Towering over the Pla\u00e7a d’Espanya from the hill of Montju\u00efc, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is one of the architectural icons of Barcelona. That said, it doesn\u2019t always feature on the itineraries of visitors to the city, not making the cut of the ten most visited attractions<\/a> in the city.<\/span> If you want to discover the history of Catalan culture, though, there are few better places anywhere in the world. As Catalunya\u2019s national art museum, its collections span over a thousand years, from medieval churches to Gaud\u00ed. Come with us as we take you through the highlights of the MNAC.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: Martin Abegglen<\/a>, Text Overlay: Devour Barcelona Food Tours<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n To get to the MNAC, one way or another you\u2019re going to have to climb Montju\u00efc. Don\u2019t worry though: take the metro to Pla\u00e7a d’Espanya and you\u2019ll be greeted by escalators taking you all the way up to the museum. If you\u2019re wanting to explore the area nearby, the funicular railway from Paral\u00b7lel is a quirky way to get to the top of the hill, with fantastic views along the way. The museum opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m until 6 p.m, and on Sundays until 3 p.m. Entry is \u20ac12.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Insider\u2019s tip:<\/b> If you\u2019re on a budget, the museum is free every Saturday from 3 p.m. Needless to say, this is when the museum is at its busiest, so if you\u2019re looking to avoid the crowds, it\u2019ll cost you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first highlight of the MNAC is apparent before you even arrive: the view! Even from the outside, the museum\u2019s privileged position offers spectacular views over Barcelona. Head to the rooftop, though, for an even better perspective. Once you\u2019ve caught your breath, it\u2019s time to dive into Catalan art. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For many visitors, the MNAC\u2019s most spectacular highlights are actually its earliest pieces. On the first floor you\u2019ll find the world\u2019s finest collection of Catalan Romanesque art<\/a>. Huge, colorful, and utterly distinctive, these frescoes and altarpieces were removed from remote Catalan villages in the 1920s and taken to Barcelona for preservation where they formed the basis of this museum\u2019s original collection. Now, they offer visitors a unique opportunity to discover the art of the valleys of the Pyrenees without leaving Barcelona and are some of the true MNAC highlights.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n From here, you can follow the story of Catalan art from the Gothic through the Renaissance. The museum hosts works by masters including Vel\u00e1zquez, El Greco, and Zurbar\u00e1n. Don\u2019t leave without seeing Jos\u00e9 de Ribera\u2019s masterpiece <\/span>The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Bartholomew stares directly towards us as he\u2019s tortured, making for a disturbing but powerful artistic experience.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For many, the MNAC\u2019s other great highlight are its modern collections. Reorganized in 2014, the first floor galleries take the story of art from the middle of the 19th century through to the end of the Spanish Civil War. This is where you can discover the cultural movements and artists that inspired Picasso, Gaud\u00ed, Dal\u00ed and Mir\u00f3. This was when artists like Casas and Rusi\u00f1ol would gather in the Els Quatre Gats tavern to debate the latest artistic developments across Europe, and the museum\u2019s collection is particularly strong in this period.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019re done with the MNAC, you\u2019re perfectly placed to explore the other attractions of Montju\u00efc. The nerve center of the 1992 Olympic Games, it\u2019s a hub of architectural and artistic gems away from the crowds in the city center. If the MNAC got your modernist juices flowing, the Fundaci\u00f3 Joan Mir\u00f3<\/a> <\/span>has an outstanding collection of paintings, sculptures and prints by one of Spain\u2019s 20th century masters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearby you\u2019ll find Santiago Calatrava\u2019s telecommunications tower, one of the iconic images of Barcelona\u2019s Olympics. Architecture nerds can\u2019t miss Mies van der Rohe\u2019s Barcelona Pavilion<\/a>, one of the key works in the development of modernist architecture. Finally, the Montju\u00efc Castle<\/a>\u00a0has great vistas over Barcelona\u2019s harbor: the perfect place to catch the last rays of the sun after a day exploring the city.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s hard to miss the MNAC. Towering over the Pla\u00e7a d’Espanya from the hill of Montju\u00efc, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is one of the architectural icons of Barcelona. That said, it doesn\u2019t always feature on the itineraries of visitors to the city, not making the cut of the ten most visited attractions in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":15184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[361,378],"tags":[298,295,956,126],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Barcelona's](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/MNAC-Barcelona-1.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nGetting (up) there<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/MNAC-Barcelona-1-CC-1.jpg\")
What not to miss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"One](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/MNAC-Martyrdom_of_Saint_Bartholomew_at_MNAC.-CCjpg-1.jpg\")
Exploring Montju\u00efc<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"After](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/MNAC-Fundacio-Joan-Miro-CC-1.jpg\")