Barcelona Attractions

National Art Museum of Catalonia

The National Art Museum of Catalonia, was built in 1929, and is located in the Palau Nacional in Barcelona. The Palau Nacional is situated on a small hill, at the end of the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina. The museum was only created in the year 1990, after the Catalonian Museum Law reunited the collections, of the former Catalonian Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum, declaring the collections a National Museum. The two collections brought together such works as Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque collection. It would be five years later though, when the public would be able to see the great works of art. The museum opened with its collection of Romanesque art, and then added its Gothic collection in 1997. The collection again was added too in the year 2000, with Renaissance Baroque and 20th Century art included. The museum was officially opened in 2004, after the building had been completely rehabilitated with all its new collections in place.

The Romanesque art collection on view in the museum is mainly Catalan from the period of 11th till 13th centuries. Gothic art fans can see pieces from the 13th till 15th century, alongside some work from Italy. The museums modern art section includes photographic work, and decorative art between the 19th and 20th century. The Numismatics collection, also allows visitors to view a wide range of coins, medals and paper money from BC to the present day. Since 2004 the national Art Museum of Catalonia has been displaying the works of the Thyssen- Bornemizsa. These works were discovered in a Monastery at Pedralbes, but later moved to the National museum allowing a larger public to view the works. The National Art Museum of Catalonia is open to the public daily Monday till Saturday.