MNAC – National Art Museum of Catalonia

The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) is one of the largest museums in Spain. It is situated on Monjuïc in the Palau Nacional; a huge, Italian-style building dating back to 1929. The MNAC (Museum National d’Art de Catalunya) contains incredible collections of Catalan art spanning 1000 years from the Romanesque period to the mid-twentieth century. It is a must visit for any art lover or for those interested in learning a bit more about Catalan history.

The beginnings of the museum started in 1880 and the collection has now grown to over 250,000 pieces. In 1990 it was declared a national museum after bringing together collections from two museums (one with work from the Romanesque and Gothic period and the other with 19th – 20th-century work). The museum features many pieces from some of the most famous Catalan artists including Picasso, Gaudí and Dalí.

MNAC (Museum National d’Art de Catalunya) situated in the stunning building on Montjuic hill where you can also view the Magic Fountain every weekend. Inside, the pieces take you through the history of Catalan art across the region. Highlights include the Romanesque collection where you can see frescoes displayed in replicas of the churches they were originally stored in. The modern art collection features sculptures and photography from artists including Gaudí, known throughout Barcelona for his iconic modernist architecture.

There is a lot to see so make sure you give yourself enough time to see it all so you can fully enjoy all the art on display.

How to get there

• Address: Palau Nacional Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona, Spain. From Plaça Espanya head down Avinguida Maria Cristina and you will straight away see the museum, continue up via the escalators or if you’re feeling particularly fit, take the stairs.
• Metro: L1, L3 (Plaça Espanya)
• Bus: 150, 13, 55
• FGC: L8, S33, S4, S8, R5, R50, R6, R60

Additional information:

Schedules 

• Closed Mondays
• Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10 am to 6 pm (until 8 pm during Summer months)
• Sundays and public holidays: 10 am to 3 pm

Prices:

• Adults € 12 (valid for two days)
• Concessions get 30% discount
• Free for children under 16
• Admission is also free every Saturday after 3 pm and the first Sunday of every month.

For more information check the website.