19 Essentials Museums to visit in Baix Empordà

Historically, human beings have always been closely related to the sea in general, and the objective of the Fishing Museum is to publicize this existing link, as well as to make visitors aware of a fundamental aspect: the importance that fishing acquires for the sustainability of the entire territory.

This museum space is located in Palamós, specifically in the port of one of the most charming cities on the Costa Brava. The location chosen is unbeatable to ensure that visitors of all ages discover what natural, cultural and even social heritage is directly associated with fishing.

Route

Since 2002, the year in which the Fishing Museum was inaugurated, the same route has always been planned that begins by revealing the unknown of what exactly is fished. It is in this space that the Mediterranean Sea acquires special relevance, as well as the various marine species that are part of it.

The route then passes through a point designed to find out where the fishing activity takes place. Some activity-packed drainers can be admired in a permanent exhibition that is very well conditioned and illuminated to make the experience rewarding in every way.

The next stop on the museum tour is closely related to the fishermen, who become the protagonists, along with several colleagues from other professions who also acquire special significance: from the vendors who market the fish obtained by these fishermen to the mechanics who fix their vessels so that they can carry out their activity normally in the Mediterranean Sea.

In this part of the tour, visitors find out what the fishermen of yesteryear were like and what they are like today, all of them sharing the same surviving spirit, as well as the courage that has always characterized them, especially when they have to face working days with a sea that is too rough - quite a lot usual on the Costa Brava-.

The penultimate phase of the tour that comprises the Museu de la Pesca is dedicated to showing visitors how they fished in previous times, in addition to the methods that are put into practice today. Boats and utensils can be observed, the vast majority of them standing out for being in an enviable state of conservation. It is especially meritorious in the case of fishing boats, since direct contact with the sea and corrosion do not seem to have taken too much of a toll on them.

Finally, the tour ends up trying to make each visitor aware of how important it is to dignify fishing, especially if you want this profession to also have relevance in the future.

Collection

Along the route described above, you can see some pieces from the collection of the Museu de la Pesca that deserve special mention, starting with those two that attract the most attention from visitors. We refer to a couple of boats, known as the Polar Star and Gazelle. They are very different from each other, implying how varied the sector was at the time and continues to be today.

Continuing with regard to boats, in this museum there is also a winch that was used to string them, as well as taking them out of the aquatic environment when the fishing day was over.

Another element that usually attracts a lot of attention of visitors is the plate made of ceramic about four hundred years before the birth of Christ. Specifically, it is a part that is well preserved, including the crustaceans and the various fish that are part of the whole as a decoration.

Of course, in the Museu de la Pesca there is no shortage of tools and utensils in general that fishermen used in the past, some of them being very practical for 21st century fishing. Clear examples are the compass for orientation and the glass floats needed for trawling.

Rates

Individual general admission costs 5 euros. The unemployed and young people up to the age of sixteen have to pay 2.50 euros for admission, while children between the ages of zero and six can access the Fishing Museum free of charge.

Historically, cork has been of great importance not only for the Costa Brava, but also for the whole of Catalonia in general. So much so that in Palafrugell, in 1972, it was decided to open a museum dedicated to this type of plant tissue. We refer to the Suro Museum.

The facilities chosen to shape this cultural institution were those of Can Mario. It is a factory that used to work with cork, which today accommodates not only this museum space, but also another one. Focusing on the Museu del Suro, it encompasses several different buildings: Cal Ganxó, industrial warehouses and a structure that was recently built.

It is enough to take a look at the outside of this museum to realize how different this recent work is compared to the others, which do have a certain age.

Continuing with the exterior, what attracts the most attention is undoubtedly the main façade. In 1907, the architect General Guitart was in charge of decorating it, putting into practice his knowledge of modernism that led him to shape a unique piece that today is still quite well preserved.

Collection

Speaking of the state of conservation, the state of conservation of all the elements that make up the collection of the Museu del Suro is certainly very good. For example, the barrin machine does not show the slightest sign of oxidation.

