Reial Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts

C la Rambla, 115

A historical scientific association has its headquarters in an imposing Modernista building on the Rambla (number 115). This is the Barcelona Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts (RACAB), which was founded in 1764 by a select group of scholars, spurred on by the enlightened spirit of the time, who were keen to bring Catalonia the scientific breakthroughs being made around the world.

Passionate about progress

RACAB helped to disseminate European knowledge in the country for many years and was behind such scientific projects as the creation of the Fabra Observatory in 1904. The association continues with its outreach mission to this day and is a member of ALLEA (All European Academies),a federation bringing together almost 60 long-established academic organisations from around the world. In 2014, for the 250 anniversary of its founding, the Catalan government presented it with the St George’s Cross award.

A unique collection

RACAB has left an extraordinary legacy. it includes the Fabra Observatory; a building on the Rambla, designed by architect Josep Domènech i Estapà; a library; archives; a watch collection; astronomical, meteorological and seismological equipment and the Fontmartina seismological station, located in Montseny. Note the library in particular: with more than a hundred thousand volumes, it constitutes one of the most important scientific collections in Spain.