The Maritime Museum of Barcelona is a great place to spend learning about everything to do with the sea and ships.
Do you love the sea and everything related to it? Are you curious about how people have explored, used and enjoyed the sea throughout history? Do you want to see some amazing ships and learn how they were built and operated? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should totally check out the Maritime Museum of Barcelona. Here you can find all kinds of cool stuff about ships, sailors, pirates and more. Trust me, it’s not your typical boring museum with dusty old artifacts and long texts. It’s a fun and interactive place where you can see, touch and learn amazing things.
A Gothic Building Full of Ships
The museum is located in the Royal Shipyards, which is a huge Gothic building that was built in the Middle Ages to make ships for the kings of Spain. How awesome is that? You can walk around and admire the architecture and the history of this place. You can see how the shipyards were organized, how the workers lived and worked. Also, most importantly, how the ships were launched into the sea.
But the best part is that you can also see some real ships inside, like the Galera Reial, which is a massive galley that was used in a famous battle against the Turks in 1571. You can go inside and pretend you are a sailor or a captain. Just don’t touch the cannons, they might be loaded.
You can also see other historical vessels, such as the Schooner Santa Eulalia. This vessel is a beautiful sailing boat that was built in 1918 and is still in use today. You can learn about its history, its restoration and its current activities. And the Les Sorres X, which is a shipwreck that was found under the sea near Barcelona in 1990 and brought to the museum. You can learn how they did that and what they found inside. Maybe some treasure or some skeletons. Who knows?
A Journey Through Maritime Culture
The Maritime museum of Barcelona also has other exhibits that show you different aspects of maritime culture. Exhibits such as how people painted ships, how they used instruments to navigate, how they fought wars at sea, how they fished and traded, how they played sports and had fun, and how they cared for the environment. You can see all kinds of objects, videos and games that will make you feel like you are part of the sea world.
For example, you can see a collection of ship portraits that depict different types of vessels from different periods and places. Admire their beauty, their details and their symbolism. You will be also able to see a display of navigation instruments that show how people measured time, distance, direction and position at sea. Here you can try some of them yourself and see how they work.
Discover and Learn at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona
How about learning about some of the most important naval battles in history, such as the Battle of Lepanto, the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Cuba. On display are many models, maps, weapons and uniforms that illustrate these events. Another great thing at the museum is learning about some of the most famous pirates and corsairs that roamed the seas, such as Barbarossa, Drake and Morgan. Their flags, their weapons and their treasures are all on display.
Maybe even discover how people have exploited the resources of the sea for fishing, trading and industry. View many different types of fishing boats, nets and tools. Understand how people have transported goods across the oceans using different types of merchant ships. Also see how people have used the sea for energy production, such as windmills, watermills and hydroelectric plants.
Explore how people have enjoyed the sea for leisure and recreation and see different types of sailing boats, yachts and kayaks. You can also see how people have practiced different sports at sea, such as surfing, windsurfing and sailing. You can also see how people have expressed their love for the sea through art, literature and music.
Find out about some of the important environmental issues that affect the sea today, such as pollution, overfishing and climate change. You can see how these problems impact the marine life and ecosystems. You can also see what actions are being taken to protect and conserve the sea and its biodiversity.
A Place for Everyone
The Maritime Museum of Barcelona is open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ticket costs 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for kids and oldies. You can also buy a combo ticket that gives you access to other cool places nearby, like the Columbus Monument (where you can see a statue of the famous explorer and enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the sea) and the Barcelona Aquarium (where you can see more than 11,000 marine animals and walk through a transparent tunnel under the water).
The Maritime Museum of Barcelona organises tours, workshops, lectures and other events that the museum organizes for you. With these workshops you can learn more about specific topics, such as shipbuilding, navigation, piracy or marine biology. You can also participate in activities for families, schools or groups. You can find more information on the museum’s website .
So what are you waiting for? Grab your friends or family and head to the Maritime Museum of Barcelona. It’s a place where you can have a blast and learn a lot about the sea and its history. It’s one of the best things you can do in Barcelona. Don’t miss it!
