4 days in Barcelona
Jun 24th, 2015 | 10:49 AM
#1
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4 days in Barcelona
My wife and I (in 50s) going to Barcelona for 4 days. Your thoughts are appreciated as to what we must-see and do. One day we plan on a day trip to Montserrat and nearby winery unless there is a better day trip idea. We are also going to Paris and plan on visiting one or more art museums, so seeing art museums in Barcelona is not a top priority. Also, is 4 days too much?
Jun 24th, 2015 | 12:12 PM
#2
Joined: Mar 2003
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The art work you'll find in Barcelona will be different then what you will find in Paris.
The following is from Maribel's Guide to Barcelona
THE BEST OF THE ART MUSEUMS
MUSEU PICASSO
This gem of a museum is housed in a series of medieval stone mansions on the very atmospheric, mansion-filled Carrer Montcada in La Ribera district, to the east of the Barri Gòtic. The collection is strong on his very early works, produced as young as 12! Plus his blue period, a bit of his rose period and the series based on Velázquez’s Las Meninas. You can expect long lines, so go early, as it’s the city’s most popular museum. There is also a Café-restaurant on ground floor with outdoor terrace and an expansive shop selling everything
JOAN MIRÓ FOUNDATION
Also located on Montjuïc, it has wonderful views of the city from its perch in the very middle of Montjuïc Park. It was built in the seventies, designed by Miró’s friend Josep Lluis Sert(author of the Maeght Foundation in St-Paul-
de-Vence), to house works from 1917 to 1978 donated by the artist. Displays include paintings, sculptures (Chillida), drawings, tapestries and graphics,
also the works of other leading 20th century artists. It’s the largest single collection of Miró’s works in the world, and as is the Maeght Foundation, the building is filled with airiness and light. Also works by Calder, Henry Moore, Duchamp, Leger, and Max Ernst. Audio guides available. There is a bar/restaurant with an outdoor terrace.
MUSEU NACIONAL D’ART DE CATALUNYA
This enormous, stunning collection housed in the Palau Nacional consisting of 1,315 works on permanent display includes paintings and sculptures from the medieval period, Germanic, Italian Renaissance and Baroque, including Fra Angelico, Cranch, Titian, Tintoretto, Rubens, Canaletto and the Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza. If you’re an art lover, this is not to be missed! The Thyssen collection is one of Europe’s most valued private collections, given to the autonomous government by the late Baron Heinrich Thyssen, one of the world’s great private collectors who sold a portion of his collection to the Spanish government to create the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid and the smaller collection now housed here (www.mnac.cat).
CAIXA FORUM
Located in the Montjuïc area on Avenida Marqués de Comillas near the Placa de Espanya. Check the weekly Guia del Ocio, which you can buy at any newspaper kiosk, in Spanish, but easy to figure out to catch one of their great free exhibits.
PALAU DE PEDRALBES
This stop on the Bus TurÍstic is a 1929 Italianate palace set back off the upper Diagonal, built as a royal residence surrounded by beautiful gardens and a fountain by Gaudí, and houses two museums.
• MUSEU DE CERÀMICA - Palau Reial de Pedralbes, Avinguda, 686, has one of the most impressive collections of medieval ceramics in Europe, plus contemporary pieces by Miró and Picasso (www.museuceramica.bcn.es).
• MUSEU D’ARTS DECORATIVES – Opened in 1932, features Spanish blown glass, period furniture and pocket watches from the 16th century (www.dhub-bcn.cat).
The following is from Maribel's Guide to Barcelona
THE BEST OF THE ART MUSEUMS
MUSEU PICASSO
This gem of a museum is housed in a series of medieval stone mansions on the very atmospheric, mansion-filled Carrer Montcada in La Ribera district, to the east of the Barri Gòtic. The collection is strong on his very early works, produced as young as 12! Plus his blue period, a bit of his rose period and the series based on Velázquez’s Las Meninas. You can expect long lines, so go early, as it’s the city’s most popular museum. There is also a Café-restaurant on ground floor with outdoor terrace and an expansive shop selling everything
JOAN MIRÓ FOUNDATION
Also located on Montjuïc, it has wonderful views of the city from its perch in the very middle of Montjuïc Park. It was built in the seventies, designed by Miró’s friend Josep Lluis Sert(author of the Maeght Foundation in St-Paul-
de-Vence), to house works from 1917 to 1978 donated by the artist. Displays include paintings, sculptures (Chillida), drawings, tapestries and graphics,
also the works of other leading 20th century artists. It’s the largest single collection of Miró’s works in the world, and as is the Maeght Foundation, the building is filled with airiness and light. Also works by Calder, Henry Moore, Duchamp, Leger, and Max Ernst. Audio guides available. There is a bar/restaurant with an outdoor terrace.
MUSEU NACIONAL D’ART DE CATALUNYA
This enormous, stunning collection housed in the Palau Nacional consisting of 1,315 works on permanent display includes paintings and sculptures from the medieval period, Germanic, Italian Renaissance and Baroque, including Fra Angelico, Cranch, Titian, Tintoretto, Rubens, Canaletto and the Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza. If you’re an art lover, this is not to be missed! The Thyssen collection is one of Europe’s most valued private collections, given to the autonomous government by the late Baron Heinrich Thyssen, one of the world’s great private collectors who sold a portion of his collection to the Spanish government to create the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid and the smaller collection now housed here (www.mnac.cat).
CAIXA FORUM
Located in the Montjuïc area on Avenida Marqués de Comillas near the Placa de Espanya. Check the weekly Guia del Ocio, which you can buy at any newspaper kiosk, in Spanish, but easy to figure out to catch one of their great free exhibits.
