
During the latter half of the 19th century, Girona city witnessed the first applications of several new discoveries of the industrial age. Girona-born engineer Narcís Xifra successfully carried out the first trials in Catalonia on electric street lighting, telegraph and telephone systems, among others. Likewise, La Gerundense firm established the first continuous paper factory in 1843.
The Catalan Government has declared the sardana to be a heritage festive element of national interest.and the City History Museum has a room dedicated to the sardana, which is indispensable for those who wish to understand the nature of a cobla band and the evolution of the use and production of wind instruments in Old Catalonia over the last three centuries. The room contains a unique collection of instruments, which includes some perfectly conserved shawms, old tiples, the first tenoras, and several other pieces made by Turon, Catroi and other historical instrument builders. It also shows the evolution of cobla instruments explaining the history and social role of music in the northern parts of Catalonia over the last three centuries.
We are starting a programme of temporary exhibitions in order to show all the works in the collection that are not usually on display, and thus consolidate a permanent space for presenting Girona's contemporary municipal art. A project by which we hope to further public acquaintance with the works and the artists herein represented.
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