Art and Architecture in Barcelona

Many people visit Barcelona for just 2-3 days, and yes you can definitely hit a few of the top-level sights in this amount of time if you hustle!!   Any “must-see” guide will include touring some combination of buildings by the architect Gaudi including the famous Sagrada Familia, a visit to the Picasso Museum, and a stroll through the Gothic neighborhood.  Of course – do not miss these!  They are wonderful! 

If you have a little more time, or your interests are a little broader, here is a broader list of some of our favorite spots around town. Here is a link to my map of all these sites: BCN Arts and Architecture

MODERNISM AND ART NOUVEAU

• Sagrada Familia – don’t miss it! Book in advance it sells out!! You can book a tour or self-guided tour through their website directly.  Try to go early or go late to catch the sun shining through the stained-glass windows – it’s incredible. Add one of the towers – it’s fun to see the construction in progress and great city views.  I prefer the Gloria tower on the west side of the building.
• Sant Pau – just a few blocks up from the Sagrada Familia this Catalan Art Nouveau masterpiece designed by modernist architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.  Formerly a hospital complex, today you can meander through the park-like setting into beautifully tiled buildings connected by an ingenious underground tunnel system.
• Casa Mila/La Pedrera – an amazing apartment complex (people still live here!) and Gaudi’s last civil project before he focused exclusively on Sagrada Familia which you can see from the roof. The VR experience is a little clunky but still very cool.  They also offer an evening experience with a light show on the roof, but you miss some of the interior access.
• Casa Battló – another residential Gaudi property a block down from Casa Mila.  It is a great visit anytime but check the schedule for their evening music performances on the roof which include a tour of the building and a glass of cava while you enjoy the show.
• Park Güell – this Gaudi designed park is a definite must both for it’s crazy fun tiles, and beautiful views.  You can take a cab but it’s also fun to walk up the hill through the neighborhood, a good thing to do on a Sagrada Familia day as they are not too far apart. Take a picnic or snacks – it’s a lovely spot. 
• Palau Güell – this impressive and quirky residential palace in the Raval neighborhood was one of Gaudi’s earliest commissions.  
• Casa Vicens – Gaudi’s first residential commission
• Palau de la Música Catalana – another masterpiece by modernist architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner, this incredible performance venue features elaborate tile columns on the outside and a breathtaking ceiling in the theater. Literally see anything that is on here when you visit – it is worth it to experience a performance in this breathtaking space.

MONTJUIC

Overlooking the harbor and the city, this hill was the site of the 1992 Olympic summer games which are credited with sparking a BCN renaissance.  Plan at least an afternoon visit. You can take a cab, but it’s also fun to work off those tapas by walking up through beautiful park trails enjoying fantastic city views all along the way.  It is also fun to take the Teleferic de Montjuic funicular from the Barcelona Parallel metro station or the Port Cable Car from Barceloneta.

• Castell de Montjuïc – 17^th century fort with a dark 20^th century history
• Botanical Gardens
• Greek Theater
• Fundació Joan Miró – fantastic views over the city!
• Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc – fun to peek into the pools used for the 1992 Olympic diving and swimming competitions
• Book a window seat for lunch or dinner and enjoy excellent paella overlooking the city and the sea at Terassa Martinez.
• Estadi Olímpic – Check the FC Barcelona schedule, and catch a match at the team’s temporary home and former center stadium for the 1992 Olympic Games. Dress accordingly – FCB fans only!!! The stadium also hosts concerts by local celebs and visiting stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and Billie Eilish.

CATALAN HISTORY

• Catalan Museum of Archaeology Greek, Roman & prehistoric artifacts.
• Museum of the History of Catalonia
• Museu Maritime
• La Casa Del Entremesos – “giant” effigies of royalty, mythical beasts and saints worn in the local parades and on feast days. Check the calendar for these festivals and definitely try to catch a parade, music show and the many other performances that go on around town during these celebrations.
• BCN Cathedral

ART MUSEUMS

• Picasso Museum – collection of iconic works by the artist who spent many of his formative years in the city, mounted throughout an original palace 14th century palace complex in the heart of the old city. My favorite room is full of pigeons roosting in window frames overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
• Moco Museum – right next door to the Picasso, this small but very cool collection features artists such as Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama and Andy Warhol.
• Fundacio Joan Miró – on Montjuic.  Great views over the city, with an exhaustive collection of this beloved Catalan surrealist. Don’t miss the Alexander Calder mercury fountain tucked into the galleries!  
• Fundació Mies van der Rohe – the famous Barcelona Pavilion designed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition is an icon for the mid-century Modern Movement.
• Museum of Design – this museum features fashion, furniture, textiles, ceramics and a great collection of posters from the 1992cOlympic games.
• Fundació Antoni Tàpies – great space, great bookshop, featuring works by celebrated Catalan artist Tàpies and other contemporary exhibitions.
• Museu Egipci – impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts and excavation details from the private collection of hotelierJordi Clos Llombart.
• Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) – Richard Meier-designed contemporary art center in the Raval
• Can Framis – art center in Poble Nou devoted to contemporary Catalan artists
• Perfume Museum Gracia – collection of beautiful perfume bottles and other vessels from Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Arab and other ancient culture to the most modern creations of today’s perfumers. 
• Estudi Oleguer Junyent – studio of painter, scenographer and art collector Oleguer Junyent (Barcelona, ​​1876 – 1956), friend of painters such as Utrillo, Casas, Nonell, Picasso.

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS – check the schedules to see what’s on when you’re in town!

• Palau Robert – former palace, now an exhibition and performance center
• CaixaForum Barcelona – contemporary arts center in a former Modernist textile factory
• Centre d’Art Santa Mònica – collaborative arts center on La Rambla