Who doesn't love a magic trick? Children love clever tricks; sometimes, they try a coin or handkerchief trick themselves. But it's just as interesting to get a glimpse behind the scenes of the world of magic. An unusual activity on the Costa Brava is visiting the Museum of Magic in Santa Cristina de Aro.
The famous Catalan illusionist Xevi has been performing for 40 years — and he has been collecting objects related to the art of magic for the same amount of time. The Costa Brava's Museum of Magic and Curiosities showcases his extensive collection. It is housed in a building constructed in 1850 and occupies ten rooms. There are magicians' posters, photographs, ancient books, illusionists' props, cunning gadgets and much more.
Each room has a different theme. The tarot room is dedicated to black magic. The drawings of the artist Josep Alberti create an atmosphere of mystery. The Poster Room showcases old posters (some make you want to go to an advertised show), various packs of cards and some devices for performing magic tricks. There's also an exciting room of automatons — 19th- and 20th-century mechanical devices that guessed numbers and miraculously performed other magical acts.
Part of the Museum of Magic on the Costa Brava is dedicated to famous magicians such as The Rock and Houdini. A separate room is dedicated to the paintings of José Alberti (known as the Magician). And to discover that magic and art go hand in hand, visit the MagiArt exhibition and the Raco dʹen Xevi room.
The audiovisual room is a tiny theatre decorated with paintings and unusual items. Another exhibition of trickery equipment awaits in the salon-dining room. Barcelona also has a theatre, museum and magic shop, El Rey de la Magia.
