Art in Barcelona

Museums In Barcelona there are museums of every sort: large, small, hidden in back streets, of international artists, science, sport, curiosities... and museums worth visiting just to see the building. Among the more curious collections are the automatons of Tibidabo, perfumes, waxworks, sewers, funeral coaches and others which most people in Barcelona don't know exist. Here we give a selection of the most important which, time and strength permitting, you could try to see.
	COSMOCAIXA Sience Museum Maritime Museum Fundacion Antoni Tapies Fundacion Thyssen Bornemisza MNAC (National Art Museum of    Catalunya)	Museum of the History of Barcelona Fundacion Joan Miro MACBA (Museum of Contemporary    Art) Museu Picasso Museu Frederic Mares

Temporary Exhibitions
There are more than 150 places where you can find temporary exhibitions of all types. From a bar such as the Café del Sol to La Pedrera, any space can suffice to display the work of a new or established artist. Here we suggest a few which are also in buildings of architectural interest.
	CCCB (Centre of Contemporary    Culture) Fundacion Caixa Catalunya / La    Pedrera Centre d'Art Santa Mònica	CaixaForum Palau de la Virreina

Commercial Art Galleries

There are more than 100 commercial galleries selling works by both new and established artists. The greatest concentration is in the Eixample area. In Carrer Consell de Cent, between Carrer Aribau and Passeig de Gracia, you will find a lot. In the Barrio Gotico they are to be found in Carrer Avinyo, Canuda, Duc de la Victoria and others, the greatest concentration is in Carrer Petritxol (5) and Carrer Palla (3). Another zone is el Borne: in Carrer Montcada (near the Museo Picasso) and more in Carrer Antic Sant Joan, Carrer Sombrerers, Pl. Comercial and Carrer Rec.

Museums

COSMOCAIXA - Science Museum

Interactive exhibits, plenty of buttons for children to press, Planetarium, weekend activities require a reservation in advance.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Closed on Mondays, 25.12., 01.01. and 06.01..
Address: C/ Teodor Roviralta, 55.
Telephoone: 93 212 6050
Metro: (FGC) Avda. Tibidabo (L7)

Museum of the History of Barcelona

If you want to know about the development of Barcelona from Roman times through Medieval to the present day, this is the place for you. Within the museum you can see part of the original Roman foundations of the city and part of the walls which surrounded the city. The museum encompasses the remains of an VIII century palace and other buildings such as the Royal Palace and the magnificent Saló Tinell, in which exhibitions are held.
Note: In summer there are guided tours from 10:00pm until midnight, rounded off with a glass of cava.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10am - 2pm & 4pm - 8pm;
Sunday & holidays: 10am - 2pm.
Telephone: 93 315 1111
Address: Pl. del Rei, 1 (Barrio Gotico).
Metro: Jaume I (L4)

Museo Maritimo - Maritime Museum

The history of Barcelona is inseparable from its relationship with the sea. This museum brings together all types of instruments of navigation, ship models and maps, which tell the story of Catalan seamanship from its origins to the development of a submarine. Also one can see the Royal galley of John of Austria, and scenes from life at sea with audio-visual effects. The musem is housed in the medieval Drassanes Reials (Royal shipyards) of Barcelona, the largest civilian gothic building (XIII century) in the world, it feels more like you are visiting a cathedral than a shipyard.

Opening hours: Every day: 10am - 7pm.
Telephone: 93 342 9920
Address: Av. Drassanes, 1 (next to Pl. de Colon).
Metro: Drassanes (L3)

Fundacion Antoni Tapies There are works from all periods of the artistic development and a beautiful library devoted to modern and Asiatic art. The Tapies foundation is housed in a building by the modernista Architect Lluís Domenech i Montaner, and is crowned by a controversial work by Tapies (Nuvol i Cadira - Cloud and Chair). The roof terrace alone is worth a visit. Bookshop: Book on Tapies Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10am - 8pm. Telephone: 93 487 0315 Address: Arago, 255 (near to Passeig de Gracia). Metro: Passeig de Gracia (L2, L3, L4)

Fundacion Joan Miro

The building was designed by Josep Lluis Sert, and has examples from all periods of Miro's development. A visit to the foundation is a total experience of light, beautiful spaces, views over Barcelona, and temporary exhibitions of other artists.
Bookshop: Book on Miro

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 10am -7pm; Thursday: 10am - 9:30pm; Sunday: 10am -2:30pm.
Telephone: 93 443 9470
Address: Av. Miramar, 71 (On Montjuic "mountain". Take bus 50 from Pl. Universitat or Plaça de Espanya, or by funicular from Paral.lel Metro Station ).

