ArqueoTicket - The affordable way to experience history first hand

The Arqueoticket is a ticket that gives you entry into the five museums in Barcelona that have archaeological collections and includes both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. It is valid for one year and costs only €17, and can sometimes be purchased online for as little as €14, depending on which discounts are available at the time.

The museums included in the arqeuoticket are:

Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya - MAC

- The objective of the Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya is to preserve, research, and diffuse archeological remains that illustrate historical evolution. The MAC is divided into a network of museums and archaeological sites, which includes the Barcelona branch.

The Barcelona branch of the MAC is located in the former Palace of Graphic Arts in Montjuic, which was built for the 1929 World´s Fair. The permanent collections span the centuries from the Stone Age to the time of the Visigoths. The Greek and Roman periods are extremely well represented, and the museum also includes finds from Catalonia´s best preserved archeological site, the Greek remains at Empúries on the Costa Brava. The museum also organizes activities for children and families, courses, conferences and guided tours. Normal entry costs €3. http://www.mac.cat

Museu Barbier-Mueller d’Art Precolombí de Barcelona

- Located in the neighborhood of El Borne in a renovated 16th century palace, this museum houses a collection of Pre-Columbian art. The collection covers the styles that existed in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Meso-America, Andean American, Central America, and the Amazon Region and includes sculptures, ceramics, fabrics, and ritual objects. Normal entry costs €3,50. http://www.barbier-mueller.ch

Museu Egipci de Barcelona

- The Egyptian Museum of Barcelona, located in l’Eixample, is a private collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt and is considered one of the best collections in Europe. It was founded by the hotelier Jordi Clos, who owns the Hotel Claris (which also has a private museum for guests).

There are over 600 objects on show which are spread over three main exhibition areas, one of which is reserved for temporary exhibitions. There are also lecture rooms, a library, and a terrace café upstairs. Visitors are given an English language guidebook which gives details about every single object in the museum. Normal entry costs €11. http://www.museuegipci.com/

Museu d’Història de la Ciutat de Barcelona

- The Museum of History of the City of Barcelona (MUHBA) is spread all over the city of Barcelona, and encompasses the Conjunto Monumental de La Plaza del Rei, the Museo-Monasterio de Pedralbes, the Museo-Casa Verdaguer, the Centro de Interpretación del Park Guell, the Espacio Santa Caterina, the Refugio 307, and the Centro de Interpretación de El Call. Each one is located in a different area and focuses on a different part if history. Together they cover more than 2,000 years of history, most of which is European.

The original museum was inaugurated in 1943 and it wasn´t until 1999 that the museum was reorganized and other locations were incorporated. If you don´t have time to visit all of them make sure you at least visit the Conjunto Monumental de La Plaza del Rei, which has an amazing, underground archeological section and which was the originally museum before the other locations were incorporated. Normal combined entrance to all museums costs €5. www.museuhistoria.bcn.es

Museu Marítim de Barcelona

- The Barcelona Maritime Museum is located in Barcelona´s medieval shipyards, Drassanes, which date back to the 13th century and were in continuous use until the 18th century. The idea of the museum was proposed in 1931 and work began in 1936, but the museum was not inaugurated until 1941 due to problems stemming from the Civil War. In 1985 a reform and restoration project began with the objective of restoring the entire complex and creating a cultural center in the shipyards to promote sea and sailing. In 1993 the Barcelona Shipyard Consortium was founded to ensure its conservation and development.

The collections of the museum have been built up over the course of its existence. Highlights include its collections of model ships, nautical instruments, ex-votos, maritime paintings, figureheads, cartography, the replica of the royal galley of Juan de Austria, and the schooner of Santa Eulàlia. Normal entry costs €2,50. http://www.mmb.cat/

The Arqueoticket offers great savings, even if you don´t have time to visit all five museums. It’s ideal for anyone with an interest in history and archeology. The best part of the ticket is that each museum is unique, and covers a different time period or region, so that no matter what part of the world you are interested in you are sure to experience some of its history. The arqueoticket can be purchased online at http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Arqueoticket or at any of the Barcelona tourist offices.