CAPA WORLD

Barcelona attracts tourists from around the world for a variety of reasons: the food, history, art, architecture, and more. In this blog post, Isha gives us a peek into Barcelona's incredible cultural scene and shares some of her favorite museums in the city for history and art. Catalan’s Capital charm does not end at its appetizing food scene and the historical spots that make it a worthwhile tourist hub. This rise in tourism and the consistent ex-pat growth in Barcelona has led to the evolution of art, history, and music - all to attract tourists from around the world. However, when you’re here for longer than a small vacation, you want to go into the details of how the city was built and has evolved in modern times. And in my opinion, there is no better way than doing that kind of learning through museums. 

Traditionally, museums that exist in major cities around the world collect objects of historical significance and preserve them for the public to get access to, however, as time has evolved, there are more developments and research that seems significant in our generation, and interests the youth as these concepts become more relatable. And Barcelona, being one of the most popular destinations for students, has plenty of these museums that make you relate to the medieval as well as modern concepts of the world. 

After visiting all the tourist spots in the city, I found myself visiting a new museum almost every weekend, and here are some of my favorite that I highly recommend to those studying abroad in Barcelona: 

1. CCCB

The CCCB is a multidisciplinary cultural center that addresses social issues prevalent in the modern world through the means of different languages and formats. They have thematic exhibitions which range from concepts like feminism to quantum physics and along with the display or art and objects, they also have a series of conferences, meetups and guest speakers that make the place a buzzing spot in the city. This place is one of my personal favorites for a few reasons. Other than its amazing library and interesting exhibitions, this place has an amazing rooftop that is open for the public once a month and is one of the few spots in the city where the ocean and mountains can be seen in one frame.

2. MACBA

Located in one of the most “hipster” parts of Barcelona, the MACBA plays a dominant role in the museum scene of Barcelona. Its library, concerts, and documentaries are all extremely interesting and address diverse issues of the contemporary world ranging from imperialism to the evolution of music.

3. Picasso Museum

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is one of the key references for understanding the renowned artist’s work. Over 4200 pieces of his work have been preserved and displayed on permanent exhibitions at this museum.

4. MUHBA

The MUHBA is a must-visit for those interested in history. Stretching over 4000m², the Roman ruins of the city of Barcelona are located here. This experience not only involves having a look at the remains of the city but also engages the visitors with an experience that takes a close look at some aspects of the commercial life of the city like laundry, fishing and community baths.

Important Note:  Most museums in Barcelona are free from 3-7 pm on the first Sunday of every month.

Thanks, Isha!

Isha Mahajan is an official CAPA blogger for fall 2019, sharing her story in frequent posts on CAPA World. A Political Science and Journalism major at University of Massachusetts Amherst, she is studying abroad in Barcelona this semester.

Isha's journey continues all semester so stay tuned.