A vast collection of Catalonian art from the 10th to 20th centuries awaits in one of Barcelona’s most emblematic buildings.
Visit the National Art Museum of Catalonia to discover exhibitions chronicling the artistic heritage of the Catalonia region. The collections span over 10 centuries and include everything from paintings and sculptures to engravings and photography. The museum is housed in the Palau Nacional on Montjuic, a mountain famous for its museums, galleries, sporting venues and parks.
Find Romanesque murals and woodcarvings, Gothic panel paintings, stone sculptures and metalwork. Spot Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces from the 16th to the 18th centuries. These include work by El Greco, Titian and Francisco de Zurbarán, among others.
The Modern Art collection covers the neoclassic, avant-garde, modernism and noucentisme periods. Great artists such as Salvador Dalí, Marià Fortuny, Antoni Gaudí and Pablo Picasso are all represented here. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the collection of some 6,500 pictures embracing pictorialism to photojournalism and neo-realism.
Temporary exhibitions at the museum showcase a range of artistic genres. Previous exhibitions include antique coin collections and architecture archives, photo journals, furniture and home decoration displays.
After visiting the exhibitions, step outside to take in the superb views toward Plaça d’Espanya and across Barcelona’s cityscape. Time your visit to watch the impressive spectacle of the free sound and light show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. Find the performance schedule on the fountain’s official website.
The National Art Museum of Catalonia is easily accessible via public buses and a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus. Public buses and the metro also stop at Plaça d’Espanya, which is a 15-minute walk away. Alternatively, ride the cable car from Port Vell to Montjuic then make the short walk to the museum.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance to the museum’s building, The Oval Hall auditorium and some temporary exhibitions are free. Admission tickets are valid for 48-hours. All exhibitions are free on the first Sunday of the month and after 3 p.m. on Saturday. Visit the museum’s official website for complete opening hours, admission fees and information about guided tours.
