El Modelo Museum Former Panopticon Prison

About El Modelo Former Prison Museum

El Centre Penitenciari d'Homes de Barcelona, EL Modelo as it is more commonly known, was a prison for 113 years, only closing on the 8th of june 2017.

La Modelo History

During the Francoist era (1939 to 1975), El Modelo became a symbol of political power for the state, hosting over 1,000 executions, including gruesome penalties as the garroting of Salvador Puig Antich in 1974, which prompted international outcry.

The origins of the design of a circular prison date back to judge and philosopher Jeremy Bentham who in 1787 published works called The Panopticon which detailed how prisoners in an institution could be watched by one central security guard without being able to tell if they were being watched. El modelo adopts this idea of one prisoner per cell overlooked from the central gaurd post. The reality is that the central security booth only sees the corridors and not the interior of the cells.

El Modelo prison was constructed between 1881 and 1904 following designs by architects Salvador Viñals y Sabaté and José Doménech Estapá. The complex has a radial floor plan with the central body covered by a cupula where the six radiating wings converge. The guards watch cabin is located in the centre of the body of the prison on the ground floor.

El Modelo prison was inaugurated on the 9th of June 1904 as the tenth prison in Catalunya. The original name of the prison was The Cellular Prison, but it was given the informal name of El modelo because it was supposed to serve as the model for future reformation centres for prisoners.

The prison has also been used to intern political dissidents during the dictatorships of Primo de Rivera and Francisco Franco with upto 16 people in one cell. Examples of political prisoners include people who went on strike, protest movements, union leaders, communist party members and anyone who disagreed with the franciost state. Also it was used to imprison homosexuals who were persecuted during the Franco dictatorship.

After Spain's transition from dictatorship to Democracy, El Modelo continued to be used as a prison until it's closure in 2017.

The prison has only been empty on two occasions: at the start and end of the Spanish civil war. On the 19th of July 1936 the 831 prisoners were liberated by anarchists. On the 23rd of January 1939, a few hundred prisoners were driven to the French border, some set free and some shot. On the 26th of January, hours before Francoist troops entered the city, the rest of the prisoners were set free.

Image Gallery for El Modelo Former Prison Museum

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Visiting El Modelo Former Prison Museum

El Modelo has various annexes such as kitchens, dining rooms, store rooms, workshops, first aid centre, administration block, library, school, theatre, postal room and gym. Also, there was a garden and large outdoor courtyards. Next to the entrance there is a waiting room with booths to visit the prisoners.

Each one of the radial wings was used to house a different type of prisoner. 1: For first offenders. 2: For prisoners with good behaviour. 3: For repeat offenders with good behaviour. 4: For repeat offenders with behavioural difficulties. 5: For first offenders and prisoners that work in the prison. 6: For prisoners kept in isolation.

The Catalan government (La Generalitat) have opened El Modelo as a Museum and Memorial about Repression in Catalunya. Right now, it is free entry, and so far, pretty much in the state when it closed as a prison. Visits can be booked using the below link.

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.


1 hour guided tour:
• 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

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.

La Modelo homepageLa modelo Guided Visits

What to take with you for El Modelo Former Prison Museum

Most museums ask you to deposit rucksacks and large bags in the locker area. Museums that do not have lockers do not allow entry with large bags but normally allow people inside with small handbags and 10L rucksacks.

Bicycle anchorage points outside la El Modelo in Carrer de Entença.

Access from the ground floor to the first floor is exclusively via stairs, However there is still plenty to see on the ground floor but note that there are some changes in level that involve three or four steps.



Day Trip Rucksack

Small 10L day trip and museums rucksack





0.8L water bottle

Reusable, refillable 1L water bottle.





Emergency Poncho

Small folded lightweight Water proof poncho for emergencies

Getting to El Modelo Former Prison Museum

Address: Carrer d'Entença 155, Barcelona. 08029

The former Prison occupies two city blocks in the La Eixample neighbourhood of Barcelona, near to Sants main railway hub.

Nearest TMB METRO is Entenca on the blue line (L5).