Through the collection of this museum you can find out how cork evolved throughout Spain, serving not only for bottling. At the time, it was also used to give shape to some literary works. In fact, today the one considered to be the first book made of cork is perfectly preserved: Don Quixote.

The list of items that are part of the large collection of this museum does not end here. To those already mentioned, we must add other very interesting ones such as the emery machine and a bicycle wheel made of cork.

Salas

Two of the warehouses of the Museu del Suro are intended to be visited by those with an interest in the exciting world of cork, encompassing several rooms that are quite different from each other.

The first of these is that of the permanent exhibition. It is the largest of all, comprising a total that far exceeds one thousand square meters. It is for this reason that those responsible for the museum space were forced to distribute it along two floors of the building.

On the other hand, the room called Manufacturas is much smaller, since it covers just under two hundred and fifty square meters. In this case, you have to go to the ground floor to see the various elements shown in this temporary exhibition.

Among those two ships that we have mentioned before is the Geminus Space, whose capacity includes a maximum that narrowly exceeds thirty visitors. All of them can participate in very pleasant workshops that both adults and young children tend to like a lot, as evidenced by the good opinions that are published on the Internet.

As if that weren't enough, the Museu del Suro offers visitors an auditorium. Just over a hundred visitors can enjoy several screenings of audiovisual material without having to stand, since the room is equipped with chairs, which is to be appreciated. This space is known as Miquel, Vincke & Meyer.

Finally, the module intended for reception is another important room of the Museu del Suro. A quick look at it shows how new this construction is, which was completed in 2011. Visitors are warmly welcomed in this space, which also operates as a store. Therefore, those who wish to do so can end the visit to the museum with the odd souvenir.

Rates

The individual ticket costs 3€, while for the reduced ticket you have to pay 1.5€, and retirees and students can take advantage of this discount.

On the other hand, children under twelve years of age and disabled persons, as well as the unemployed, have free access to the museum. Entering the Museu del Suro at zero cost is also possible for other visitors on the last Saturday of each month.

If you enjoy pottery, as well as industrial ceramics in general, there is a museum on the Costa Brava that you cannot miss: Terracotta Museum of Ceramics, located in La Bisbal d’Empordà.

The building where this museum space is located began construction in 1922, completing the structure six years later. However, it was not until 1991 that the museum was inaugurated, which came to encompass a huge area of around six thousand square meters.

Specifically, the building was a factory where all kinds of ceramic coatings were produced. It was named Terracotta, so it's no surprise that this facility is known as the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics.

The Terracotta factory decided to end the professional work carried out there in the mid-eighties. Years later, the town hall of La Bisbal d’Empordà decided to acquire the building, which was then renovated with the clear intention of opening a museum.

Historically, pottery has always been very significant in this locality of the Costa Brava. The history of the potter’s craft, which became popular in La Bisbal d’Empordà in the 16th century, is reviewed in a museum that leaves no visitor indifferent.

All visitors are surprised to see the temporary exhibitions that began just when the museum was founded, the same happening with the permanent exhibition that opened in 1998. The combination of both exhibitions has led to it being ranked among the best Spanish museums dedicated entirely to ceramics today.

Exhibition

When visiting the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics, it is possible to see the kilns that were once used to shape the products that were later marketed. The chimneys that efficiently evacuated the smoke generated during the manufacturing process are also visible.

The exhibition of this museum is divided into four very distinct parts, with the first part focusing on ceramics in general. Throughout this part, visitors internalize the numerous decorative uses ceramics achieved, as well as the great relevance it acquired at the time in the artistic field.

Next, the exhibition focuses on the ceramics from a specific period: the pre-industrial, delving particularly into what took place in La Bisbal d’Empordà. It was made using wheels, while wood-fired kilns were used only once to fire the ceramic elements.

In this part of the exhibition at the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics, the various finishes that were characteristic of this municipality of the Costa Brava are described in detail, which are still present today in the ceramic products shaped in this town: glazed, smoked, and rustic.

The next part of the museum’s exhibition relates to industrial ceramics. Visitors are amazed at how much the potter's profession evolved thanks to the machines that were introduced, which saved a lot of time and allowed for excellent quality results.

