Treasures whisper stories of humanity within these walls. Right here stands the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món. It is more than just a museum. It is a gateway to understanding the world’s diverse cultures.
The Museu Etnològic’s history stretches back to the 20th century. Two museums merged to form this institution. They were the Museu d’Indústries i Arts Populars and the Museu Etnològic i Colonial. These museums played key roles in ethnology’s study and promotion.
The Museu d’Indústries i Arts Populars focused on Catalan and Iberian culture. Its collections showcased trades, traditions, and everyday life. The Museu Etnològic i Colonial aimed to house global material culture. Expeditions around the world grew its collections until the 1960s.
In 1962, the two museums united under August Panyella’s direction. This merger created a global perspective on ethnology. It included local and distant cultures. In 1973, the Museu Etnològic inaugurated its building on Passeig de Santa Madrona. Panyella helped construct the building. He understood the museum’s collections and needs.
Mergers and separations marked the years between 1962 and 1999. They definitively merged in 1999. The museum then held collections from around the world. These included items from Europe, like Austria, Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey. The collection totaled around 70000 items.
The Folch Foundation’s non-European items joined the collection in 2011. These pieces matched the museum’s own items. They shared origins and scientific criteria. In 2015, the Museu de les Cultures del Món opened in La Ribera. It resided in the Nadal and Marquès de Llió manor houses. Its mission was to display public and private exhibits. These exhibits represented cultures from Africa, Oceania, Asia, and the Americas.
The Museu Etnològic and the Museu de Cultures del Món became one in 2017. They formed the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món with two sites. The Parc Montjuïc Venue is in the Museu Etnològic building. It reopened in 2015 after a four-year renovation. The Montcada Venue is in the Nadal i Marquès de Llió manor houses. They were renovated to preserve and disseminate culture.
The Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món collections cover diverse aspects of life. They show symbolic representations from cultures worldwide. Material testimonies and context documentation form the collections. These were generated during the museum’s collection campaigns.
The Parc Montjuïc site hosts the permanent exhibition “Feeling the Heritage.” It explains how objects embody the character of their community. Visit the museum’s reserve on floor 0. It displays 5000 pieces from five continents. These are arranged thematically in 46 display cases. This display represents less than 10% of the museum’s holdings.
Here at the Museu Etnològic, every artifact breathes life into history. Every corner invites us to reflect on our shared human experience.