Libraries and cultural centres
Reial Acadèmia Catalana de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi
Passeig d’Isabel II 1, 08003
933 192 432
Free (Fee for membership, residents only)
Open Monday–Friday 10am–2pm, closed in August
Metro Barceloneta, Jaume I Bus 14, 45, 59, 120, V15 H14
The library is wheelchair accessible but there are no adapted toilet facilities
For a very long time, this magnificent building was home to the Free School of Design, a drawing academy that offered free tuition to aspiring architects and artists (Pablo Picasso among them). In 1989, the non-profit cultural institution was renamed the Catalan Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi to recognise its role as a bastion of the arts in Catalunya. Having separated from the art school, nowadays the aim of the Royal Academy is to preserve, study and make available to scholars the fruits of its rich artistic heritage. The library has been built up through donations and is open to anyone interested in what is a rather idiosyncratic collection of books on the visual arts.
Academia Taure
Carrer d’Astúries 59, 08012 932 185 257
Open Monday–Friday 11am–1pm and 5pm–9pm, Saturday 10am–2pm (most classes last around two hours)
Metro Fontana, Lesseps Bus 22, 24, 39, 114
The academy is not wheelchair accessible
This private academy is over 150 years old and has been inspiring students to learn new skills for over four decades. Book into a class and develop your drawing skills or rediscover old talents; the teachers are enthusiastic and friendly, and always on hand to offer vaulable advice, particlarly if you are new to life drawing. If you’ve ever dreamt of inventing your own superhero, you can also join the lively Saturday morning class on writing and illustrating comic books.
Biblioteca Sant Pau-Santa Creu
Carrer de l’Hospital 56, 08001 933 020 797
Free (Fee for membership, residents only) www.bcn.cat
Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3.30pm–8.30pm, Tuesday, Thursday 10am–2pm and 3.30pm–8.30pm, Saturday 10am–2pm Metro Liceu, Plaça Catalunya, Sant Antoni Bus 59, 91, 120
The library is wheelchair accessible
This wonderful gothic building houses an extraordinary library. Walk up the ancient stone steps to discover a medieval building full of books, DVDs and journals. This ancient biblioteca was a hospice from the 10th century but most of the former hospital was built 400 years later. A public library, it is now open to everyone who lives in Barcelona. It has over 56,000 titles as well as a selection of mainly Catalan and Spanish newspapers and magazines. Cultural activities and book groups are held here as well as activities which encourage children to read. In winter it tends to be quieter, when the square outside is empty and the library windows are more likely to be closed.
Palau Robert Centre d’Informació de Catalunya
Passeig de Gràcia 107, 08008
932 388 091
Free www.palaurobert.gencat.cat
Open Monday–Saturday 10am–8pm, Sunday 10am–2.30pm
Metro Diagonal Bus 6, 33, 22, 24, 34, H8, V17
The centre is wheelchair accessible
Despite being next door to the Office of Tourism on one of the busiest streets in the city, the Palau Robert Information Centre has a surprisingly serene exhibition space. The shows here mainly focus on contemporary photography by Catalan artists so it’s a good spot to discover some local talent. Behind the gallery space is a garden with some unusual species of plants and a second exhibition space, housed in some former garage buildings. After a leisurely wander through the centre, pick up a catalogue from the shop; not only a lovely collection of beautiful photographs, it will also serve as a reminder of your trip.
La Virreina Centre de la Imatge
Palau de la Virreina, La Rambla 99, 08002
933 161 000
Free www.barcelona.cat/lavirreina
Open Tuesday–Sunday and public holidays midday–8pm
Metro Liceu Bus 14, 59, 91 Train Plaça Catalunya
There is wheelchair access to the first floor exhibition space and adapted toilet facilities
The beautiful Virreina Palace was built between 1772 and 1777 and is one of the most distinctive public buildings in Barcelona. Situated on the famous La Rambla, today it is the headquarters of the city council’s Cultural Institute and the first-floor Image Centre hosts a range of temporary art exhibitions and cultural activities. Its programme includes photographic and audiovisual art exhibitions featuring work by both Catalan and international artists, as well as literary festivals, talks and numerous other events, usually connected with ideas surrounding ‘the age of the image’.
Centre Cultural La Casa Elizalde
Carrer de València 302, 08009 934 880 590
Free (Fee for concerts and courses) www.casaelizalde.com Open Monday–Thursday 9am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 9am–2pm and 4pm–9pm
Metro Diagonal, Passeig de Gràcia Bus 20, 39, 45, 47, H10
Most of the centre is wheelchair accessible
This charming, council-funded space supports a regular rotation of cultural exhibitions, from photography shows to music and art discussions, and often showcases works by Spanish artists rarely seen elsewhere. Ligia Unanue’s intricate geometric sculptures (pictured above) offered a striking contrast to the dark interior decor.
Fundació Suñol
Passeig de Gràcia 98, 08008 934 961 032
Open Monday–Friday 11am–2pm and 4pm–8pm, Saturday 4pm–8pm
Metro Diagonal Bus 6, 33, 44, H8, V17
The building is wheelchair accesible
The private art collection of wealthy Catalan lawyer, journalist and politician Josep Suñol is nothing short of astonishing, and luckily it’s available here for all to see. A world-renowned archive of 1,200 works includes pieces by Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí and Man Ray as well as more contemporary artists, all with a focus on the avant garde.
