Model Prison of Barcelona, Former prison in La Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample, Spain
The Model Prison of Barcelona is a former jail complex in La Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample near Parc de Joan Miró. Six separate wings radiate from a central tower where guards could watch over every corridor and cell at once without moving from their station.
Construction began in 1887 to relieve overcrowding at the citadel jail and the building opened its doors fully in 1904. After more than a hundred years of operation it closed permanently in 2017 when the last inmates moved to newer facilities elsewhere in the region.
The building stands as a Cultural Asset of Catalonia, representing early 20th-century correctional facilities and the evolution of the Spanish justice system.
The site sits a short walk from Parc de Joan Miró and the Las Arenas shopping center in a busy residential neighborhood. Guided visits run regularly and offer a close look at the layout and workings of a historic correctional facility.
Large windows in the cell blocks were designed to let daylight enter and improve air circulation, which was considered a reform-minded approach in the late 19th century. Parts of the building were repurposed during the Civil War before returning fully to correctional use afterward.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
