Located on Barcelona’s beloved Montjuïc, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is one of the city’s most memorable destinations for art lovers. Here you’ll find an incredible selection of art spanning over a thousand years of Catalan, Spanish, and European history—all arranged throughout the beautiful interior of the glamorous Palau Nacional. The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya also houses numerous popular temporary exhibitions, and is home to multiple shops and restaurants.
History of Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is housed within one of Barcelona’s most striking buildings, the Palau Nacional. Designed by the architects Eugenio Cendoya and Enric Catà, this magnificent building was constructed for the purposes of serving as the primary site of the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. It occupies a landmark location on Montjuïc, one that offers visitors breathtaking views of the city in a number of directions. As a result, the site itself is a popular tourist destination for visitors seeking unforgettable Barcelona photo opportunities.
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya first opened its doors to the public in 1934 as the Museu d’Art de Catalunya. In 1990, a new law declared the attraction a “national museum,” a distinction which merged the existing Museu d’Art de Catalunya with the Museu d’Art Modern and led to a major renovation. When the site reopened in 1995 as the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, it was able to present visitors access to a millennium’s worth (tenth century through the twentieth century) of fine Catalan, Spanish, and European art, all under one stylish roof.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya Highlights
The vast permanent collection of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is comprised of four major departments. For many visitors, the biggest highlight of the museum is its collection of Medieval Romanesque works; most notably, its selection of mural and panel paintings rescued (during the Spanish Civil War) from rural churches scattered throughout the Catalonia countryside. These remarkable pieces date from between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries; as such, they’re considered masterpieces of medieval European art.
The museum is also home to a powerful collection of works from the Medieval Gothic period. Consisting of altar pieces and sculptures created between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries by such artistic luminaries as Pere Sanglada, Jaume Cascalls, Jaume Huguet, Lluís Dalmau, Bernat Martorell, and Lluís Borrassà, these national treasures are well worth your time.
Other highlights of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya include its Renaissance and Baroque Art section, where you’ll find masterpieces of the so-called Spanish Golden Age by legendary artists like Titian, Rubens, El Greco, and of course, Diego Velázquez; its series of rooms devoted to Modern Art, which cover a wide range of artists and artistic styles that flourished throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; and a whole host of photographs, drawings, prints, posters, historic coins, and more.
More to See and Do at Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
A visit to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya can make for an unforgettable experience. To get the most out of your time at this acclaimed Barcelona institution, read on below for a few additional tips.
*In addition to its tremendous permanent collection, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya regularly stages temporary exhibitions. By their very nature, these temporary exhibitions are ever-changing—so what you’ll encounter depends entirely on when you plan to visit—but recent shows of note have covered everything from a retrospective on the work of the painter Suzanne Valadon to a presentation of nine of the surviving canvases from Annibale Carracci’s Herrera Chapel frescoes.
*The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya’s official website has a very helpful page entitled “Resources for Your Visit.” There you’ll find all types of useful details like museum floorplans, itineraries for self-guided tours, and games you can play with your kids while visiting the attraction. Here you can also learn more about the many guided tours offered by the museum.
*Tech-savvy visitors to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya will be delighted to learn that there are four different free apps available for download straight to your smartphone here. Depending on what you’re most interested in discovering during your time at the museum, you’ll have your pick of handy digital resources.
*The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is home to three different dining establishments. The museum’s café opens out onto the Oval Room; it’s a pleasant spot to pick up a quick refreshment or enjoy a casual lunch. La Terrassa Fresc is conveniently situated near the museum’s entrance; it offers outdoor bar service that comes with stunning views of Barcelona and the surrounding countryside. Òleum Restaurant occupies the palace’s Throne Room; reservations are recommended if you want to experience a meal in this stately atmosphere.
*The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya contains two unique gift shops. The Oval Room gift shop sells an assortment of books, art prints, posters, and kid-friendly items, while the Outdoor gift shops stocks fun museum-themed accessories and souvenirs.
Why Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya Should Be on Your Must-See List
Visit for the gorgeous park and its splendid views, visit for the opulent building and its ornate architectural flourishes, visit for the unparalleled collection of Medieval Romanesque-era Catalan art—no matter your reason for visiting, just make time in your itinerary to check out the many wonders of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. You won’t regret it—and when you’re done exploring here, you can easily hop on over to nearby attractions like Fundació Joan Miró (Joan Miró Museum), the Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch, and Telefèric de Montjuïc (Barcelona Cable Car) for more sightseeing fun.