Finally, now that we have talked about the professionals who dedicated themselves to pottery, it is time to address the last part of the exhibition, which is specifically dedicated to the creators. Artistic ceramics gained special relevance in La Bisbal d’Empordà at the beginning of the 20th century, which is perfectly reflected in this museum.

Spaces

The Terracotta Museum of Ceramics consists of several spaces, with the most important being the room dedicated to hosting temporary exhibitions, which are renewed every four months. In general, the ceramicists featured in this room tend to be quite popular nationally, being professionals with extensive experience.

'La Peixera' is another of the spaces that are part of the museum, focusing primarily on contemporary ceramics. For its part, 'Actualitat' lives up to its name by showcasing to visitors the most recent works, which perfectly reflect the modern techniques employed by the best ceramic professionals working in La Bisbal d’Empordà.

Lastly, 'El Forn' is a very notable space not only for the presence of four kilns that were once used to create ceramic works. Additionally, it also displays some pieces that are part of valuable collections, both public and privately owned.

Rates

The individual entry to the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics costs €5. The price of the reduced ticket is €2.5, so if you are part of a small group, are a senior citizen, or a student, you will pay less to enjoy the cultural experience.

Children under ten years of age enter the museum for free if the visit is not guided, as well as disabled individuals and citizens residing in La Bisbal d’Empordà.

Can Quintana was the building chosen to house the Mediterranean Museum. At the time, specifically when the 16th century began, it was a manor house that was located in Torroella de Montgrí, a municipality belonging to the Costa Brava. Many years later, in 2003, it was decided to open a museum space there that seeks to disseminate everything related to the Mediterranean in general.

The first thing that stands out about the Museu de la Mediterrània is how interactive it becomes. This is precisely why it is common to see young children in these facilities. In fact, many schools both on the Costa Brava and in other areas of Catalonia organize excursions that include a visit to this museum.

Both children and adults who visit it are soaked in a lot of information that is conducted with a musical thread, which accompanies perfectly throughout the experience. The same can be said for sounds that are also being played.

Of the various installations that are part of the Network of Museums of the Costa Brava, the Mediterranean Museum is one of the most successful. This is not surprising considering the high quality of its exhibitions.

Temporary Exhibitions

This museum offers visitors a total of three temporary exhibitions that offer cultural experiences that are very different from each other. The first one is called Espacio Montgrí. In the room dedicated to this exhibition, it is common to see all kinds of works of contemporary art.

Then it's time to talk about another temporary exhibition that attracts a lot of attention to those who visit the Museu de la Mediterrània. This is the Medes Space, which would have been unfeasible without the generous contribution of Martínez-Solans.

Specifically, a multitude of paintings were donated, which today are part of the Medes Space. All of them were created by a painter who, at the time, was an icon of Torroella de Montgrí. And it's no wonder, since Francesc Gimeno, despite being born in Tortosa, lived in this city on the Costa Brava for a few years.

Finally, the temporary exhibition known as Espacio Baix Ter houses everything that, in one way or another, is related to the Mediterranean area. The pieces on display are not only paintings such as those of Joan Fuster, but also architectural elements such as those shaped at the time by Rafael Masó, who was one of the main drivers of Noucentisme.

Collection

The Museu de la Mediterrània has an extensive collection of which many notable elements are part. One of them is called flabiol, being an instrument that was formerly commonly used by Catalan musicians. To the list of instruments with many years behind them, we must add the one known as lyre, having in this museum the Cretan type.

The collection of this museum space also houses some pieces of Roman ceramics with a characteristic shade that is reddish and bright in equal parts. The good condition in which they are found is surprising, especially considering that they belong to the time of the first Roman emperor: Augustus. That is, they accumulate more than two thousand years old.

Since the museum belongs to Torroella de Montgrí, it is not surprising that some of the most notable elements of its collection have been obtained in the Montgrí massif. A clear example is the Peak from prehistoric times. Another example is that of the capital that was extracted from the castle, an architectural piece that is also quite well preserved.

Rates

Accessing this museum space, enjoying the temporary exhibitions and admiring its extensive collection is free regardless of the age of the visitors.