The Royal Convent of Santa Maria de Pedralbes, founded in 1326 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada, the third wife of Jaume II, is a unique cultural and historical reference to the Poor Clare community, who lived there almost uninterruptedly from 1327 to 1982. The building is one of the best examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, by virtue both of its church and its three-storey cloister, one of the most spacious and harmonious examples of this style. Its artistic heritage is a point of reference for the study of customs, fashions and religious and secular life models, and helps us understand what life was like for the enclosed community until 1983, the year in which the convent was converted into a museum. The exhibitions ’Petras albas’ (from the Latin meaning white stones), ’The treasures of the convent’, ’Plants, remedies and apothecaries’ and ‘“Murals under the magnifying glass: the paintings in the Saint Michael Chapel’ illustrate the museum complex.
General admission: €5.00
Reduced admission: €3.50, for pensioners, students under 30, the unemployed, families, BCN Express, groups with a minimum of 10, Targeta Rosa (Pink Card) holders, Carnet Jove (Youth card) holders
Free admission: children under 16, ICOM members, tourist guides, teachers, the press, BCN Card holders, Targeta Rosa holders, Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya (Catalonian Association of Curators) members, disabled visitors, APB members, Gaudir Barcelona (Enjoy Barcelona) card holders
Winter opening times (from October 1 to March 31): Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 2 pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm; public holidays from 10 am to 2 pm
Summer opening times (from April 1 to September 30): Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm; Saturdays from 10 am to 7 pm; public holidays from 10 am to 2 pm
By public transport:
FGC (rail service): L6 (Reina Elisenda)
Metro: Maria Cristina, Palau Reial (L3)
Bus: 22, 63, 64, 75 (only on school days during term time) and 78
Tourist bus: blue route
By car:
Ronda de Dalt: exit 9