Josefina Vilajosana: art and life among mushrooms
Awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi in 2023, Josefina Vilajosana is much more than a mycology expert: she is a passionate educator, a defender of nature, and an essential voice in the Catalan mushroom-hunting tradition. With her energy and perseverance, she has promoted the Mushroom Art Museum, turning it into a reference point for both the curious and experts, and a space that unites knowledge, heritage, and popular culture.
At femturisme.cat, we wanted to talk to her to find out which places she loves most, what inspires her, and how she handles the responsibility of being recognized with one of the country's highest honors.
A Catalonia of nature, tradition and gratitude
What is your favorite spot in Catalonia?
The Montmajor Common, with all its parishes. And, in particular, the Mushroom Art Museum.
Montmajor, in Berguedà, is a land steeped in history, nature, and mushroom-hunting tradition. The museum that bears its hallmark is now a unique space in the country, where a passion for mushrooms transforms into art and shared knowledge.
Mushroom Art Museum
Is there any place in Catalonia that brings back fond memories?
Vilada, where I lived during the summer camps organized by the Bishopric of Solsona in the 1970s. I have fond memories.
What Catalan experience or tradition do you think everyone should experience at least once?
I wouldn't highlight any in particular, because each one has its charm and importance in its place.
If you had to recommend just one thing to someone visiting Catalonia for the first time, what would it be?
The Mushroom Art Museum. This is a place where people can learn firsthand about the region's mycology and mushroom-hunting traditions.
What corner of Catalonia have you still wanted to discover?
The Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, in the Empordà. I want to see it up close because of its historical importance.
Sant Pere de Rodes, located in Cap de Creus, is one of the most emblematic monasteries of Catalan Romanesque architecture, with spectacular views of the Empordà coast.
Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodas
What does being awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi mean to you?
It is, above all, a feeling of gratitude towards the people who have valued my work.
The Creu de Sant Jordi is one of the highest awards from the Generalitat of Catalonia, granted to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to culture and the country.
What value does the Mushroom Art Museum have for you?
For me it has the value of uniting art and the dissemination of mycological knowledge.
Josefina Vilajosana speaks with humility and passion about a life dedicated to mushrooms and nature. Her career, recognized with the Creu de Sant Jordi, is also a collective legacy: a reminder that mushroom-foraging culture is part of our identity, and that preserving and spreading it means preserving something of ourselves.
Between mushrooms, memories, and tradition, her voice invites us to look at the forest with different eyes: with respect, curiosity, and gratitude.
