For a truly immersive Catalan experience, learning about the history and culture of Barcelona through different art forms, you must visit these 6 best Barcelona museums. As one of the most artistic cities in the world, Barcelona is a hub for different forms of art from all different time periods, as well as places all over the world. From ancient tombstones to modern street art to even chocolate, Barcelona has it all in its wide array of museums.
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6 best Barcelona museums you will love
There is a wide variety of museums all over Barcelona, full of history, artwork and artifacts. Learn more about Catalan culture while exploring some of Barcelona's most-loved and recognized museums. Here are Barcelona's 6 best museums!
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Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
Watch history unfold in front of you at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya has one of the oldest and biggest collections of Medieval Romanesque art from the 11th to 13th centuries. This collection is mostly made up of large murals and panel paintings, as well as stone and molds from the Barcelona cathedral and Islamic tombstones. There are also more modern art collections featuring avant-garde and neoclassicism-inspired work from artists such as Ramon Casas and Antoni Gaudí. Aside from the artwork inside, the building itself is a piece of art, built specially for the International Exposition of Barcelona in 1929. It also has one of the best views of the entire city. For lovers of art and history, it is definitely worth a visit to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
Moco Museum
Visit the Barcelona Moco Museum to admire the work of many current and rising artists that use their art as a medium to create a message about the state of society. There is a lot of depth to these pieces that many viewers can connect with because of their contemporary context. Experience work from well-known leaders in modern art such as Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol, as well as contemporary artists who embrace the transformative power of art to create something that has never been done before such as Kehinde Wiley and Damien Hirst. Probably one of Moco’s most famous pieces is the immersive Diamond Matrix by Studio Irma. The art features a giant mirrored room filled with hanging diamond lights that glow in different colors. Not only is this an incredible photo spot, but the diamonds are a metaphor for the strength and similarities of humanity. Moco Museum serves to challenge and inspire.
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Picasso Museum
Follow along with the life of Pablo Picasso through the 4,251 pieces of art that make up the permanent collection of his work at the Picasso Museum. Although Picasso is not from Barcelona, he had a strong connection with the city and completed a lot of his work during his time there, so he requested his museum be located in Barcelona. Check out the Picasso Museum to see the extensive collection, as well as his famous Las Meninas series based on Diego Velázquez’s painting. The Picasso Museum is a very popular attraction in Barcelona, so you should book tickets in advance. You can purchase general admission or take guided tours if you prefer. Regardless, you will leave the museum with a vast knowledge of Picasso’s artistic journey.
Poble Espanyol
A unique open-air museum experience, Poble Espanyol attempts to create an architectural space representing different important cultural aspects of Spain. Also developed in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition, Poble Espanyol has a rich history as a place of community. It was used to host folk festivals and dances as well as pageants. Today, Poble Espanyol continues to be a place of community as it is the venue for many concerts and is also home to three different nightclubs. During the day, you can explore the different architecture of the buildings, resembling different regions of Spain. The open-air museum also offers craft workshops including everything from basket weaving to creating stained glass. Poble Espanyol has everything one could want, making it one of the best Barcelona museums.
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Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art serves as a place of knowledge and discovery through the exchange of art. The art collections are all from the second half of the 20th century to the modern day, focusing on the purpose of art today and how it can create community. The Museum of Contemporary Art puts an emphasis on looking at different narratives through art that have been historically silenced. The art collections also delve into the relationship between visual arts and pop culture in a modern context. Some of the works you can find at the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art include photographed Parisian graffiti from the 30s, as well as colorful abstract paintings from the 50s. With the goal of expanding the voice of art, the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art is inspiring a positive change in the art world and beyond. You do not want to miss out on seeing these collections for yourself.
Museu de la Xocolata
Different from any of the other museums, instead of paintings and sculptures, this museum specializes in chocolate. The Museu de la Xocolata, or the Chocolate Museum, takes viewers through the origins of chocolate in Europe, as well as its economic and social role throughout history in Barcelona. Chocolate-making is a valued part of Catalan culture in certain gastronomical aspects such as the tradition of going for hot chocolate and churros. There are several different sections of the museum that break down the importance of chocolate such as how it has served as an artistic inspiration, as well as an exhibit that looks at the machinery used to produce the chocolate delicacies we know today. And, of course, there is a cafe where you can try different types of chocolate and purchase different traditional Catalan chocolate specialties. The Chocolate Museum is sure to provide an immersive, and tasty, Catalan experience.
