Spanish painter, sculptor and printmaker Pablo Picasso spent his apprenticeship in Barcelona (from 1895 to 1904) and this museum housed in five adjoining palaces is an exhaustive showcase of his earlier work. Established in 1963, the museum provides a contextual reference to the enigmatic artist's relationship with the city and his creative imprint.
Regarded as one of the most important and well-known artistic figures of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso led a life as colourful and richly layered as his artworks. He is credited with co-founding the Cubist movement as well as introducing and developing various other artistic styles. With 4, 249 works on show, the Museu Picasso is remarkable for really showing the evolution of the artist from childhood sketches that show Picasso's early promise through to pieces from the artist's training periods and up to the priceless items from his Rose and Blue Periods in France.
Highlights of Museu Picasso include paintings by the teenage Picasso (Man in a Beret), a pastel portrait of his mother which was subject to painstaking restorative work, The Wait (Margot) – a colourful painting set in the Parisian nightlife, and Las Meninas (Infanta Margarita María) painted in the later and most recognisable style of Picasso. Also worth perusing are Picasso's prints collection displayed in newer rooms within the museum.
If you are planning on visiting Museu Picasso, it's worth booking into a guided tour which is a free service included in the ticket price. Numbers are capped at six people per tour so be sure to email, fax or call the museum ahead of time. Admission to Museu Picasso is €11 for adults with children under 16 free. There is also free admission on Sundays after 3pm and the first Sunday of the month. The closest metro station is Jaume I and from there it's a three-minute walk down Carrer Princesa, then right into Carrer Montcada and the Museu Picasso.
