Visit this free museum with an impressive collection of European and Argentine art featuring some of the biggest names to ever pick up a paintbrush.
The National Museum of Fine Arts houses a collection of more than 12,000 pieces, with an emphasis on European and Argentine art. Works are displayed on three floors in 39 exhibition halls. They cover baroque, impressionist and Flemish painting from the 17th century and many other movements. Walls are adorned with the creations of painters such as Degas, Rembrandt, Manet and prominent Argentine artists including Cándido López and Antonio Berni.
Start your visit on the ground floor with its 24 exhibition halls. Here you’ll find European art from the 12th to the 20th century, French furniture from the 18th century and Argentine masterpieces from the past 200 years. Appreciate sculptures by Rodin and Curatella Manes and paintings by Van Gogh, Rembrandt and El Greco. Exhibits are arranged so that visitors can follow either a chronological or a theme tour.
Go up to the first floor to examine pieces from the museum’s collection of 20th-century art. Among the outstanding works are Shooting Star by Jackson Pollock and Woman Lying by Picasso. The top floor has temporary exhibitions and an outdoor sculpture terrace.
The National Museum of Fine Arts also has a small collection of pre-Hispanic art and ancient art from Asia. Tableaus portray the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Investigate vases from the 14th to the 17th centuries and stone carvings that are more than 2,000 years old.
The paintings, sculptures and sketches can be viewed for free every day except Mondays when the museum is closed. Some of the temporary exhibitions charge a fee. Join a free English guided tour on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, visit the museum’s official website.
The National Museum of Fine Arts is located in the Recoleta neighbourhood, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) north of the city centre and is easy to spot. It’s the large pink building, a former drainage pumping station on the Avenida del Libertador. Reach the museum by bus and subway. Drivers can use the metered underground parking lots within walking distance of the museum.
