Astronomical Observatory of Garraf
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Inside the Parc Natural del Garraf, a short drive from Barcelona, an old agricultural storehouse has been reborn as the Astronomical Observatory of Garraf, blending a rural Catalan setting with modern astronomy.
About the observatory
The observatory occupies a renovated storehouse in Olivella and combines a planetarium, where staff give talks about the universe, with an observation dome housing telescopes for direct night-sky viewing.
Telescopes & research
Visitors can join both day-time and night-time observation sessions, as well as thematic programmes built around events such as eclipses, planetary transits, and auroras, making the observatory's activities as varied as the sky itself.
Location & getting there
The observatory sits at Camí d'Olivella a Plana Novella, km 3.5, in Olivella, within Barcelona province and the Parc Natural del Garraf, a protected limestone massif close to the Catalan coast.
Visiting
Sessions are held for both daytime and evening visitors; it's best to book ahead by phone, since observing nights depend on the sky programme and the weather.
See your named star from here
Between its planetarium talks and its dome telescopes, the observatory is well set up to help locate a named star by coordinates on a clear Garraf night. Look up your star's position in the star catalogue beforehand.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
