Museums
Casa Vicens
Carrer de les Carolines 18–24, 08012
Free www.casavicens.org
The building itself is closed to the public but can be viewed from the street
Metro Fontana, Lesseps Bus 22, 24, 87, V17 Train Plaça Molina, Sant Gervasi
The surrounding pavements are wheelchair accessible
The very first house Gaudí designed, this is one of the most striking buildings in the city. Turquoise and white tiles cover the exterior, along with ornate black ironwork, fairytale turrets and moulded tiles covered in sunflowers and leaves. Oriel windows protrude from the walls of the building and the chequerboard tile effect suggests that Gaudí had a wonderfully irreverent sense of humour. This is a Unesco World Heritage building, and it is a vivid, hundred-year-old reminder of the ingenuity and imagination of Barcelona’s most famous resident.
Fundació Antoni Tàpies
Aragó 255, 08007
934 870 315
Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am to 7pm
Metro Passeig de Gràcia Bus 7, 20, 22, 24, H10 Train Provença
For wheelchair access, ring the doorbell to the left of the main entrance
Antoni Tàpies is renowned for his large, gestural works which include images of huge painted crosses on everyday materials such as sacking, sand, dried glue and varnish. One of Spain’s greatest artists, his semi-abstract paintings still exert considerable influence. There are no permanent exhibits here, but temporary hangings of work by Tàpies and other artists are regularly on display. It is also worth visiting the excellent library which has a world-class collection of books and documents on abstract expressionism and modern art. On the ground floor don’t forget to visit the bookshop, which has postcards and other gift items such as tea towels and cotton bags.
Museu Can Framis
Carrer de Roc Boronat 116, 08018 933 208 736
Open Tuesday–Saturday 11am–6pm, Sunday 11am–2pm
Metro Glòries, Llacuna, Poble Nou Bus 6, 7, 40, 42, 56, 141, 192, B25 Tram Glòries
The museum is wheelchair accessible
Opened by the Vila Casas Foundation in 2009, this beautifully redesigned art centre is devoted to the display of contemporary Catalan painting. At any one time you will see around 300 works of art, dating from the 1960s to the present day, and all produced by artists who were born or lived in Catalunya.
Museu d’Història de Catalunya
Plaça de Pau Via 3, 08003 932 254 700 or 935 547 427
Open Tuesday, Thursday–Saturday 10am–7pm, Wednesday 10am–8pm, Sunday 10am–2.30pm
Metro Barceloneta Bus 14, 39, 45, 51, 59, 64, D20, H14
The museum is wheelchair accessible
The permanent collection at this museum offers a comprehensive account of Catalan history from prehistoric times to the present day. The library is also an excellent place to study, and is much quieter than the museum. Avoid the rooftop summer jazz concerts after dark as these events can get crowded.
MUHBA Plaça del Rei
Plaça del Rei, 08002
932 562 100
€ (Free on the first Sunday of the month) www.museuhistoria.bcn.cat
Open Hours vary, check website for details
Metro Catalunya, Jaume I, Liceu, Urquinaona Bus 45, V15 , V17
The museum is wheelchair accessible
There are number of MUHBA (Museu d’Història de Barcelona) sites around the city, one of which is the ancient city that now lies underneath Plaça del Rei, built by the Romans in the 1st century BC. You can discover the remains of various buildings here, including a laundry, a dyeing workshop and a fish salting factory. One ticket gives access to numerous MUHBA sites of historical significance, including The Door of the Sea – the largest of four entrance gates that, together with 76 imposing watchtowers, formed the city’s magnificent defence structure.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025 935 537 801
€ (Free on the first Sunday of the month) www.santpaubarcelona.org
Open November–March Monday–Saturday 10am–4.30pm, Sunday 10am–2.30pm; April–October Monday–Saturday 10am–6.30pm, Sunday 10am–2.30pm
Metro Dos de Maig, Sant Pau Bus 19, 20, 45, 47, 50, 51, 92, 117, 192, H8
The site is wheelchair accessible.
