History of Immigration in Catalonia Museum

The History of Immigration in Catalonia Museum (Museu d'Història de la Immigració de Catalunya, MhiC), in Sant Adrià de Besòs, is the region's only institution devoted entirely to the theme of migration, both historical and contemporary.

Where is the museum located?

The museum occupies the historic Can Serra manor house at Carretera de Mataró 124, in Sant Adrià de Besòs, a town bordering Barcelona itself. The building, a former country estate, underwent a thorough restoration in 2004 under architect David Ferrer. The renovation preserved the character of the old masia while adapting its interiors for museum use, creating temporary exhibition rooms, a reception area, a documentation center, and office space.

What kind of museum is it?

MhiC is a monographic museum, meaning its entire focus is the migratory heritage and memory of Catalonia. It plays a dual role: it functions as a research center gathering documentation and sources on migration movements, and as a public-facing venue where those histories are presented to visitors through accessible, contemporary museography.

What does the permanent exhibition cover?

The permanent exhibition is organized into three parts, each corresponding to a different period of migration.

The first section, titled "Humans in Movement," traces historical patterns of human movement from prehistoric times through the 20th century. It relies on interactive and didactic museum techniques, making the visit engaging rather than purely contemplative.

The second part takes visitors inside an original mid-20th-century railway carriage known as "El Sevillano." This authentic train car pays tribute to the generation of Catalans who experienced internal migration within the region during the 20th century, the large-scale arrival of people from other parts of Spain into Catalonia's industrial centers.

The third section shifts the narrative to the 21st century, exploring migration as it unfolds in today's globalized and constantly changing world.

Who is this museum for?

The combination of historical documentation, interactive displays, and an authentic artifact such as the railway carriage makes MhiC a compelling stop for anyone interested in Catalonia's social history, as well as for travelers looking for a lesser-known, thematically focused museum beyond Barcelona's main circuit. Its location in Sant Adrià de Besòs, just outside Barcelona, makes it an easy addition to a day exploring the Catalan capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the museum located? It is housed in the Can Serra manor house at Carretera de Mataró 124, in Sant Adrià de Besòs, a town directly adjoining Barcelona.

Since when has the museum operated in its current building? The Can Serra building was restored and adapted for museum use in 2004, in a project led by architect David Ferrer.

What is the highlight of the permanent exhibition? An original mid-20th-century railway carriage, "El Sevillano," inside which the story of internal migration in Catalonia is told, one of the most distinctive elements of the display.

Does the museum cover only history, or also contemporary migration? Both: the permanent exhibition spans three periods, migration from prehistory to the 20th century, 20th-century internal migration within Catalonia, and migration in today's globalized 21st-century world.