CosmoCaixa Barcelona

About

CosmoCaixa Barcelona (Catalan pronunciation: [ˌkɔzmuˈkaʃə βəɾsəˈlonə]) is a science museum located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It features a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions devoted to the environment, nature, science, and space. The museum is sponsored by "La Caixa" banking foundation. Formerly known as the Science Museum of Barcelona, it closed for renovations in 1998 and reopened in 2004 under its current name. It has interactive exhibitions such as touch and play for small children, planetarium, bookstore, gift shop, library, teaching center and café. Entry to the museum is free for children under the age of sixteen. Adults can visit the museum with a regular ticket.

Building: The building was built between 1904 and 1909 by Josep Domènech i Estapà to serve as an asylum for the blind which closed in 1979. The building was renovated, retaining the original facade, and an expansion took place bringing the building to four times its original size. An expansion of the building took place in 2004. CosmoCaixa has a large spiral walkway that takes visitors from the basement to the fifth floor. The centerpiece of the walkway is an Amazonian tree.