MNAC Museum (Catalan: Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, English: National Art Museum of Catalonia) is one of Spain’s most important museums of art. The MNAC is housed in a magnificent palace known as Palau Nacional, which is located in Montjuïc Hill (a place famous for its beautiful fountains and its privileged views of Barcelona).

The Museum holds a large number of outstanding pieces from the 10th to the 20th centuries, which are organised in seven permanent collections. It embraces a wide variety of arts such as painting, sculpture, drawing, engraving, posters, photography and numismatics.
Medieval Romanesque and Gothic Art Collections include the most valuable antiques of Catalan art, with very well conserved original mural paintings. With a more international approach, The Renaissance and Baroque Art Collection holds works from celebrated Spanish and European authors, like Tiziano, El Greco, Velázquez or Rubens. The Modern Art Collection comprises a whole range of styles of the 19th and the 20th centuries, from Neoclassicism to avant-garde movements like Modernisme and Noucentisme. Here Catalan artists, like Gaudí, Casas, Picasso or Miró play once again the leading role.
Apart from painting and sculpture, the Museum also houses a unique collection of drawings, prints and posters from different origins, years and styles. In addition, there is a Photography collection that takes us on a journey through the history of photography, from its beginnings to photojournalism and more contemporary production. The Numismatic collection is also interesting, including a large number of coins, medals and insignia from the 6th century BC to the present day.
The Museum also offers temporary exhibitions, guided visits and specific activities for children. From October to April, the opening hours are 10am to 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sundays and public holidays. From May to September, the opening hours are 10am to 8pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sundays and public holidays. The museum is closed on Mondays.
To sum up, visiting the MNAC Museum is the perfect plan to enjoy art during your trip to Barcelona. The General admission ticket is valid for two days during a month from the purchasing date, so it is advisable to spend more than a day visiting the vast art collection of this amazing museum.