The Museu d’Història de Girona has closed its first floor to renovate permanent exhibition halls that previously focused on Roman Girona and the medieval city. The aim is to host the exhibition titled “City, society and life,” part of the larger display “Girona 2100 years: 21 objects for 21 centuries,” which will commemorate the 2100th anniversary of the city's founding, set to be inaugurated in early May 2027.
During the renovation period, which will last until the reopening, visitors can enter the museum free of charge. Quim Ayats Bartrina, deputy mayor and councillor for Culture, highlighted the significance of the anniversary, stating, “The commemoration of 2,100 years of Girona is an opportunity to view the city's history from a new perspective. We want the Museu d’Història to narrate this millennia-long journey in a renewed way, connecting the past with present questions and viewpoints.”
The new exhibition will occupy the entire first floor and will integrate the Roman and Medieval Girona galleries with the temporary exhibition space and the Ermessenda room, which has previously been used for conferences and various activities. The exhibition will be curated by Carme Sais Gruart, head of the Visual Arts, Museums and Heritage Service of the City Council, and Sílvia Planas Marcé, director of the Museu, with Pep Canaleta serving as the design curator.
Most of the objects previously displayed in the Roman and Medieval Girona galleries will still be visible from May, but with a different narrative structure. The exhibition will shift from a chronological format to a thematic one, offering a contemporary perspective on the city’s history.
In addition to the main exhibition, “Girona 2100 years: 21 objects for 21 centuries” will also feature “Divergences and beliefs,” which will open on 19 December at the Museu d’Història de los Judíos and will run until 31 March 2028.
While the first floor remains closed, the Museu will host two artistic and cultural exhibitions on the fourth floor. The first, titled “Remembering Varés,” dedicated to the multifaceted Girona native Antoni Varés, will open on 26 October at 19:30. The second exhibition will showcase works by Narcís Comadira and will be available from late January 2027.
The 2100th anniversary of Girona, which began in 76-77 BC, continues with a programme organised by museums, archives, and local entities, coordinated by the City Council. Planned activities include lectures such as “Girona, a city to discover” and “Ten discoveries of our heritage,” guided tours of archival and museum reserves, the cycle “The future is written, only the unpredictable Roman past,” and the exhibition series “Legacies in potential.” A highlight of the commemoration will be the “Bimillenary of Girona” Congress, organised by the Institut d’Estudis Gironins and the City Council, featuring experts from around the world discussing the founding of Roman cities and their urban, political, and social evolution over the centuries.
The anniversary programme is supported by the city's heritage sector, museums, and archives, which are participating by lending items and documents, and for the first time, opening their reserves to the public in a coordinated effort.
