Barcelona Tibidabo

Museu D’Autòmats. An amusing collection of 19th- and 20th-century automated displays, from models of ski slopes and the park itself to full-fledged jazz bands, dancers in ballrooms, and a winking gypsy. Just press the green buttons and watch ’em go. Be sure to catch the morbid (and of course automated) re-creation of a decapitation and a hanging, all in miniature. (Open July-Aug. M-Th 11am-8pm, W-Su 11am-9pm; Sept.-June open daily noon-4pm. €2, free with admission to Parc d’Atraccions.)

Museu-Casa Verdaguer. Jacint Verdaguer, the most celebrated poet of the Catalan literary Renaixença, lived in this 18th-century house before his death in 1902. Verdaguer is known for winning a Catalan poetry contest with his epic poem L’Atlantida. The rooms have been preserved as they were before his death, and detailed explanations of the artist’s life and works fill the house; unfortunately for many visitors, all the explanations are in Catalan. The path up to the museum is covered in his poetry, also of course in Catalan. (C. Carretera de l’Església, 104. FGC: Baixador de Vallvidrera. Follow signs from the train station. ☎932 04 78 05. Open Sa-Su 10am-2pm. Free.)

Museu De La Ciencia. Located at the halfway stop on the bus or tram from Pl. JFK to Pl. Dr. Andreu, the recently renovated science museum covers every topic imaginable, from robotics and physics to biology and archeology. It features hundreds of displays and interactive exhibits as well as temporary exhibitions and a planetarium. Especially impressive is the Bosc Inundat, a giant recreation of a swampy Amazonian forest filled with large and menacing fish and garish tropical birds. (C. Teodor Roviralta, 55. FGC: Tibidabo. Buses #17, 22, 58, 75 stop at Pl. JFK and buses #60 and 196 stop in front of the museum. ☎932 12 60 50. Open Tu-Su 10am-8pm. €3, students and children €2, seniors free. Planetarium €2, students and seniors €1.50.)