This year's program of events includes hot air balloon flights and a talk on juniper oil kilns, as well as free guided tours (reservations required) and a concert by the Ebro-born musician Joan Rovira.
The Museums of Mequinenza have announced their program of events, taking place on May 18th and 19th, to commemorate International Museum Day (IMD). The activities are free and will begin on Saturday, May 18th, with an open house from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, featuring free guided tours of the History Museum and the Mining Museum in two sessions. Reservations are required to participate and can be made through the Museums of Mequinenza website, as spaces are limited.
In the afternoon, at 6:30 in the Plaza dels Museus, music will take center stage with a performance by Jordi Rovira, a musician from Camarles, a town in the province of Tarragona, which is linked to Mequinenza by the Ebro River. This live concert is part of his "10 anys de peix sense espina" tour, named after his debut album, which earned him the "Enderrock" award for best new artist. Following the concert, tethered hot air balloon flights will take place near the church ruins in the "Poble Vell" (Old Town), offering a unique view of the Aiguabarreig, the confluence of the Cinca, Segre, and Ebro rivers, as well as the surrounding landscapes.
To conclude the celebration, a conference entitled “Els forns d'Oli de Ginebre” (The Juniper Oil Ovens) has been scheduled for Sunday, May 19th at noon in the History Museum, followed by a cultural vermouth gathering. During this event, Josep Alió, Salvador Gallart, and Josep Aguilà, from the Amics de Riba-roja association, will explore the history, heritage, and traditions of the old juniper oil ovens, some of which are located in Mequinenza, highlighting their cultural and symbolic importance in the region.
The celebration of International Museum Day is an initiative launched by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977 to raise awareness of the value of museums as vehicles for cultural exchange, the enrichment of cultures, and the promotion of mutual understanding, collaboration, and peace among peoples. This year's theme is "Museums for Education and Research," aiming to highlight the importance of museums as dynamic educational institutions that foster learning, discovery, and cultural understanding.