Lluís Domènech i Montaner may not be as well known as the other great Catalan architect, Gaudí, but he nevertheless had a huge influence on the Catalan art nouveau movement. Sant Pau, the world’s largest art nouveau site, represents some of his greatest work. The extraordinary collection of buildings was built in the early 1900s as an expansion of Santa Creu hospital, one of the oldest medical institutions in Europe. Medical services ceased here in 2009, but the dramatic masonry and intricate mosaic work have found a new lease of life as a public museum and exhibition space. A guided visit offers a glimpse into the site’s history and its enduring artistic merit.
Col-lecció de Carrosses Fúnebres
in Montjuïc Cemetery, Mare de Déu de Port 56–58, 08038
934 841 999
Free www.cbsa.cat
Open Museum Saturday–Sunday 10am–2pm; cemetery daily 8am–6pm Bus 21, 107
The museum is wheelchair accessible
Montjuïc Cemetery is not only a lovely place to wander early in the morning as the songbirds stir, it also houses one of the finest collections of funeral carriages and hearses worldwide. Many are over 100 years old and have ornate carvings only found on royal carriages. Draped in black velvet with golden tassels or carrying sombre angels with uplifted arms, these vehicles are fascinating. Some of the carriages are still used, especially during annual parades, and the display is also open during the annual Night of the Museums. It can get quite busy at this time however, so it is best to drop by on a quiet weekend to appreciate the fine craftsmanship and gilded detailing.
Museu d’Idees i Invents de Barcelona (MIBA)
Carrer de la Ciutat 7, 08002 933 327 930
Open Tuesday–Friday 10am–2pm and 4pm–7pm, Saturday 10am–8pm, Sunday 10am–2pm
Metro Jaume I, Liceu Bus 17, 19, 40, 45, 120
The museum is wheelchair accessible
This fascinating museum has an enticing catchphrase: ‘Follow our guides into the future.’ The unusual building is full of interactive exhibits, all geared towards the demonstration and celebration of scientific and technological innovation. It’s a relatively small space, but thankfully never gets too crowded.
Museu Egipci de Barcelona
Carrer València 284, 08007 934 880 188
Open Winter Monday–Friday 10am–2pm and 4pm–8pm, Saturday 10am–8pm, Sunday 10am–2pm; summer Monday–Saturday 10am–8pm, Sunday 10am–2pm
Metro Girona, Passeig de Gràcia Bus 22, 24, 39, 45, 47
The museum is wheelchair accessible
This private collection of significant Egyptian artefacts was put together by Jordi Clos, a wealthy hotelier. Situated in an upmarket area of the city, it’s a lovely escape from the crowds. On sunny days you can also grab a coffee or tea on the rear terrace.
Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes
Baixada del Monestir 9, 08034
932 563 434
€ (Free on the first Sunday of the month) monestirpedralbes.bcn.cat
Open October–March Tuesday–Friday 10am–2pm, Saturday–Sunday 10am–5pm; April–September Tuesday–Friday 10am–5pm, Saturday 10am–7pm, Sunday 10am–8pm
Metro Maria Cristina, Palau Reial Bus 63, 78, H4 Train Reina Elisenda
There is partial wheelchair access to the museum and cloisters
This peaceful monastery presents some of the best examples of Catalan gothic architecture in the city. Founded by Queen Elisenda de Montcada in 1327, it housed the Poor Clare Nuns, the female branch of the Franciscan order, and a small group of them continue to live in the adjoining convent today. You can visit the simple unadorned cells where the nuns slept and prayed, as well as the tomb of Queen Elisanda in the church. Other highlights include the extraordinary 14th-century murals in the Abbey room, the early stained glass windows in the Chapter House and the idyllic cloistered garden. The cloister itself is perhaps the most beautiful remaining example of its kind in Europe.
MUHBA Temple d’August
Carrer Paradís 10, 08002 932 562 122
Free www.museuhistoria.bcn.cat
Open Monday 10am–2pm, Tuesday–Saturday 10am–7pm, Sunday 10am–8pm
Metro Catalunya, Jaume I, Liceu Bus 14, 59, 45, 64, 120
The pillars can be viewed from the street
Tucked inside an early 20th-century courtyard stand four nine-metre-high stone pillars – remants of a 2,000-year-old Roman temple. Most likely built during the reign of Tiberius, it is incredible that they have survived all these years. The carved columns with their Corinthian capitals are an enduring reminder of this city’s ancient roots.
