Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Unrestrained energy is fueled here by the hot sun and the warm sea, it draws you into a crazy cycle of beauty, history, gastronomy and art. Gaudi and Picasso, Miro and Dali created their masterpieces here. Therefore, once in Barcelona, it is absolutely unthinkable not to visit the National Art Museum of Catalonia.
This is one of the main attractions of the city, a historical and cultural object. It is worth visiting it not only for the sake of joining the beautiful, but also in order to enjoy the beautiful view of Barcelona from the mountain.
History of occurrence
In 1990, two collections belonging to the Art Museum of Catalonia and the Museum of Modern Art were merged. As a result, a so-called consortium arose - an organizational form of a special kind. Two independent businesses, in this case a museum, have teamed up withthe purpose of centrally coordinating their business activities. At the moment, the National Art Museum of Catalonia is located in the National Palace at the very foot of Montjuic. It was built for other purposes - the holding of the World Exhibition of 1929, the work was carried out in the period from 1926 to 1929. The total area of the impressive complex is 30 thousand square meters. m. Building style - Spanish Renaissance.
Roman collection
The collection of Romanesque items, or, in other words, Romanesque, is one of the most complete and best in the world, representing a real national pride. Of particular interest are the ancient frescoes, which were once brought from churches and monasteries lost in the Pyrenees. After a long restoration, they once again delight the eyes of visitors. The same exposition presents paintings on wood and sculptures dating back centuries.
Gothic Collection
For sure, the National Art Museum of Catalonia will impress you with an impressive collection of the Gothic period. There is an opportunity to look at the unique religious wooden panels dating back to the 13th-15th century. However, the core and pearl of the collection is the Catalan easel painting and sculpture. It is represented by several works by famous artists: Bernat Martorell ("The Altar of St. John"), Luis Dalmau ("Madonna on the Throne"), Jaime Huge ("The Adoration of the Magi").
Collection from the Baroque and Renaissance period
Out of threedesignated collections, this one is presented most modestly. This is due to the fact that during this time period the significance of the region was not so high. Nevertheless, the National Museum of Art of Catalonia will give you the opportunity to enjoy works of art of the 16th-18th centuries, not only Catalan, but also Italian and French, early Netherlandish painting. The collection includes works by Diego Velasquez, El Greco, Titian, Francisco de Zurbaran, Rubens. Most of the paintings ended up here as a result of donations from private collectors. Separate halls are assigned to demonstrate world masterpieces.
Modern Art Collection
Unique and inimitable Catalan modernism, contemporary art - this is what the National Art Museum of Catalonia can be proud of. Works by Pablo Picasso, Ramon Casas, Joan Brul, Antonio Gaudi, Joan Miro and many others. The exposition includes paintings, furnishings, sculptures, photographs, etc. from the beginning of the twentieth century until the 50s-60s.
In addition, the museum has its own collection of prints, drawings, posters, including art nouveau. An impressive display of medals and coins can be seen in the numismatic hall. It reflects the history of the development of the Catalan currency, from the Greek era to the present day.
National Art Museum of Catalonia: how to get there?
So, once in Barcelona, be sure to include in your "historical and cultural"the route of the National Museum, especially since it is not at all difficult to get to it from anywhere in the city. Good transport links are one of its advantages. Barcelona, like threads, is stitched with underground metro lines, which greatly simplifies the situation. Upon reaching the station Pl. Espanya along the lines L1, L3, L8 or S4, S8, S33, it remains only to climb a little uphill to a towering majestic building.
Opening hours and ticket prices
When choosing what to see in Barcelona, always plan your travel budget carefully. It would not be superfluous to know in advance not only the price of tickets, but also the opening hours of a particular museum or exhibition. So you can more rationally plan the route and time. The National Museum in Barcelona, like many others, operates on two schedules: winter (October-April) and summer (May-September). In the first case, it is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. In summer, the working day is extended by two hours, that is, until 20:00. On Monday, the National Museum in Barcelona is closed. Opening hours are reduced by three hours on public holidays and Sundays.
The ticket office closes half an hour before closing. The cost varies. An adult ticket costs 12 euros, for an audio guide and the opportunity to climb the terrace with a panoramic view, you need to pay extra 3, 5 and 3 euros, respectively.
The museum regularly holds something like a promotion and gives everyone the opportunity to get to their expositions absolutely free of charge. There is no entrance fee on Saturdays (from 3 p.m.days), on the first Sunday of the month and on holidays (September 11 and 24, February 12, May 18).
National Art Museum of Catalonia: reviews of tourists
Barcelona is a favorite tourist destination, and this is not surprising. The city combines everything you need for a rich holiday and a pleasant pastime: restaurants and clubs, sea and hot climate, monuments of ancient architecture and modern art, historical sites, museums, exhibitions, galleries, etc.
It's safe to say that the National Museum is one of the most visited places. Guests of the city speak of it exclusively from a positive point of view.
Connoisseurs and connoisseurs of art are delighted with the magnificent expositions that will be of interest even to those who are not familiar with Romanesque or modernism. The numismatic exhibition attracts attention and remains in memory for a long time.
Most of the reviews admiringly talk about the stunning view that opens from the site, the museum building itself and its territory with fountains and waterfalls, slender rows of cypresses.
Of course, there is something to see in the old and modern metropolis at the same time. There are a lot of various museums in Barcelona: from a private Egyptian collection to a national Spanish village, houses of A. Gaudi and P. Picasso. But this place is definitely worth a visit.
