İçindekiler
While walking through the historic streets of El Born neighborhood, this magnificent museum that you encounter is not just a museum, but also a witness to Picasso’s youth years. This impressive structure, formed by the combination of five medieval palaces, has been welcoming art lovers since 1963.
El Born, also known as La Ribera, is one of Barcelona’s oldest neighborhoods. During the Middle Ages, it was an important commercial center of the city and particularly an area where textile merchants were located. Today, it has become a lively neighborhood filled with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and bars.
Among the most important structures in the area are the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, Picasso Museum, and El Born Cultural Center. With its narrow streets, historic buildings, and medieval architecture, it’s a place worth exploring. Its nightlife is particularly vibrant, and you can taste the finest examples of Catalan cuisine in its local restaurants.
History of the Picasso Museum
The museum, established through the efforts of Pablo Picasso’s close friend Jaume Sabartés, hosts the most comprehensive collection of the artist’s early works. Opened in 1963, the museum initially consisted of Sabartés’s personal collection. Picasso himself made significant donations to the museum, sending valuable works including the ‘Las Meninas’ series.
The buildings housing the museum are just as impressive as the works inside. Five palaces from the 13th and 14th centuries were restored and transformed into a modern museum complex. These palaces, lined along Carrer de Montcada, are among the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture.
Important Collections in the Picasso Museum
Las Meninas Series
This series, where Picasso interprets Velázquez’s famous painting, is one of the museum’s most valuable treasures. Completed in 1957, the 58-piece series reveals the artist’s interpretative power and technical mastery.
Early Period Works
Here you can see works from Picasso’s art school years in Barcelona. A unique collection where you can follow the young artist’s transition from classical education to modern art step by step.
Understanding Picasso
Pablo Picasso, one of the most important figures in modern art, was not just a painter but also a revolutionary. Born in Malaga in 1881, the artist began showing his extraordinary talent while still a child. Picasso, whose father was also an art teacher, completed his classical art education at a very young age. When he was accepted to the Barcelona School of Fine Arts at age 14, he completed the entrance exam in just one day that took other students a month to finish.
Picasso’s artistic life is full of constant change and experimental approaches. In his journey from the Blue Period to Cubism, he pushed the boundaries of art and developed new perspectives. In particular, his 1907 painting “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” is considered one of the turning points in modern art. For Picasso, art was not a way to convey reality as it was, but as he saw and felt it. His quote “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up” beautifully summarizes his view of art and creativity.
Tips for Visiting the Museum for Free
You can visit the museum for free after 17:00 on the first Thursday evening of each month and on the first Sunday of each month. However, the museum can be quite crowded on these days, so I recommend going early.
Student: Students under 25 have free entry every Thursday.
Barcelona Card: You can enter the museum for free throughout the card’s duration.
Articket: You can visit 6 different museums free of charge for 12 months.
Gaudir Mes: You can visit free of charge only on Sundays after 15:00 throughout the year and on the first Sunday of each month.
Getting to the Picasso Museum
The closest metro station to the museum is Jaume I (L4). After leaving the station, follow Via Laietana street and reach the museum in about a 5-minute walk.
Suggestions for Visiting
I recommend setting aside at least 2-3 hours to tour the museum. Audio guide service is available and particularly helpful for those who want to better understand Picasso. You can take photographs for personal use in exhibition halls, provided you don’t use flash or tripod.
When you visit this magnificent museum, you’ll be discovering not just an art museum, but also Barcelona’s history and Picasso’s artistic journey.
Barcelona Picasso Museum
Website
https://museupicassobcn.cat
Visiting Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday: 09:00 - 20:00
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 09:00 - 21:00
Monday: Closed
Address
Carrer de Montcada, 15-23, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona
