Under the former bedroom and chapter house of the Convent dels Àngels, the remains of the crypt are preserved. It is a very unknown space as only very specific activities are carried out by the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (Macba), which manages the space. The crypt is accessed through a hatch and its somewhat pop appearance is surprising, which gives it a pinkish pool-like coating on the walls.
The niches of the old crypt have been preserved, although covered by a kind of glass skylight. Only one of the tombs maintains its original appearance. It is a space very little used at present. The last occasion was last June, within the framework of the Invocacions experience on the world of introspection. Tarot-related sessions were held in the crypt.
The Convent dels Àngels has its origins in the mid-16th century, when it was built to house a group of Dominican nuns who had initially settled outside the walls, in the area now occupied by the Ciutadella park. They were transferred to Raval for security reasons. The venue was acquired in 1978 by Barcelona City Council to convert it into a cultural center. The architectural firm led by Lluís Clotet and Ignacio Paricio was in charge of its rehabilitation.
In 1999, FAD (Foment of the Arts and Design) established its headquarters, until its transfer in 2013 to the Barcelona Design Center, in Glòries. Since then, the Convent of the Angels has been managed by Macba, which in 2003 had already ceded the old church as space for exhibitions, with the aim of expanding the museum's activities.
The FAD was in fact the driving force in 2002 for the transformation of the crypt, with its current modern design, as a temporary exhibition hall. The niches, with the aforementioned circular glass covering, were converted into display cases. During the FAD period, the crypt had an intense program of exhibitions and activities.
