A city shaped by artists
Barcelona has an unusually rich museum scene for a city of its size. Two of the twentieth century's most influential artists, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, spent formative years here, and the city's medieval and modern collections are among the best in Spain. With a little planning you can see the highlights in two or three relaxed half-days.
Museu Picasso in El Born
Housed in a row of connected medieval palaces, the Picasso Museum focuses on the artist's early life and training. You can follow him from accomplished academic studies painted as a teenager to the Blue Period and beyond, and the highlight for many is his series of variations on Velázquez's Las Meninas.
Do not expect the famous cubist canvases; this is a museum about becoming an artist rather than a greatest-hits collection, and it is all the more interesting for that. Timed entry is recommended.
Montjuïc: Miró and MNAC
The Fundació Joan Miró sits on the slopes of Montjuïc in a bright, white modernist building designed by his friend Josep Lluís Sert. Paintings, sculptures and tapestries fill sunlit galleries, and the roof terrace holds playful sculptures with views over the city. It is a joyful museum even for those who think abstract art is not for them.
Nearby, the grand Palau Nacional houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, known as MNAC. Its Romanesque collection is outstanding: wall paintings removed from small Pyrenean churches and reinstalled in recreated apses. The museum continues through Gothic, Renaissance and modernista art, and the terrace outside offers one of the best views in Barcelona.
Contemporary art in El Raval
In El Raval, the gleaming white MACBA holds contemporary art, while the plaza in front is a gathering point for skateboarders. Next door, the CCCB hosts thoughtful exhibitions on culture, cities and ideas. Both are good choices for an afternoon when the sun is too strong to stay outdoors.
Planning your visits
Group museums by area to save time: El Born for Picasso, Montjuïc for Miró and MNAC, El Raval for MACBA and CCCB. Many museums close one day a week, often Monday, so check before you plan. An art pass covering several major museums can be good value if you intend to visit at least three or four.
Good to know
- Take the funicular from Paral·lel metro station to reach Montjuïc's museums without the climb.
- Check for free entry periods, which some museums offer on certain Sunday afternoons.
- Visit the MNAC terrace at sunset even if you do not go inside.