Rick Steves Tour: Picasso Museum, Barcelona

Picasso Museum Tour

Museu Picasso

ORIENTATION

Map: Picasso Museum

THE TOUR BEGINS

Boy Wonder (Room 1)

Developing Talent (Room 2)

Early Success (Room 3)

Barcelona Freedom (Room 4)

Paris (Rooms 6-7)

Blue Period (Room 8)

Rose Period

Cubism

Barcelona Redux (Rooms 9-10)

Picasso and Velázquez (Rooms 12-14)

Last Years (Room 15)

This museum has the best collection in Spain of the work of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), and the best collection anywhere of his earliest works. The Spaniard Picasso spent his formative years (from age 14 to 23) in Barcelona, and a visit to this museum intimately reveals the young man finding his way as an artist. By experiencing his youthful, realistic art, you can better understand his later, more challenging art and more fully appreciate his genius.

Picasso’s personal secretary, Jaume Sabartés, amassed many examples of his friend’s work and bequeathed them to Barcelona. The artist himself donated pieces to the museum in his later life, happy to have a place showing off his work in the city of his youth.

ORIENTATION    MAP

Cost and Hours: €12, more with special exhibits, book tickets in advance online; open Tue-Sun 9:00-19:00, Thu until 21:30, closed Mon.

Free Entry: Free—and crowded—Thu after 18:00 and all day on the first Sun of the month (must reserve online up to four days in advance).

Information: Tel. 932-563-000, www.museupicasso.bcn.cat.

Reservations and Ticketing Tips: There’s nearly always a line, and tickets often sell out. Buy a timed-entry ticket in advance at the museum website. An Articket BCN