See childhood drawings by Spain’s most important artist at this museum in Barcelona’s old town.
The Picasso Museum has more than 3,500 works by Pablo Picasso. Paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics span from his earliest sketches as a child to some of his most important cubist pieces. Get an insight into the artist’s life and the progression of his talents. The museum appeals to children as well as art buffs, thanks to the colorful exhibits and Picasso’s childhood sketches.
Picasso was born in the south of Spain but moved to Barcelona with his family when he was young. The influential artist spent his formative years here and had a close relationship with the city until his death in 1973. He and his secretary and close friend, Jaume Sabartés, chose Barcelona as the home for the first museum dedicated to the artist’s work.
The Picasso Museum is housed in five gothic-style palaces in the bustling old town district. Some of the buildings date back to the 13th century. The palaces are joined, and the permanent collection has been arranged chronologically.
The room closest to the entrance features photos, drawings and sketches from the artist’s childhood, as well as a biography. Move through his time in Paris between 1900 and 1901, the “Blue Period” until 1904 and Las Meninas, which takes up four rooms. Las Meninas is a series of 58 paintings done in 1957 that reinterpret Diego Velázquez’s famed Las Meninas painting. Picasso gifted the series to the museum in memory of his friend Sabartés.
Don’t miss other important works, including Portrait of the Artist’s Father and The First Communion from 1896, and The Embrace (1900).
Pick up picture books and postcards from the gift shop.
The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is free after 3 p.m. on Sundays and all day on the first Sunday of every month. Pay extra for an audio guide, which provides commentary on significant pieces in the museum’s collection. There are guided tours in English on Sundays. There are three metro stops within walking distance of the museum.