Fundacion Thyssen Bornemisza

The collection is housed in the medieval dormitory of the nuns in the Monastery of Pedralbes and the grand hall of the Palace of Queen Elisenda of Montcada. The works shown are from 5 periods: medieval; first German renaissance; Italian renaissance; Baroque and late Italian Baroque. The following artists are represented: Fra Angelico; Bernhard Strigel; Wolf Huber; Lorenzo Lotto; Titian; Tintoretto; Veronese; Zurbarán; Velazquez; Rubens; Canaletto and others.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10am - 2pm.
Telephone: 93 280 1434
Address: Baixada del Monestir, 9 (inside the Monastery of Pedralbes).
Metro: Palau Reial (L3)

MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art) The building is the work of the North-American architect Richard Meier. The white, curved and rectilinear walls combine to create harmonious and beautiful spaces. The gallery is devoted to works from the second half of the 20th century. There are few works in the permanent collection but frequently interesting temporary exhibitions. For more information: http://www.macba.es

MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalunya) The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC,) in the Palau Nacional, symbol of the 1929 International Exhibition in Barcelona, is situated on the mountain of Montjuïc near to the trade fair area and the Plaza Espanya. Before entering the museum going uphill you will enjoy the spectacular view of the city of Barcelona.

Museu Picasso

The Museum occupies five medieval palaces in the secluded Carrer Montcada. The museum has many works from Picasso's formative years from 1895 to 1904. Don't forget to visit the place where Picasso met with other artists and intellectuals during his years in Barcelona, it is still a cafe and restaurant to this day - Els Quatre Gats (C. Montsio, 3 - Barrio Gotico).
Bookshop: Book on Picasso

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday & holidays: 10am - 8pm; Sundays: 10am - 3pm.
Telephone: 93 319 6310
Address: Carrer Montcada, 15-23
Metro: Jaume I (L4)

Museu Frederic Mares

We include this museum for two reaons: one for the collection of religious sculpture from Pre-Roman times until the XIX century (there is also a collection of objects from daily life from the XV to XIX centuries); secondly the courtyard is the perfect place to have a rest from serious sight-seeing and enjoy refreshments (summer only) with a view of the cathedral.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 10am - 5pm; Friday & Saturday: 10am - 7pm; Sunday & holidays: 10am - 3pm.
Telephone: 93 310 5800
Address: Pl. Sant Iu, 5-6 (Barrio Gotico).
Metro: Jaume I (L4)

Temporary Exhibitions

CCCB (Centre of Contemporary Culture) Exhibitions and contemporary art events in a building which perfectly combines the ancient and the modern. More information: www.cccb.org/eng/cccb.htm Opening hours in Summer: Tuesday to Saturday: 11am - 8pm; Sundays & holidays: 11am - 7pm; Mondays except holidays: closed

Opening hours in Winter: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 11am - 2pm & 4pm - 8pm;
Wednesday & Saturday: 11am - 8pm;Sundays & holidays: 11am - 7pm;
Monday except holidays: closed.
Telephone: 93 306 4100
Address: Montalegre, 5 (next to MACBA)
Metro: Liceu (L3)

CaixaForum This building has been an old factury desgined by the modernist architectof Josep Puig i Cadafalch and it became in 2002 the CaixaForum, the social and cultural center of the Foundation "the Caixa" in Barcelona. With the opening of CaixaForum, the Foundation has several spaces with a permanent collection of contemporary art, temporary exhibitions and programs with activities related to the plastic and visual arts, music and literature. More information: http://www.fundacio.lacaixa.es/centros/caixaforumbcn_es

Fundacion Caixa Catalunya / La Pedrera

Exhibition space in Gaudi's La Pedrera, a treat for the visitor irrespective of the exhibition.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10am - 2pm & 4pm - 8pm; Sunday: 10am - 2pm.
Telephone: 93 484 5979
Address: Passeig de Gracia, 92 (La Pedrera)
Metro: Diagonal (L3, L5)

Palau de la Virreina

Half-way down La Rambla you will find the Palau de La Virreina, a baroque palace from the XVIII century, which has two exhibition spaces: Espai Xavier Misserachs, with free admission and the exhibition space: Espai 2.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 11am - 8:30pm; Sundays & holidays: 11am - 3pm.
Telephone: 93 301 7775
Address: La Rambla, 99
Metro: Liceu (L3)

Centre d'Art Santa Monica

Temporary art exhibitions

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday:11am - 8.00pm, Sundays & holidays: 11am-3 pm
Address: la Rambla , 7
Telephone: 93 316 28 10
Metro: Drassanes (L3)