The National Art Museum of Catalonia, known as MNAC, fills the Palau Nacional, the grand domed building that looks down over Plaça d'Espanya from the slopes of Montjuïc. The palace was built for the 1929 International Exhibition and now holds a collection that runs from Romanesque church paintings to Catalan art of the early twentieth century. Even if you only come for the view from its terraces, it is one of the most satisfying stops in Barcelona.
Why visit the National Art Museum of Catalonia
The museum's best-known treasure is its Romanesque collection. In the early twentieth century, wall paintings from small churches in the Catalan Pyrenees were carefully removed and brought to Barcelona to protect them. They are displayed in rooms shaped to recreate the curved apses they came from, so you see the paintings much as worshippers once did. The Christ in Majesty from Sant Climent de Taüll is the most famous of them.
Beyond that, the Gothic galleries hold altarpieces and panel paintings, and later rooms cover Renaissance and Baroque works. The modern art section is a good introduction to Catalan modernisme, with paintings by artists such as Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol and furniture from the period, including pieces by Gaudí.
Getting to the National Art Museum of Catalonia by metro
The nearest metro station is Espanya, on Line 1 (red) and Line 3 (green). The FGC suburban trains also stop here. Come out on Plaça d'Espanya and walk towards the two tall Venetian-style towers, then follow Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina straight up towards the palace. You pass the Magic Fountain and then climb a series of wide stairs, with outdoor escalators alongside for much of the way. Allow 15 to 20 minutes from the station to the museum entrance.
If you would rather avoid the climb altogether, city buses that cross Montjuïc stop near the museum. The stairs can be tiring on a hot afternoon, so this is worth considering if you are travelling with children or anyone who finds steps difficult.
You can also arrive from higher up on Montjuïc, for example after visiting the Joan Miró Foundation, and walk down through the gardens.
Tickets and opening hours
General admission is ticketed and covers the permanent collection, with temporary exhibitions sometimes charged separately. The museum has offered free entry at certain times, such as some Saturday afternoons and the first Sunday of the month, but these arrangements can change. It is normally closed on Mondays except some holidays. Check the official website, museunacional.cat, for current prices, free times and hours before you go.
The museum has a café and a restaurant with views, and large bags may need to go in the cloakroom. Photography without flash is usually allowed in the permanent collection, but rules can differ in temporary exhibitions.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
The collection is large, so pick your priorities. Two to three hours lets you see the Romanesque rooms properly and walk through the Gothic and modern sections. Weekday mornings are generally the quietest. A popular plan is to visit in the afternoon, then step out onto the terraces at sunset for one of the widest views over the city, before heading down to the Magic Fountain if a show is scheduled.
Highlights
- Romanesque apse paintings: the medieval murals from Pyrenean churches, including Sant Climent de Taüll.
- The Oval Hall: the huge domed hall at the centre of the palace, built for the 1929 exhibition and now used for events.
- Gothic altarpieces: richly gilded panels by Catalan masters.
- Modern art: Catalan painting, sculpture and decorative arts from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- The terraces: free to visit outside the museum, with views across Plaça d'Espanya towards Tibidabo.
Nearby on the same metro stop
Espanya station is the gateway to Montjuïc, and several other sights are within walking distance:
- The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc: just below the museum, with evening shows of water, light and music on scheduled nights.
- CaixaForum: an arts centre in a converted modernista textile factory.
- Poble Espanyol: an open-air architectural museum built for the 1929 exhibition.
- Las Arenas: a former bullring turned shopping centre with a rooftop viewing terrace.
See more around this stop on the National Art Museum of Catalonia on Around the Metro, or browse the full Barcelona metro map.