Museu Frederic Marès is an eclectic art museum housed within a historic structure situated in the shadow of Barcelona Cathedral. The museum’s permanent collection is largely comprised of tens of thousands of pieces donated to the city of Barcelona by the wealthy art patron and sculptor, Frederic Marès. Most notable among the museum’s diverse holdings are an impressive selection of Spanish sculptures and a veritable hodgepodge of historical curiosities that include all manner of jewelry, photographs, toys, trinkets, and medieval weapons. Museu Frederic Marès is located in Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter, within easy walking distance of many of the city’s most popular attractions, restaurants, shops, and guided tours.
History of Museu Frederic Marès
Born in the final decade of the nineteenth century, Frederic Marès led a long life characterized by a passion for the arts and a zeal for collecting. Marès moved to Barcelona with his family when he was ten years old, and while he would travel the world extensively throughout his life, he would always return to Barcelona. As a young man, Marès trained as a sculptor at the School of Fine Arts, La Llotja; later, he would go on to teach at the institution until 1964. Even as Marès enjoyed a successful career as a sculptor, teacher, and local arts booster, he became most prominently known as an avid collector. In 1944, he pledged to donate his extensive personal collections to the city of Barcelona; for its part, the city provided the building for the establishment of the Museu Fredric Marès in 1946, and it was officially opened to the public in 1948. Marès would live for nearly another half-century, continuing to support the museum that bears his name to this day throughout the remaining decades of his life.
Museu Frederic Marès Highlights
Even though Museu Frederic Marès is a rather eclectic museum, it can more or less be divided into two parts. The first major collection of artifacts found at Museu Frederic Marès is the “Sculpture Collection.” Occupying significant portions of the site’s basement, ground floor, and first floor, the museum’s sculpture collection is considered one of the world’s finest collections of Spanish sculpture. It features pieces that date from so-called ancient times all the way up until the nineteenth century. The majority of the museum’s most notable artworks are of a religious nature.
The second major collection of artifacts found at Museu Frederic Marès is known as the “Collector’s Cabinet.” Located on the museum’s second and third floors, this fascinating permanent exhibition brings together thousands of the intriguing items Frederic Marès collected over the course of his life. You’ll find a little bit of everything throughout the galleries of this quirky exhibition, including clocks, fans, medieval weaponry, photographs, ceramics, keys, pipes, reliquaries, and a whole lot more.
Museu Frederic Marès also routinely organizes special exhibits that run for a limited time throughout the year. When it comes to the museum’s special exhibits, what you’ll see depends on when you visit, but recent shows of note staged here include selections from the personal collection of Marès’ friend and contemporary, Oleguer Junyent; a profile of the nineteenth caricature artist, Josep Parera; and an exhibition that charted the influence of Greek culture on the work of the sculptor Aristides Maillol.
More to See and Do at Museu Frederic Marès
Keep reading below for some additional things to know about this distinctive art museum.
*Visitors will also want to make some time to stroll through the Frederic Marès Library. This recently renovated space recreates the interior of Marès’ personal studio, where he worked on his own sculptures throughout his life. Many of the works that Marès donated to the city of Barcelona when he died are assembled here, organized into six different thematic areas that visitors can peruse at their leisure.
*Between the months of April and September, visitors to Museu Frederic Marès can enjoy food and drink courtesy of nearby Cafè de l’Estiu. This pleasant establishment is located in the courtyard of the Palau Reial Major, and it’s a nice spot to savor some tapas and a glass of wine—or just pick up a coffee or bottle of water to go.
*If you’re looking for places in your dream trip to Barcelona where you can stretch that budget a little bit—and you’ve got some flexibility in your schedule—consider making a point of visiting the Museu Frederic Marès on either the first Sunday of the month or after 3:00pm every Sunday afternoon. That’s because during both of these time periods admission to the museum is free.
*The Museu Frederic Marès occasionally hosts a variety of special activities. For more information on the sort of event that might be taking place when you’re planning to visit, be sure and check out the attraction’s official website in advance of your trip.
Why Museu Frederic Marès Should Be on Your Must-See List
Visitors with a particular passion for the history of Spanish sculpture will absolutely not want to miss the Museu Frederic Marès, as its sculpture collection is one of the more impressive you’re liable to come across. Given its prominent location not far from big-name attractions like Picasso Museum, Moco Museum Barcelona, and the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, Museu Frederic Marès also serves as a good option for those visitors looking to flesh out the day’s itinerary with one more worthwhile destination.
