The National Art Museum of Catalonia preserves the rich and expansive artistic heritage of the Catalonia region. Browse collections that cover 10 centuries of paintings, sculptures, engravings and photography in the area. While here, explore the Palau Nacional on Montjuic, an eclectic mountain district that boasts museums, galleries, sporting venues and parks.
Walk through exhibitions of Romanesque murals and woodcarvings, Gothic panel paintings, stone sculptures and metalwork. The Renaissance and Baroque collections from the 16th to the 18th centuries feature works by El Greco, Titian and Francisco de Zurbarán.
In the Modern Art spaces, find works from the neoclassic, avant-garde, modernism and noucentisme periods. Great names featuring here include Salvador Dalí, Marià Fortuny, Antoni Gaudí and Pablo Picasso. Lovers of the lens can enjoy a collection of 6,500 photographs that cover pictorialism, photojournalism and neo-realism.
Frequent visitors may notice a number of temporary exhibitions that bring fresh genres to the museum. Such exhibitions have previously displayed antique coin collections, architecture archives, photo journals and interior design displays.
Outside the museum, a high vantage point offers incredible views of the Plaça d’Espanya and Barcelona’s cityscape. If possible coincide your visit with the free sound and light show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. The performance schedule is posted on the fountain’s official website.
Get to the National Art Museum of Catalonia via public buses and a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus. Alternatively, walk from Plaça d’Espanya, which is 15-minutes away. The cable car stop at Port Vell to Montjuic is also a short walk from the museum.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. The museum, Oval Hall auditorium and some temporary exhibitions do not charge admission. All other exhibitions require an admission ticket, which is valid for 48-hours. Visit on the first Sunday of the month, or after 3 p.m. on Saturday for free entry. The museum’s official website posts opening hours, admission fees and information about guided tours.