Goethe-Institut Barcelona
Carrer Roger de Flor 224, 08025 932 926 006
Free (Fee for membership) www.goethe.de
Open Institute Monday–Thursday 9am–2pm and 4pm–8pm, Friday 9am–2pm and 5pm–8pm; library Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am–2pm and 4pm–8pm, Tuesday 4pm–8pm, Thursday 10am–2pm, closed from late June to late September
Metro Sagrada Familia, Verdaguer Bus 19, 33, 34, 50, 51, B24, H10
There is good wheelchair access to the cafe and the library via the entrance on Provenza, 388
Whether or not you are enrolled on a course here, this is a great cultural centre – and not just for Germanophiles. The well-stocked library is a light, spacious room at the back of the building and here you will find everything you need on German literature, arts, music and history. The cafe next door is also lovely. As well as orange juice, organic lemonade, German pilsner and Fritz cola you can order traditional German coffee and cake. The chocolate marble ‘kuchen’ is especially tempting. With its simple decor and monochrome colour scheme, this is a hidden minimalist architectural gem in a less well-known part of the city.
Arts Santa Mònica
La Rambla 7, 08002 935 671 110 Free (Fee for performances)
www.artssantamonica.gencat.cat
Open Tuesday–Saturday 11am–9pm, Sunday 11am–5pm
Metro Drassanes Bus 14, 59, 64, 91, 120, D20, H14, N0, N6, N9, N12, N15
The centre is wheelchair accesible
Walking into this beautifully renovated old building at the bottom of La Rambla always feels quietly exciting. As well as ambitious exhibitions of contemporary art, music and literature, numerous other cultural events take place here, in what is a truly impressive space. Attend a Catalan poetry reading in the cloister, meet undiscovered Spanish writers at a literature conference, join in a dance workshop, or watch independent films during an animation festival. The range of creative disciplines on display here is enormously diverse, and a visit is always rewarding.
Biblioteca Jacques Dupin
at Fondació Joan Miro, Parc de Montjuïc, 08038 934 439 470
Free (Fee for access to the museum)
Open Library Tuesday–Friday 10am–2pm and 3pm–6pm, Monday, Saturday 10am–2pm; Museum November–March Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am–6pm, Thursday 10am–9pm, Saturday 10am–8pm, April–October Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am–8pm, Thursday 10am–9pm, Saturday 10am–8pm
Metro Paral-lel then Funicular de Montjuïc Bus 55, 150
The building is wheelchair acccesible
The Jacques Dupin Library is without a doubt the quietest part of the Fundació Joan Miró. The popularity of this world-renowned Catalan artist’s work can make the main gallery rooms seem rather crowded, but the library is always calm. With over 25,000 books and monographs on the artist and his contemporaries (many donated by Miró himself), this is an excellent place to research 20th-century Spanish modernism. The library doesn’t confine itself to modernist aesthetics, however. It also has an excellent collection of publications, DVDs and other materials on art from the 21st century. If you want to find a truly tranquil spot, walk up to the roof and bask in the sunshine. Or head to the peaceful gallery on the upper floor that displays Joan Miró’s own prints, collages and other works.
Convent dels Àngels
Plaça dels Àngels 1, 08001 934 817 922
Free www.macba.cat
Open See website for exhibition details
Metro Bogatell, Ciutadella Villa Olímpica Bus 36, 59, H16
The building complex is wheelchair accessible
Since 1999, this convent complex has been home to FAD (Foment de les Arts i del Disseny), Barcelona’s century-old institute for the promotion and study of contemporary art, architecture and design. In 2005, part of the convent was converted to form the MACBA (Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona) Study Centre, and the chapel is now used as a venue for occasional exhibitions and concerts.
Dipòsit de les Aigües
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Campus de la Ciutadella,
Carrer de Ramon Trias Fargas 25–27, 08005
935 422 000 Free www.upf.edu
Open Daily 9am–1pm
Metro Ciutadella Villa Olímpica Bus 36, 92, H16, V21, V27
The library is wheelchair accessible
Previously a water tower, fire station and psychiatric asylum, this adaptable edifice is now one of the libraries for the Pompeu Fabra University. A quiet place to study, it’s home to the Haas Library and documents from the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, making it an especially unique resource for economic historians.
El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria
Plaça Comercial 12, 08003 932 566 851
Free (Fee for access to the exhibitions)
www.elbornculturaimemoria.barcelona.cat
Open March–September Tuesday–Sunday 10am–8pm; October–February Tuesday–Saturday 10am–7pm, Sunday 10am–8pm Metro Barceloneta, Jaume I Bus 14, 17, 19. 39, 40, 45, 51, 120 Train Arc de Triomf, Estació de França
The centre is wheelchair accessible
Book a tour around the El Born Centre for Culture and Memory and you will come to understand how archaeological remains give us extraordinary insight into the workings of the modern-day city. Discover what life was like in Barcelona in 1700, and how different – or similar – it was to the life of the people living here today. After walking around the museum, you can follow the guided tour around the El Born district, an equally fascinating way to learn how the past interacts with the present in this historic quarter of Barcelona.
