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Museum · Barcelona, Catalunha
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
The Catalan art museum occupies the Palau Nacional, at the top of the avenue that rises from Plaça d'Espanya to Montjuïc. It has the largest collection of Romanesque mural painting in the world, as well as Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and modern Catalan art.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, known by the acronym MNAC, is housed in the Palau Nacional, a building constructed for the 1929 International Exposition to designs by Eugenio Cendoya, Enric Catà and Pere Domènech i Roura. The building has hosted the Catalan art museum since 1934. It was designated a national museum in 1990, renovated in a project by Gae Aulenti and Enric Steegmann, and officially reopened in its current form on 16 December 2004.
The highlight is the Romanesque collection, with mural paintings from the 11th to the 13th centuries removed from rural churches in the Pyrenees. Between 1919 and 1923, Italian specialists detached the frescoes from the walls using the strappo technique and brought them to Barcelona to prevent their sale abroad. The apses were reassembled in the galleries in a format close to the original, such as that of Sant Climent de Taüll.
The route continues through Catalan Gothic, the Renaissance and the Baroque, with works by El Greco and Velázquez, and reaches modern art. This section features Modernisme and noucentisme, with paintings by Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol, as well as furniture and design objects. The museum also holds the Catalonia numismatic cabinet and a collection of drawings and prints.
The Sala Oval, under the central dome, is the palace's grand hall. The general admission ticket includes access to the panoramic roof terrace, from which you can see avenida Maria Cristina, Plaça d'Espanya and much of the city. Just below the main staircase is the Font Màgica, and the Poble Espanyol is a few minutes' walk away.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 2h30 to 3 hours for the Romanesque collection, Gothic and modern art. Just the Romanesque section and the terrace require about 1h30.
Best time
The museum is closed on Mondays except public holidays, and opens later from May to September than from October to April. On Sundays and public holidays it closes earlier. It can be combined with the Font Màgica on nights when there is a show. Check before you go.
How to get there
Get off at Espanya station (metro lines L1 and L3) and walk up avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina, passing the two Venetian towers and the Font Màgica, to the steps of the Palau Nacional. Bus lines 55 and 150 stop by the museum. From the Castell de Montjuïc and the Fundació Joan Miró, the route continues through the hill's gardens.
Tip
Buy tickets on the official website; the general ticket is valid for two days within a month and includes the panoramic terrace. There is also a basic ticket only for the building and terrace, and free-access days that require online reservation: check the current rules. The route from Plaça d'Espanya is all uphill with many steps.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
What's special about the MNAC?
The collection of Romanesque mural painting, with entire apses brought from Pyrenean churches between 1919 and 1923. The museum also covers Gothic, the Renaissance, the Baroque and Catalan modern art, including Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol.
Can you go up to the terrace of the Palau Nacional?
Yes. The general ticket and the basic admission give access to the panoramic rooftop terrace, with views over the Plaça d'Espanya and the city.
On which day is the MNAC closed?
It is closed on Mondays, except public holidays, and also on January 1, May 1 and December 25. On Sundays the opening hours are shorter. Check before you go.
How to get to the MNAC?
By metro to Espanya station (L1 and L3) and then on foot, walking up the avenida da Reina Maria Cristina to the palace. Buses 55 and 150 stop nearer the entrance.