Museu Cusí de Farmàcia

Museu Cusí de Farmàcia in el Masnou is a private pharmacy museum tucked inside the Alcon laboratories complex (formerly Laboratoris Cusí), and it's one of the more unusual stops along Catalonia's Maresme coast. Instead of a conventional town museum, visitors find a fully reconstructed 18th-century monastic pharmacy that traveled hundreds of kilometers from its original home to be rebuilt here.

Where did this museum come from?

The collection was assembled by Joaquim Cusí i Fortunet, a pharmacist who opened a small pharmacy on Carrer Ample in Figueres back in 1902. The business grew into a pharmaceutical company that relocated its production to el Masnou in 1925. Four years later, in 1929, Cusí set up a museum inside his own laboratory headquarters, gathering pieces with the eye of a dedicated collector and a deep respect for the history of his profession. Today the museum belongs to the Reial Acadèmia de Farmàcia de Catalunya (Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Catalonia).

What will you see inside?

The centerpiece is a complete 18th-century Benedictine pharmacy that once belonged to the Santa María la Real abbey in Nájera, La Rioja. Cusí bought the entire installation in 1921 and had it reassembled to faithfully reproduce the original space, down to the furniture and jars. Around this reconstruction sits a substantial collection: pharmaceutical ceramics, glassware, mortars, ex-libris, engravings, and medical and pharmaceutical instruments spanning several centuries. The library holds more than 10,000 volumes, including a prized set of 350 antique books from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries covering medicine, ophthalmology, anatomy and pharmacy.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

The museum sits within the Laboratoris Alcon site at Carrer de Camil Fabra 58 in el Masnou, a coastal town on the Maresme line that's well connected to Barcelona by train. Because the museum operates inside a working pharmaceutical facility, visits aren't casual walk-ins — you need to book ahead by phone or email, and a standard visit runs about 30 to 45 minutes, typically in the morning. Twice a year, in late May and during the second half of November, the museum holds open days for the general public, letting visitors in without the usual advance booking. Those dates are the easiest way to see the collection without arranging a reservation in advance.

Who is this museum for?

Museu Cusí de Farmàcia is a natural stop for anyone interested in the history of medicine, pharmacy and the apothecary's craft, as well as travelers drawn to small, lesser-known museums that never make it onto Barcelona's standard tourist circuit. Its intimate scale and limited access give a visit here the feel of a genuine discovery — ideal for those looking for something beyond the usual checklist attraction.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit without booking in advance? Not usually — outside of the open days (late May and the second half of November), visits require a prior phone or email reservation, since the museum is located inside the working Alcon laboratories site.

How long does a visit take? A standard visit lasts 30 to 45 minutes and takes place in the morning.

What is the museum's main highlight? A complete 18th-century monastic pharmacy from the Benedictine abbey of Santa María la Real in Nájera, La Rioja, purchased and reconstructed by Joaquim Cusí in the 1920s.

Is admission free? Yes, visits are free of charge, but advance reservation is required due to limited space and the museum's location within an active industrial facility.