Museums in Barcelona
With some of Europe’s most famous art and architecture marvels to boot, Barcelona offers a wealth of culture for history and art buffs. Even for those with no inkling for culture and arts, you will be easily drawn to Barcelona’s innate beauty. Blending modern and old into a stunning cultural hub, Barcelona captures the essence of Spanish art in its plethora of museums. From contemporary art displays to medieval archaeological artifacts, museums in Barcelona offer a rare peek into the soul of the city. These are some of the best museums in Barcelona, be sure to add a few of them to your itinerary in Barcelona.
Museu del Temple Expiatori de La Sagrada Familia
Within the mythical Sagrada Familia Cathedral, you’ll find the museum that tells its story, the Museu del Temple Expiatori de La Sagrada Familia. To find out more about the history and development of the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi himself, this is the place to go. This museum offers a truly fascinating visit – walk back in time as you see photos of the development of the Sagrada Familia from the present day back to its early beginnings. There’s also a model of the Sagrada Familia depicting what it will look like once it’s completed (predicted to happen in the next 30 years). This museum is one of the most visited and popular museums in Barcelona, so be sure to arrive early to avoid crowds.
Museu Picasso
Museu Picasso has one of the most extensive collections of artworks by Pablo Picasso, one of the Spain’s greatest artists. Although not originally from Barcelona, Picasso spent a good portion of his life in and out of the city. In honor of the world famous artist the Museu Picasso was created to house an enormous collection of his work. This particular museum distinguishes itself from others by showing not only Picasso’s most famously bizarre pieces, but many of his early paintings as well. The museum is set up as a chronological art gallery, starting with his original work and moving through his life to his final paintings; viewers are given the chance to see the artist’s unique progression through his art. Also on display are exhibitions presenting the works of artists similar to Picasso.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà
La Pedrera is another of Antonio Gaudi’s creations, is the second most visited of the museums in Barcelona after the Sagrada Familia. With a bizarre but outrageously attractive exterior, La Pedrera captures people’s imagination and creates a fantasy building for the modern world. Although the apartments in the building are not opened to the public, part of the building is converted into a museum. La Pedrera is one of the most important museums in Barcelona and also houses renaissance drawings and a collection of modern art paintings.
Museu Futbol Club Barcelona
FC Barcelona football club museum is the fourth most visited of the museums in Barcelona, thanks to the loyal following of FC Barcelona football team. With sporting artefacts from the club dating back 100 years, the museum not only gives a peek into modern day football world but also Spanish sporting history. To visit its museum, there are two types of admission fee. The first allows access to the museum and the pitch area of Nou Camp Barcelona Stadium. The second type of ticket includes a guided tour of the changing rooms, press rooms, VIP lounge, and the pitch at ground level. You’ll also get a chance to sit on the players benches and see what it’s like to sit in the best seats of the stadium.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
The National Art Museum of Catalonia also known as MNAC, is a Catalonian visual art museum, housed in the Palau Nacional. Situated on the Montjuïc hill, the building is an iconic landmark of the area. In 1990, the Catalonian Museum Law reunited the collections of the former Museu d’Art de Catalunya (Catalonian Art Museum) and the Museu d’Art Modern (Modern Art Museum), and declared it the national museum. Today, the MNAC has an impressive collection of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art pieces, modern contemporary collections from the 19th and 20th century as well as books and drawings on art history. Photo credits: Photo 1 by Nellie Huang, Photos 2 and 3 from Wikipedia.