CosmoCaixa - the New Barcelona Science Museum

CosmoCaixa is the science museum in Barcelona that belongs to one of most powerful Catalan saving banks La Caixa and was designed to stimulate people’s knowledge and opinion of science through exhibitions and a wide variety of activities.

Museum exhibition space, spread out over 47,500 m2 with some of them enclosed underground, covers all scientific disciplines.

It’s located in a beautiful old factory building, an amazing example of Modernist industrial architecture designed and built between 1904 and 1909 by Josep Domenech i Estapa. Most of the abandoned factory walls were respected, and with some artistic interventions it has been converted into a very spectacular place.

There are seven main exhibition sections – Sala de Materia, Geological wall, Sunken forest, Planetarium, Plaza de Sciencia, Clik y Flash and Toca Toca (Touch! Touch!).

Sala de Materia is a museum’s permanent collection which aims at explaining and demonstrating the fundamental laws of the universe and the evolution of life and matter on our planet- from Big Bang to the existence of a human being. The exposition currently occupies more than 3000 m2.
Theoretical aspects of the origins of the earth and civilization are explained through 64 interactive models and games, both didactic and fun for kids and their parents.

Geological wall comprises geological structure of seven different stratums: chalk, volcanic and glacial rocks and stones that are enormous and occupy the entire wall of the massive hall.

The exotic Sunken Forest (El Bosque Inundado) exhibition recreates 100sqm of an Amazonian rainforest with over 80 species of plants and 50 species of animals including caimans, anacondas, poisonous toads, gigantic ants and other Amazonian creatures.

The Planetarium offers an unforgettable experience to observe the universe from different angles. Located under a futuristic dome the Planetarium’s programme is divided into 3 parts: Genesis (the history of the universe from the Bing Bang till present), Far-Off Galaxies (collisions between galaxies and meteorites, star ¨death¨ etc.) and The Blind Man with Stars in his Eyes (El ciego de los Ojos de Estrellas) - astronomy for kids.

Toca Toca (Touch! Touch!) is by far the most popular exhibition for children. It offers the public to experience close contact with animals such as baby tortoises, lizards and even snakes and plants from three different ecosystems: jungle, desert and Mediterranean.

Clik and Flash section has been designed specially for children and enables them to contact the world of science.
The Clik section for the smallest ones (3-6 years old) is an interactive space which allows children to contemplate light and perceptions of speed, force and balance. It pretends to arouse kids’ curiosity with the help of games, smells, burbles or different types of machines.
And Flash section for the 7-9 year-old children contains touchy-feely games and fascinating contraptions.

Plaza de la Sciencia (Square of Sceince) is the huge area outside the main building where different machines and objects are installed to let people discover more phenomena.

Some useful tips:

- If you intend to visit all sections of the museum, be prepared you will spend there all day long, due to the huge area it occupies and numerous exhibits it presents.
- Go in the afternoon to avoid school groups and to be able to access some special exhibitions such as the Planetarium.

Where it is: 
c/Isaac Newton, 26, 08022 Barcelona

Opening hours:
From Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays 10 A.M. – 8 P.M.
Closed on Monday.

Admission fee:
Adults 3,00 Euros, Children from 7 to 16 – 2,00 Euros, Children under 7 free.
This ticket will permit you to enter Sala de la Materia, Sunken Forest, and Geological wall.  Planetarium and supervised activities – 2,00 Euros surcharge. First Sunday of the month free for all.

Phone: (0034) 93 212 60 50

How to get there:
By bus Nº 17, 22, 58, 73, 75, 60 and 196
By metro (Ferrocariles Catalanes)  - Avinguda Tibidabo stop.

Website: www.lacaixa.es/obrasocial