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Museums

Museu de la Pell d'Igualada i Comarcal d'Anoia

4.4 · 895 reviews
Educational and industrial
Museu de la Pell d'Igualada i Comarcal d'Anoia, Carrer del Dr. Joan Mercader, 1, 08700 Igualada, Barcelona, Spain
Interesting facts
1

The museum is located within an industrial architectural complex listed as part of the Catalan Industrial Heritage network.

2

The building, Cal Boyer, is a neoclassical construction that highlights the architectural evolution of 18th-century Catalan factories.

3

The exhibition space includes an impressive collection of tools used by tanners and leather artisans over the past three centuries.

4

It serves as the headquarters for the European Leather Museum Association.

5

The water canal running through the museum site is a remnant of the historic Rec d'Igualada, which powered the city's industry for centuries.

Overview

The Museu de la Pell d'Igualada i Comarcal d'Anoia is one of the premier European museums dedicated to the history and techniques of leather production. Housed in the 18th-century Cal Boyer, a former cotton spinning mill, the facility showcases the industrial heritage of the Anoia region. The museum features extensive collections detailing the transformation of animal skins into leather using traditional and modern methods. Visitors can explore the ethnographic section, which covers the social and economic development of Igualada. It also preserves the historical water supply infrastructure, including the old water mill and channels essential to the tanning industry. The museum provides deep insights into the pre-industrial, industrial, and artistic aspects of leathercraft.

Photo spot

The interior brick vaulting and high ceilings of the Cal Boyer main hall.

Insider tips

Check for temporary thematic exhibitions in the Cal Granotes building, an annex site dedicated to ancient tanning processes.

Inquire about workshops or guided tours in advance, as they offer the best technical explanations of the leather-making process.

Combine your visit with a walk along the Rec district to see contemporary leather businesses operating in historic settings.

What to avoid

Do not mistake the main museum building for the nearby secondary site, Cal Granotes; visit both if you want the full industrial history context.

Good to know

Closed on Mondays throughout the year.

Plan your visit
Typical visit
1.5-2 hours
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings, as the museum is quieter and allows for a more focused exploration of the technical displays.
Address
Museu de la Pell d'Igualada i Comarcal d'Anoia, Carrer del Dr. Joan Mercader, 1, 08700 Igualada, Barcelona, Spain
41.577, 1.614
Get directions
Details
Key exhibitsHistoric tanning tools, Cal Boyer architecture, and the Rec d'Igualada water infrastructure.

Frequently asked

Plan for about 1.5-2 hours to see the highlights.

The best time to visit is Weekday mornings, as the museum is quieter and allows for a more focused exploration of the technical displays..

The interior brick vaulting and high ceilings of the Cal Boyer main hall.

Close by you'll find Parque Central de Igualada, Passeig Verdaguer, Església de Santa Maria.