In the thrill of adventuring, I realized that I visited several of the major sites in the first three days in Barcelona. During the second and third week in this city, I decided that I would utilize my “official” tourist map (cost – 1 Euro) and find anything that had a building or green space. I also decided that I would intentionally look for bookstores and art museums.
Art museums – Two major museums I visited was the Picasso Museum and Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. The Picasso museum had several of his early works. The museum takes you through the journey of this development as an artist. He was classically trained but then rebelled against the Art Academy. At the very end of the museum, You can view Picasso’s large interpretation of “Las Meninas” including various studies that led to the final product. Picasso’s interpretation was my ultimate favorite work. There was so much playfulness and abstraction in the interpretation, that I felt like I was getting a close look into the brain of Picasso.
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya also had a wonderful modern art exhibit. The museum takes you on a journey through the development of an artist and their complex relationship between making a living and resisting the traditional rules of the Art Academy. The museum also has several older works. One ticket is valid for two different days within a month. There is a cafe in the inside of the museum and a roof top view of Montjuïc. Something to be aware of is that not all art and paintings are allowed to be photographed, so keep and eye out for the signs that indicate that.
Bookstores – I found a few bookstores while walking down the Passeig de Gràcia. Some of the bookstores are not open all day, so it was a bit tricky for me to find them. There are both franchises and smaller local bookstores. I found that both were really great. One larger bookstore was called Laie and they had a large selection of art and philosophy. Their books and products are also located in the art museums. Most books are in Catalan and Spanish. Some books are in English, but that is rare. However if you are in Barcelona and you speak French, there is one bookstore called Jaines that sells French books.
Final thoughts – There are so many beautiful and exciting places to visit in this city, and there is not enough time to write about all of it. I hope if you visit, you are able to explore the city in a way that is genuine to your interests, because this city has so much to offer. For me, I realized that I love books, stationary, silly unnecessary things, and art museums. What are you drawn to?
Happy travels!
