"This summer, Heritage" in the Barcelona area

Major museum facilities offer unique itineraries, workshops for children, and immersive activities that invite you to discover Barcelona's heritage through fresh eyes and experience it as a vibrant and participatory experience. Under the slogan "This Summer, Patrimoniea," cultural heritage is transformed into a living and surprising setting.

The program, promoted by the Department of Culture, offers hundreds of activities throughout Catalonia for all audiences, many of which are free. The goal: to bring heritage to everyone through artistic experiences and themed tours in exceptional settings such as castles, monasteries, museums, and archaeological sites. The full program can be found at this link. link from the agenda of activities on the Cultural Heritage portal of the Generalitat.

New perspectives

One of the starting points is the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia (MAC), which hosts top-level exhibitions. On the one hand, Sardinia: the megalithic island, open until 2 November 2025, which showcases the richness of Sardinian megalithic architecture and the lifestyles of fascinating communities such as the Nuragic civilization. On the other hand, IMPERIVM. Roman Histories, which presents Rome through more than 200 archaeological artifacts and immersive resources such as video maps, projections, and contemporary drama.

The MAC also offers a visit An LGBT+ Perspective at the MACAn itinerary that applies archaeology from an LGBTQ+ perspective to the permanent and temporary collections of the MAC Barcelona and invites visitors to reflect on how our contemporary perspectives influence the interpretation of archaeology. Children also have their own space in the workshop. Come play at the MAC, with all kinds of fun proposals to approach archaeology in a fun way.

Time travel

The Museum of History of Catalonia, for its part, offers a true journey through time, from prehistory to the present day, filled with curiosities and anecdotes with the guided tour. Catalonia, a journey through time.

Terrassa becomes another cultural attraction. The exhibition can be visited at the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia (MNACTEC). The automobile revolution, an exhibition that recalls how Catalonia was a pioneer in vehicle manufacturing between the late 19th century and the 1930s. It's not just an exhibition of machines; it's also an immersive journey to understand how industry transformed society and customs. And for the little ones, the MNACTEC offers the space Explore 0-6, designed to allow children to play and experiment with scientific and technical materials and equipment.

On the other hand, the Past/Present cycle, curated by Frederic Montornés, brings contemporary art to unique heritage spaces. This summer, Barcelona's Casa Bloc hosts the installation Field/Counterfield, by Manolo Laguillo, and the Vinseum of Vilafranca del Penedès presents the works A possible landscape and Attempts at reconstruction, by Ignasi Aballí. This dialogue between contemporary art and historical space offers visitors new ways of viewing and understanding heritage.

Finally, within the framework of the project Catalonia, Country of Archives, several archives offer temporary exhibitions that rescue valuable documents and stories. Among them is the exhibition Transmits Transition. Carlos Bosch, 1976-1981 at the National Archives of Catalonia, which captures a key period in the country's recent history through the eyes of this photographer.

Major festivals in heritage sites

Throughout Catalonia, you can enjoy activities that open up the heritage to the public through artistic proposals and themed tours that show these spaces full of history from different perspectives.

The imposing Castell de Cardona will host one of the most special moments of the summer on August 30th: the concert by singer Mariona Escoda, winner of the popular contest EuphoriaThe performance is part of the Cicle Espais, an initiative that brings contemporary artists to perform in charming heritage venues.

Other notable musical events include the festival Schubertiad, in the Alt Empordà, which until August 31st once again fills the Canonic of Santa María de Vilabertran with classical music, and the San Pedro de Rodas Music Festival, which is being held until August 30th at this Romanesque monastery, suspended over Cap de Creus and the Mediterranean.

In addition to concerts, there are also planned dramatized visits to Cardona Castle, a family gymkhana at the majestic Miravet Castle, and creative activities at the Girona Art Museum. New features include the visit to the Pedrera del Mèdol, which has recently been incorporated into the MNAT, the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona.