Notable 20th-century painters, poets, sculptors, and stage designers include Pablo Ruiz y Picasso. Surely, if you are not familiar with this famous painter, you have heard or read his name somewhere. Jaume Sabartés was a friend of Picasso and was very interested in Picasso’s works of art. He used to collect all Picasso’s works in his house and after years passed, the idea of establishing a Picasso Museum was sparked in his mind.
The public can examine Picasso’s works of art at the Picasso Museum which was opened on the ninth of March, 1963 in Barcelona, Spain. Currently, about 4,200 works of art by Picasso are exhibited in the Picasso Museum. Picasso’s main ideas for art were the growth of the cubism movement.
Visits to the Picasso Museum and the incredible inventions of this artist are among the reasons visitors come to Barcelona. Usually, people interested in art and students in this field are more eager to visit the Picasso Museum. Because they have read about him and his works and they like to closely observe Picasso’s works and analyze his images and thoughts.
Why is it recommended to visit the Picasso Museum?
The Picasso Museum is among the most famous and prevalent of the various museums in Barcelona, which have a variety of subjects and emphases. The Picasso Museum houses the largest collection of works by Pablo Picasso and consists of 5 medieval palaces that are connected to each other from the inside. This museum is located in the center of the old part of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona Spain area. In 1894, Picasso came to Barcelona and spent his youth in this city. He spent some time in Barcelona and some in Paris after settling there. Visiting the Picasso Museum is the dream of every artist. In order to fulfill this objective, make sure you visit the Picasso Museum in Barcelona as soon as you get the chance.
When visiting the Picasso Museum and viewing the collection of this museum, you will see the relationship of a young man with his city. Picasso’s affinity with Barcelona is portrayed in the paintings in this museum’s continuous gathering, which also gives a picture of his work prior to his departure for Paris.
Picasso’s works are divided into 5 different periods:
Most of Picasso’s works are divided into different periods, and all these periods are distinct and valuable for understanding Picasso’s overall vision.
- Picasso’s Blue Period
- Picasso’s Rose Period
- Picasso’s African Period
- Analytical Cubism
- Synthetic cubism
The Picasso Museum has works of art from various time periods, but its early works part is where it really excels. Works such as works from 1917 and Picasso’s first meeting with his first wife “Olga Khokhlova”, a Russian ballerina in Rome, are among the most special works of the museum. In general, in this museum, you can easily observe and understand the evolution of Cubism. Picasso’s Blue period collection cannot be compared with any of his other works in this museum. You may ask yourself what cubism is and what style of painting it is. Paintings known as cubism consist of tiny cubes that, when gathered, form a picture.
The Picasso Museum’s past
The “Sabartes Collection” was the first name of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona when it initially opened its doors to visitors on March 9, 1963. In 1970, Picasso donated a collection of his works, which were about 920 works of art, to this museum. This caused the museum building to expand and develop. The architecture of the Picasso Museum building is very unique and has several hundred years of history. A trip to the structure will offer you a good image of Barcelona in earlier centuries since the five palaces that make up the Picasso Museum were built in the 13th century. Since 1999, renovations were done in the Picasso Museum and modernized some parts of the museum.
It is interesting to know, the museum was initially opened due to Picasso’s strong opposition to the regime of Franco, the Spanish dictator, named Sabartés. But sometime later, Josep Porcioles, the mayor of Barcelona, ordered to change the name of the museum to “Picasso Museum” against the wishes of the central government.
The design of the Picasso Museum
The buildings of the Picasso Museum are hundreds of years old and have beautiful and enchanting Bari Gothic architecture. The history of the construction of the 5 museum buildings goes back to the 13th century and it is so artistically designed and built that it shows a clear picture of the city of Barcelona at that time. After the renovations that took place in the museum in 1999, Casa Mauri and Palau Finestres were chosen as the temporary exhibition site of the museum. Permanent collections are also located in Aguilar, Baro de Catellet, and Meca. The Picasso Museum’s five palaces, which are internal relationships among one another, are as follows:
- The museum’s centerpiece, the Aguilar Palace, was built in the thirteenth century.
- Baron Palace: This palace is located at No. 17 AD and dates back to the Middle Ages.
- Meca Palace: Meca Palace is located in No. 19 and dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
- Mauri Palace: This palace is located at No. 23 and dates back to the time when the Romans ruled Barcelona.
- Finestres Palace: This palace is located at No. 23.
What can be visited in the Picasso Museum?
In the 5 palaces of the Picasso Museum, you will visit a wide and extensive collection of Picasso’s works. You may find the following collections among the works of art on display at this museum:
- Malaga (Birthplace of Picasso)
- A Coruña
- Malaga in 1896 and 1897
- Horta de Sant Joan
- blue period
- Barcelona 1917
- the maids
- Barcelona 1999 to 1900
- Paris 1900 to 1901
- Ceramics
- Engravings
- Works related to the years 1917 to 1957
- First Communion in 1896
- Science and Charity in 1897
The last two works First Communion and Science and Charity were created by Picasso in 1896 and 1897 respectively.
Visiting hours and entrance fee of the Picasso Museum
Every single day from Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and also on Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Picasso Museum is accessible to the public without charge.
The museum is closed on Mondays and every day the last visit to the museum is 30 minutes before the last working hour. Visiting the collections and the exhibition of the Picasso Museum have separate entrance fees. Discounts are given to people under 29 years old and over 65 years old, large families, and people without permanent jobs. For those under the age of 16, teachers, and on the first Sunday of each month, access is free. If you request an audio guide that only speaks English, you have to pay a fee.
What other places can be visited near the Picasso Museum?
Visitors may easily explore other local sights because the Picasso Museum is close to many notable Barcelona attractions.
- Church of Santa Maria del Mar: 220 meters
- Barcelona Aquarium: 1 km
- Cathedral of Barcelona: 1.7 km
- San Sebastian Beach: 1.7 km
- Güell Palace: 2.4 km
What hotels are there to stay near the Picasso Museum?
Around and near the Picasso Museum, there are many hotels with different facilities for accommodation.
- Safestay Barcelona Gothic 3-star hotel: distance 220 meters
- Suizo 3-star hotel: distance 280 meters
- 3-star hotel H10 Montcada: distance 290 meters
- 4-star hotel Exe Laietana Palace: distance 750 meters
- 5-star Grand Hotel Central: 800 meters away
- Ciutat de Barcelona 3-star hotel: 900 meters away
- 3-star Chic and Basic Born Boutique Hotel: 900 meters away
What restaurants and eateries are near the Picasso Museum?
There are many restaurants near the Picasso Museum where you can relax and try local cuisine.
- Narciso restaurant: 150 meters away
- The street restaurant: 400 meters away
- Gusto del Born restaurant: 550 meters away
- Llamber restaurant: 1 km distance
- San Pedrito Restaurant: 1 km away
- Tantarantana restaurant: 2 km distance
Conclusion
The many museums in Barcelona cover an extensive variety of subjects. The Picasso Museum, among this city’s top-rated museums, has been excellent at drawing lots of visitors.