Modelo Prison Museum: Barcelona’s Former Panopticon of Repression
Modelo Prison Museum: Barcelona’s Former Panopticon of Repression
Explore La Modelo, Barcelona’s former panopticon prison turned museum. Active from 1904 to 2017, it held political prisoners and saw executions under Franco. Now open for free guided and unguided visits
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About El Modelo Former Prison Museum
El Centre Penitenciari d'Homes de Barcelona, more commonly known as La Modelo, operated as a prison for 113 years before closing on the 8th of June 2017.
La Modelo History
During the Francoist era (1939–1975), La Modelo became a symbol of state repression, hosting over 1,000 executions. One of the most notorious was the garroting of Salvador Puig Antich in 1974, which sparked international condemnation. The prison played a central role in the persecution of political dissidents, union leaders, and marginalized groups under Franco’s dictatorship — a legacy shared with other sites like Montjuïc Castle.
The prison’s circular design was inspired by philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who in 1787 proposed the Panopticon — a model where inmates could be observed from a central point without knowing when they were being watched. La Modelo adopted this concept with one prisoner per cell, radiating from a central guard post. In practice, the booth only had visibility down the corridors, not into the cells themselves.
Construction began in 1881 and was completed in 1904, based on designs by architects Salvador Viñals y Sabaté and José Doménech Estapà. The radial layout features six wings converging under a central cupola, with the guard cabin located at the heart of the structure.
La Modelo was inaugurated on the 9th of June 1904 as the tenth prison in Catalunya. Originally named The Cellular Prison, it earned the nickname “El Modelo” because it was intended to serve as a prototype for future reformation centers.
Throughout the 20th century, the prison was used to intern political dissidents under the regimes of Primo de Rivera and Francisco Franco. Cells often held up to 16 people, including strikers, protestors, union organizers, communists, and members of the LGBTQ+ community — all targeted by the authoritarian state. For more on this era, see the Civil War & Castles theme page.
Even after Spain’s transition to democracy, La Modelo remained active until its closure in 2017. The prison was only emptied twice: first on the 19th of July 1936, when 831 inmates were liberated by anarchists at the start of the Spanish Civil War; and again in January 1939, when prisoners were either released, executed, or driven to the French border just before Francoist troops entered Barcelona.
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Why Visit La Modelo Prison Museum?
La Modelo Prison Museum offers a rare and haunting glimpse into Spain’s political history and penal architecture. From its panopticon layout to the preserved cells, annexes, and execution records, it stands as one of Barcelona’s most historically significant — and emotionally powerful — museums. Entry is completely free, making it a must-visit for history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone interested in Franco-era repression.
The prison complex includes original annexes such as kitchens, dining halls, workshops, a first aid centre, administration block, library, school, theatre, postal room, and gym. Outdoor courtyards and a small garden offer a stark contrast to the grim interior. Near the entrance, you’ll find the visitation booths where families once spoke to inmates through glass partitions.
Each of the six radial wings was used to house different categories of prisoners:
- Wing 1: First-time offenders
- Wing 2: Prisoners with good behaviour
- Wing 3: Repeat offenders with good behaviour
- Wing 4: Repeat offenders with behavioural issues
- Wing 5: First-time offenders and prison workers
- Wing 6: Prisoners in isolation
Today, the site is operated by the Catalan government (La Generalitat) as a Museum and Memorial of Repression in Catalunya. For more on the role of the Generalitat and its historic seat in the Catalan Parliament, see the
La Modelo Opening Hours & Prices
- Unguided visit during these times:
- Thursday: 16:00h to 19:00h
- Friday: 16:00h to 19:00h
- Saturday: 10:00h to 14:00h & 16:00h to 19:00h
- Sunday: 10:00h to 14:00h
- Closed: 7th & 24th June - No unguided visits.
- Friday: 17:00h (Catalan) & 17:30h (Spanish)
- Saturday: 11:00h (Catalan) & 11:30h (Spanish)
- Saturday: 10:30h (Catalan) & 12:00h (Spanish)
- Reserve the guided visit using below link
- 1 hour guided tour:
Both the unguided and guided tour are FREE.
Visit a Genuine hidden gem of a museum in Barcelona before it is modernised and looses all of it's eerie atmosphere. I have also seen disturbing reports that the local government is thinking about turning it into affordable housing despite its obvious historical and educational value.
Photography is allowed inside La Modelo, and the radial wings offer dramatic vanishing-point shots. Try capturing the central guard post from multiple angles, and use natural light filtering through the cell windows for atmospheric detail. Early afternoon provides the best lighting.
Visitor Tips for La Modelo
Bag policy: Like most museums in Barcelona, La Modelo requires visitors to deposit large bags and rucksacks in the locker area. If lockers are unavailable, entry may be restricted for oversized bags. Small handbags and compact daypacks (up to 10L) are generally permitted.
Cycling access: There are bicycle anchorage points directly outside La Modelo on Carrer d'Entença, making it easy to include in a bike-friendly itinerary across the Eixample district.
Accessibility: Access to the first floor is only via stairs, and there is no elevator. However, the ground floor contains most of the key exhibits, including cell blocks, visitation booths, and the central guard post. Note that some areas involve small changes in level — typically three or four steps — so visitors with mobility concerns should plan accordingly.
El Modelo Former Prison Museum Summary of Prices
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Adult
Zone 1 T-casual
FREE
Child
€ 1.25
FREE
Free Entry?
Free Entry Thursday & Friday 16:00h to 19:00h, Saturday 10:00h to 14:00h & 16:00h to 19:00h, Sunday 10:00h to 14:00h
Getting to El Modelo Former Prison Museum
Address: Carrer d'Entença 155, Barcelona, 08029
La Modelo occupies two full city blocks in the La Eixample Left neighbourhood of Barcelona, just a short walk from Sants Estació, the city’s main railway hub. Its central location makes it easy to include in a walking itinerary or day trip.
The nearest TMB Metro station is Entença on the Blue Line (L5), just a few minutes away on foot. You can also reach it from Sants Estació or Hospital Clínic stations with a short metro ride.
For public transport, use a T-Casual ticket for 10 single journeys, or opt for the Hola Barcelona Travel Card for unlimited travel across metro, bus, tram, and train networks — ideal for multi-day visitors exploring multiple sites.
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