Palau Requesens
in the Reial Acadèmia de les Bones Lletres, Carrer Bisbe Cassador 3, 08002 933 270 125
Open Guided tours take place on Fridays and Saturdays from 7.30pm–9.45pm (advance reservation required)
Metro Jaume I Bus 45, 120, V15, V17
The building is not wheelchair accessible
The gothic arches and medieval stone balustrades of this 13th-century palace are simply magnificent. Only the courtyard is open to visitors, but you can book a guided tour (available in Spanish and Catalan) to learn about local Sefarad (Sephardic Jewish) history throughout the ages.
MUHBA Via Sepulcral Romana
Plaça de la Villa de Madrid, 08002 932 562 122
Open Tuesday, Thursday 11am–2pm, Saturday–Sunday 11am to 7pm
Metro Catalunya, Jaume I, Liceu Bus 14, 59, 45, 64,120,
The courtyard is wheelchair accessible
In the centre of Barcelona lies a surprising monument to the city’s origins: a collection of 70 Roman tombs. Unearthed during building work in the 1950s, this subterranean necropolis now belongs to the MUHBA (Museu d’Història de Barcelona) and visitors can descend into the courtyard and wander among the tombs.
Observatori Fabra
Camí de l’Observatori, 08035 934 175 736
Open Guided tours Sunday 11am, 12.30pm and on Friday and Saturday evenings between October and June (advance reservation required)
Bus 111 and a steep walk
The observatory is wheelchair accessible
Visit the observatory after dark and as long as the sky is clear you will have a spectacular view of the cosmos. Astronomers give talks and invite you to look through the oldest telescope ever built. During the summer months you can also book a table to enjoy dinner under the stars.
Museu Frederic Marès
Plaça Sant Lu 5, 08002
932 563 500
Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–7pm, Sunday 11am–8pm
Metro Jaume I, Liceu Bus 45, V17
Aside from the basement and the 5th floor, the museum is wheelchair accessible
The sculptor and collector Frederic Marès lived in this grand Catalan house and filled it with historical Hispanic sculpture and fine art. The museum has some outstanding early medieval art, from 14th-century polychrome religious statues to steel helmets worn by indomitable knights. There are also some more recent exhibits, such as 19th-century hand-painted fans and some haunting daguerreotypes in the Collector’s Cabinet. Guided tours can be arranged for anyone who is curious about the stories behind the artefacts on display.
Museu del Disseny de Barcelona
Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes 37-38, 08018
932 566 800
€ www.ajuntament.barcelona.cat/museudeldisseny
Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–8pm
Metro or Tram Glòries Bus 7, 60, 92, 192, H12
The museum is wheelchair accessible and wheelchairs are available to hire
The Design Museum in Barcelona is famous for its collection of Catalan-crafted furniture and other fascinating historical ephemera. Some of the most interesting displays can be found in the textile and fashion rooms, where you'll see printed cotton dresses from the 19th century and 1920s beaded, silk crepe georgette tunics. Elsewhere you’ll find ceramics painted by Picasso, old wooden blocks used to make hand-printed wallpaper and examples of Catalan graphic design throughout history. If you don’t have time to venture inside, the unusual exterior on its own is worth a quick trip. Ring in advance to check when the museum is at its most quiet, as school parties often visit en masse.
Mies van der Rohe Pavilion
Avinguda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 7, 08038
934 234 016
Open November–February daily 10am–6pm; March–October daily 10am–8pm
Metro or Train Plaça Espanya Bus 13, 150
The site is wheelchair accessible
The simple, modernist aesthetic of the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion stands in stark contrast to Barcelona’s winding medieval streets below. Designed by one of the 20th century’s greatest architects, it is a bright, living artwork made of concrete, glass, air and sky; wandering through it you will quickly see that not only are the walls important, but also the spaces between them. The iconic building is also impressive when viewed from the edge of the nearby magic fountain, where you can sit in quiet contemplation. It doesn’t take long to explore, so you will also have plenty of time to browse through books on the pavilion in the quiet bookshop next door.
