MNAC The National Art Museum of Catalonia
A little bit of history
The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) (National Palace) in Barcelona incorporates a collection from what used to be the Art Museum of Catalonia, founded in 1934 (notable for its collection of Romanesque, Gothic, revival, i Baroque art) and the Museum of Modern Art (founded in 1945; with art from the 19th and 20th centuries).
The National Art Museum of Catalonia also includes the Numismatic Cabinet of Catalonia and the General Library of Art History (Art History Library).
The museum was established in 1990 by the Catalan Museums Law. The former Art Museum of Catalonia possessed one of the most important collections of medieval paintings from around the world, and also a fine and complete collection of Spanish ceramics. The Romanesque Galleries understand a series of reconstructions of church interiors with mural decorations from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries taken from towns in the Pyrenees. There are particularly beautiful examples of Romanesque architectural fragments such as capitals, stone carvings and fragments of the cloister of Sant Pere de les Puelles, Barcelona, the latter from the 12th century.
Also included in the collection are paintings from the Chapter House of the Monastery of Sigena and tombs of Santa Maria de Matallana, Valladolid. Thirteenth-century wall paintings from the Palau d’Aguilar, Barcelona, depict the assault on Palma, Mallorca (1229), by James I of Aragon and the battle of Porto-Pi. There are also important Gothic paintings and sculptures, as well as metalwork and enamels. The Renaissance and baroque The collection contains works by Francisco de Zurbaran, El Greco, i Diego Velazquez and many other well-known artists.
The museum’s modern art collection consists of Antoni’s works Gaudi, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Antoni Tàpies, and many others. In addition to modern paintings, there are drawings, engravings and posters from the 16th century and more than 134,000 coins and medals. In 1996, a photography department was created.
MNAC museum
If you are in Barcelona, you cannot fail to visit the MNAC, the National Art Museum of Catalonia. This museum is one of the most important in the city, with a collection that includes more than 250,000 works of art. If you are a tourist who wants to find out more about what this museum has to offer, this article is for you.
Where it is, How to arrive
The MNAC is located on the mountain of Montjuïc, in the Palau Nacional, an impressive building built for the International Exhibition of 1929. The exact address of the museum is Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona.
The MNAC is located on Montjuïc mountain, one of the highest points in Barcelona, and can be accessed in several ways. One of the most comfortable options is to take the cable car that goes up from the port of Barcelona to Montjuïc mountain, where the MNAC is located. You can also get there by bus or metro. If you take the metro, the nearest lines are line 1 (Plaça Espanya stop) and line 3 (Espanya stop).
Prices and discounts
The price of entry to the MNAC varies according to the age and situation of the visitor. If you are an adult, the price is €12. If you are a student, retired or disabled, the price is €8. Children under 16 can enter for free. In addition, if you are a resident of Barcelona, you can get a free entrance to the museum on the first Sunday of every month.
Timetable
The MNAC is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 15:00. The museum is closed on Mondays.
What collections are there?
The MNAC has a permanent collection that includes art from the entire history of Catalonia, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The museum has one of the most important collections of Romanesque art in the world, with works of great historical and artistic value. The collections of Gothic and Renaissance art, as well as the collections of modern and contemporary art, also stand out.
What can we find?
In the MNAC you can find works of art of all kinds, from paintings and sculptures to furniture, jewelry and ceramic objects. The museum has a wide variety of works, from the oldest to the most modern, and is an ideal place for art and history lovers.
What art is there
Among the works the most important of the MNAC are the wall paintings of the church of Sant Climent de Taüll, which date from the 12th century and are an exceptional example of Catalan Romanesque art. Also, noteworthy are the Gothic art collections, with works by great artists such as Jaume Huguet and Bernat Martorell, and the modern and contemporary art collections, with works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Antoni Tàpies , among others.
Which pieces are essential to see
If you visit the MNAC, there are some works that you cannot miss. The first is the mural painting of the Apocalypse of Sant Joan, which is in the church of Sant Climent de Taüll. This work, considered one of the best examples of Catalan Romanesque art, is one of the most important in the museum. Also worth seeing are the Gothic art collection, with works such as Jaume Huguet’s Our Lady of Mercy, and the modern and contemporary art collections, with works such as El Gran Masturbador de Salvador Dalí and The Song of the Birds by Pablo Picasso.
In short, the MNAC is one of the most important museums in Barcelona and offers a wide variety of works of art from the entire history of Catalonia. If you are in the city, you cannot fail to visit this museum, where you can admire some of the most important works of art of Catalan and world culture. Remember that the museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 15:00, and that the price of the entrance varies according to the age and situation of the visitor.