the 11-12th century painted church interiors from the Pyrenees. The Thyssen-Bornemisza collection contains works from the period of Gothic to Rococo.