PALAU DE PEDRALBES
This stop on the Bus TurÍstic is a 1929 Italianate palace set back off the upper Diagonal, built as a royal residence surrounded by beautiful gardens and a fountain by Gaudí, and houses two museums.
• MUSEU DE CERÀMICA - Palau Reial de Pedralbes, Avinguda, 686, has one of the most impressive collections of medieval ceramics in Europe, plus contemporary pieces by Miró and Picasso (www.museuceramica.bcn.es).
• MUSEU D’ARTS DECORATIVES – Opened in 1932, features Spanish blown glass, period furniture and pocket watches from the 16th century (www.dhub-bcn.cat).
Jun 24th, 2015 | 01:06 PM
#5
Joined: Aug 2013
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The Museu Picasso is best for those who are interested in his earlier years.
Barcelona is a great walking city as it has everything from modern architecture to Roman and the best collection of moderisme. It is not as efficient as taking a bus, but, for me, more rewarding.
Yes, try and see all things Gaudi.
Barcelona is a great walking city as it has everything from modern architecture to Roman and the best collection of moderisme. It is not as efficient as taking a bus, but, for me, more rewarding.
Yes, try and see all things Gaudi.
Jun 24th, 2015 | 01:17 PM
#7
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 275
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Four days in Barcelona is NOT too much time. We have spent 5 full days (6 nights) in Barcelona on two different occasions and STILL have much more to see and experience. Impromptu concerts pop up relatively often and you want to be able to just stop rushing around and enjoy them.
I second the advice about seeing "all things Gaudi" and also recommend a concert at the Palau de Musica (it doesn't really matter who/what is featured, the building is the attraction and you can't see the concert hall even on the guided tours). You will need tickets in advance because the concerts are typically sold out
I advise you to temper your expressed desire to do a day trip in favor of staying in town and just wandering In any event, leave the day trip for the end and see if you believe it to be a good use of your limited time.
Don't forget you need time to simply experience this wonderful city without rushing around to "check things off" somebody's "must see" list.
I second the advice about seeing "all things Gaudi" and also recommend a concert at the Palau de Musica (it doesn't really matter who/what is featured, the building is the attraction and you can't see the concert hall even on the guided tours). You will need tickets in advance because the concerts are typically sold out
I advise you to temper your expressed desire to do a day trip in favor of staying in town and just wandering In any event, leave the day trip for the end and see if you believe it to be a good use of your limited time.
Don't forget you need time to simply experience this wonderful city without rushing around to "check things off" somebody's "must see" list.
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Jun 24th, 2015 | 06:10 PM
#9
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,724
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IMO, 4 days is not too much -- but it depends on what YOU want to see and experience. Get a decent guidebook or two (well worth the investment, IMO) or consult some at your local library, decide what YOUR priorities are, check opening hours, and then plot them out on a calendar. Only then can you decide how to spend your time.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Jun 24th, 2015 | 11:24 PM
#10
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,064
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Zorro is giving incorrect advice regarding the Palau de Musica tours - we did one last year, and most definitely did see all of the concert hall, from both the upstairs and ground floor level. Nothing was rushed and we had plenty of time to sit in the seats, and take in all the fabulous decorative elements.
I was so pleased to have fitted this tour into our experiences in Barcelona - along with fantastic architecture and decoration, we were given a great narrative about performance in that venue. It would have been lovely to see a performance, but as I had to chose one or the other, I think we got the better experience! Di
I was so pleased to have fitted this tour into our experiences in Barcelona - along with fantastic architecture and decoration, we were given a great narrative about performance in that venue. It would have been lovely to see a performance, but as I had to chose one or the other, I think we got the better experience! Di
Jun 25th, 2015 | 10:12 AM
#11
Joined: Jan 2003
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I had a tour of the Palau de Musica and saw the concert hall, also. I did the tour because I didn't have time for a concert and I thin those tickets may have been sold out anyway. The tours are popular, I think the English language ones were booked up for a while, so I took a Spanish language one as I could get one right away. I understand some Spaniosh so it was fine, and my main goal was to see things, anyway. The website says it includes the concert hall, also
http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/a-barc...e-sight_151243
I like to go to museums that are unique to a city, so I did spend my time on the Gaudi buildings (liked all but not that crazy about Parc Guell, not sure that was worth my time given how far away it is), and the Catalonian Art Museum and Miro. I really enjoyed that mansion down near Liceu metro stop, the Palau Guell, as well as Sagrada Familia and Casa Battlo and Pedrera.
I don't agree that the Picasso museum is so unique nor that great. And there is a Picasso museum in Paris, actually, as well as other cities. It wasn't my favorite museum, that's for sure. I only went because I was in the area. If that's Barcelona's most popular museum, that's quite a surprise and puzzling to me.
http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/a-barc...e-sight_151243
I like to go to museums that are unique to a city, so I did spend my time on the Gaudi buildings (liked all but not that crazy about Parc Guell, not sure that was worth my time given how far away it is), and the Catalonian Art Museum and Miro. I really enjoyed that mansion down near Liceu metro stop, the Palau Guell, as well as Sagrada Familia and Casa Battlo and Pedrera.
I don't agree that the Picasso museum is so unique nor that great. And there is a Picasso museum in Paris, actually, as well as other cities. It wasn't my favorite museum, that's for sure. I only went because I was in the area. If that's Barcelona's most popular museum, that's quite a surprise and puzzling to me.
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