Spain is a remarkable travel destination for countless reasons, from its scenic landscapes and fantastic sandy beaches to renowned cuisine and fascinating culture. And the incredible museums definitely deserve an honorable place on the list of reasons why Spain is paradise on Earth! There are so many of them in this sun-kissed country that deciding which ones to add to your itinerary is rather challenging, to say the least. So, to help you out, we’ve picked the top 3 most incredible museums you should visit during your Spain trip.
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
Can you think of a more fitting candidate to start this list with? We neither, because Guggenheim Museum is truly something special. It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard about it or seen the pictures of the astonishing sight. The creature of titanium, glass, and limestone that seems to be alive when the sun reflects from the florid walls (aka the building that houses the museum) is a work of art on its own. And the collections of contemporary art it displays are, without fail, painfully gorgeous.
Twenty different galleries, all varying in shapes and sizes, are nestled over three floors of the museum. Tremendous The Matter of Time Sculpture, renowned Maman, guarding the entrance together with adorable Puppy (a 12.4-meter-tall sculpture of a West Highland terrier, covered in bedding plants and flowers ) amaze millions of people every year. And, trust us, you don’t want to miss a chance to be among them!
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona
Another majestic sight known and loved all over the world is the National Art Museum of Catalonia. Crème de la crème of Catalonian art is gathered under one roof, representing over a thousand years of artistic genius in Barcelona. Pretty much all award-winning tours to Spain feature this gem in their programs. And rightly so! The museum presents itself as a space of knowledge and debate, which is only partially true.
It’s also an inexhaustible source of inspiration and awe. You won’t find a more impressive collection of Romanesque frescoes and devotional sculptures anywhere else in the world! And even if you are a modern art enthusiast and don’t see much excitement in old stuccos, you won’t be able not to fall a tiny bit in love with a permanent Modern Art exhibition in Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya.
Dali Theatre and Museum in Figueres
Lively and colorful Spain has so much to offer that picking up just three museums is close to impossible. But we are not going to break our word even if it’s very hard to resist. So, the last but not the least on the list is Dali Theatre – Museum.
While the Guggenheim Museum and National Art Museum of Catalonia are a bit of in-the-public-eye places that can be found in all respectable Spain guides, a museum dedicated to one-and-only Salvador Dali is sometimes unfairly overlooked. And it’s hard to see a reason why because this site is just as extraordinary as the person it is dedicated to. And how else can it be when the museum is the creation of the great artist himself?
A labyrinth of wonder and a collection of everything extraordinary, the Dali Theatre – Museum is beautiful and sometimes confusing, pretty much like all author’s creations. It houses a vast collection of Salvador Dali’s works and not just paintings! Did you know that this brilliant man was also designing elegant pieces of jewelry? The museum also boasts a magical car that rains from inside, picturesque gardens, and Salvador Dali himself is buried in the crypt under the stage. A true place of marvel, don’t you agree?
Of course, Spain boasts a lot of amazing museums. These three, even though spectacular, barely scratch the surface of all the brilliant galleries and glorious exhibitions available to explore. But all journeys have to start somewhere, and the museums mentioned above are a pretty good start. And the next time you are in Spain, you can continue your quest to see everything there is to see in the country.
