As part of the quest to promote Catalan history and culture, the Generalitat opened the Catalan history museum. It's very modern, housed in a beautifully restored building right on the edge of the Barceloneta.
The Catalan used to an empire separate from Madrid, and this place tells the tale, from the limited democracy of the Consell de Cent through the oppression from the central government, to now, where an attempt to forge a Catalan identity is one of the major goals of the Generalitet. Though heavily biased, it's quite interesting .
On a warm summer day, coffee in the patio restaurant is essential.
Th-Tu: 10:00-19:00
Su: 10:00-14:30
We: 10:00-20:00