The Picasso Museum

The Picasso Museum, in Carrer de Montcada in the Barri Gòtic, is high on the list of essentials for many of Barcelona’s visitors.

Not only does this incredible museum give you a wonderful opportunity of seeing some of the famous artist’s most notable work, but they are also housed in sensational surroundings.

Pablo Picasso reached an agreement with the Barcelona civic authorities to inaugurate a museum in the city in the summer of 1960 and it opened its doors to the public just three years later. Originally known by the name of the artist’s friend, Sabartés, because of Picasso’s opposition to the Franco regime, the museum was located in its present position – occupying three wonderful medieval palaces that now house the permanent collections; Aquilar, Baro de Castellet and Meca.

At the present time, two further adjoining mansions, Casa Mauri and Palau Finestres, are home to the museums temporary exhibitions. Each of the five buildings has its origins in the thirteenth century and all-in-all they represent some of the city’s finest Gothic architecture. Surrounding a secluded courtyard, the interconnected palaces make strangely appropriate settings for such an influential twentieth century icon.
There are also museums devoted solely to Picasso in both Paris and Málaga, the artist’s birthplace, in addition to individual pieces in some of the world’s leading galleries. In Barcelona, however, there is a wealth of interesting and informative material; more than 3,500 pieces in total.

The museum is basically arranged in three distinct sections covering painting and drawing, ceramics and engraving. There is a considerable representation of the early works before Picasso went to Paris – perhaps the best collection anywhere of work detailing his Blue Period from 1901 to 1904.

There are also many examples from his Pink Period as well as from the other most important phases of his illustrious career. Amongst the most famous works in the permanent collection are The defenceless, The Portrait of Señora Canals, Blanquita Suárez, Harlequin, Woman with Mantilla and the evocative Las Meninas series of 58 interpretations of the famous painting of Velázquez, undertaken in Cannes in 1957.

Location and Opening Times

The Picasso Museum occupies numbers 15 to 19 of Carrer de Montcada and, although in the middle of a maze of narrow medieval streets, is well signposted for visitors. The nearest Metro station is Jaume 1 (Yellow Line, 4) but Arc de Triomf (Red Line, 1) and Liceu (Green Line,3) are also quite close. Bus Lines 17, 40 and 45 (Via Laietana stop), 39 and 51 (Passeig Picasso), 14 and 59 (Pla de Palau), 19 (Plaça de la Catedral) and 120 (Princesa) will all take you to within easy walking distance.

Picasso Museum

Closed on Monday, the museum is open daily from 10am until 8pm. There are some Fiesta days when it remains closed. The museum has free entry for all on the first Sunday of each month, as well as after 3pm on other Sundays. Additionally, on February 11th, May 18th and September 24th, entrance is also free.

The normal entrance charge for adults is €9, which allows access to both the Permanent and Temporary collections. Entry to just a Temporary exhibition will cost €5.80. The Under 16s, Pensioners and, amongst others, teachers are given free admission – but you will be asked for proof so take a piece of chalk or an unmarked book with you. Those people between 16 and 25, pensioners, the retired and unemployed can gain admission for €6 or €2.90.

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