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MUSEUMS

Textile & Costume Museum

Pedralbes Palace

Fashion from medieval to modern

Inside the Pedralbes Palace, the Textile and Costume Museum has a collection of clothes that has to be seen to be believed. Located in two adjacent buildings, one of which retains its 13th century wooden ceilings, the museum has fabrics dating from the Arab conquest of Spain to Gothic, Renaissance and modern times.

There are donations from major collectors which show fashion from 17th century baroque styles to the 20th century, including such famous mid-20th century designs as the baby-doll nightdress and the pillbox hat.

* It’s not just the clothes. Make sure you don’t miss the stunning collection of contemporary jewellery.

Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 686 (see on map)
Phone: 932 563 465
Website: www.dhub-bcn.cat
Metro: L3 at Palau Reial.

Museum of Perfume

Passeig de Gràcia

You know it makes scents

On the always-chic Passeig De Gracia the Museum of Perfume at the back of Regia’s has been titillating nostrils for 50 years and some of the items in its collection are much older than that. Some of the displays date back to Greek and Roman times and there are over 5,000 bottles exhibited – each with its own distinct story to tell.

The Museum is in two parts – a straightforward chronological journey from the ancient world to the 21st century and then a breakdown by brand name and launch date.

• While the Museum’s collections may be off limits, not so the front of shop displays where you can pick up your favourite perfume on the way out.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 39 (see on map)
Phone: 932 563 465
Website: www.museudelperfum.com
Metro: L3 at Passeig de Gràcia.

El Rey de la Magia

Princesa Street

Abracadabra!

El Rey de la Magia, the King of Magic is one of the oldest magic shops and museums in the world. It was found in 1881 and since then it has kept its fascinating world of illusionism in the city center of Born. El Rey de la Magia offers a wide range of tricks and games and other equipments to practice illusionism, both for professionals and beginners. It’s already a tradition that the Spanish “Papa Noel” and the “Reyes Magos” come here to get the magic boxes that the children beg for in their Christmas lists.

El Rey de la Magia is included in the city’s cultural heritage. The museum is situated at Jonqueres 15 and the shop just behind the street (Princesa 11). When we entered the peculiar little store we were attended by an old lady that seemed to have run the business for ages. Every time we asked how to do the tricks she would only show us but not explain, so we guess people are aught to buy the equipments in order to try and learn by themselves.

* Kids will most certainly get excited. They organize workshops for kids aged between 8 and 11 (check their website for more information).

Address: Carrer Princesa, 11 (see on map)
Phone: 933 193 920
Website: www.elreydelamagia.com
Metro: L4 at Jaume I

Picassso Museum

Born District

The Life and Works of Pablo Ruiz Picasso

Pablo Ruiz Picasso is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest artists, meaning he is a man difficult to understand. He has done more than 3,800 different works which make up his collection. Intent on not only understanding him but showcasing his wonders to the rest of the world, the Museu Picasso was put on its feet back in 1963. Apart from showing his works, the museum was also dedicated to illuminating his life, making it clear amongst other things the strong connection he shaped with the city of Barcelona.

The museum is very rich when it comes to Picasso’s works, containing practically all of his works up to the Blue Period, and it has some very interesting collections pertaining to it as well. Needless to say, if a museum is dedicated entirely to Picasso, it probably has one of the most extensive collections of his work, if not the most extensive one.

* The museum itself had undergone various reparations and has been expanded multiple times in order to accommodate the ever-increasing collection of one history’s most acclaimed artists.

Address: Carrer de Montcada, 15 (see on map)
Phone: 932 563 000
Website: www.museupicasso.bcn.es
Metro: L4 at Jaume I.

MNAC – Catalan National Art Museum

Montjuic District

Art and Music As One

When it comes to who has the best collection of medieval art in Barcelona, there can be no hesitation about the answer: it’s the Catalonian National Art Museum. Many experts and connoisseurs find it hard to find such an impressive collection of art pieces from the Romanesque and Gothic periods… many of them were actually collected from Roman churches before they were attacked by the population because of their political allegiance.

The Catalonian Art Museum has a tremendous variety of items on display, including sculptures, carvings, frescos, paintings, not to mention that they’ve recently included a section dedicated specifically to the works of the legendary Picasso. Every year they put on temporary exhibitions which can range from any subject such as classic tableaus all the way to modern sculptures and whatnot.

* during certain late summer nights they have classical music concerts, without forgetting the lights and water show, a classic crowd-pleaser.

Address: Mirador del Palau Nacional (see on map)
Phone: 936 220 360
Website: www.mnac.cat
Metro: L3 at Espanya.