THE HISTORY MUSEUM OF CATALUNYA

The Palau de Mar (Palace of the Sea) an impressive late 19th century warehouse which became the centerpiece of a harbor side development that includes a promenade, restaurants and marina. It houses the Museu d'Historia de Catalunya (Museum of Catalan History).

This is one of Barcelona's most interactive museums, opened in 1996. Some critics have dubbed it a 'theme park', because of its lack of original exhibits, but it is nevertheless a dynamic and stimulating museum, covering the history of Catalonia in an entertaining fashion, through state-of-the-art displays, films, special effects and audiovisual technology tread an Arab waterwheel, mount a cavalier's charger, drive an early tram, take cover in a Civil War air raid shelter.

The museum is divided into seven sections, each presenting an in-depth picture of the economy, politics, technology, culture and everyday life of Catalonia over the centuries: the region's prehistory, the consolidation of Catalonia in the Middle Ages, its maritime role, links with the Austrian Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, economic growth and industrialization, the 1936 Civil War and the repression of Catalonia under Franco, through to the restoration of democracy in 1979. The museum gives an insight into the complexities of this 'nation within a nation'