The Catalan modernist art movement, also known as Modernista, took off in Barcelona and Catalonia towards the end of the 19th century. The museum features some of the movement’s most important objects, from furniture designed by Gaudí to glass artworks crafted by some of the leading but lesser-known names in Catalan modernism.
Take your time and explore the 350 works of art across a couple of floors, and don’t forget to admire the building itself, designed by Modernista architect Enric Sagnier, a prolific Spanish artisan and contemporary of Gaudí. Visitors to the Museum of Modernism also enjoy knowing they are directly supporting an independent museum and gallery—every work of art displayed comes from private collections.
The Museum of Modernism is close to the Sagrada Familia in the Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona, and is easily accessible by Metro. You can take the yellow Line 4 route and get off at the Passeig de Grácia, or the purple Line 2 route and hop off at Universitat; from there, it’s a short walk from the edge of the Gothic Quarter. Alternatively, buses regularly stop close by on the Gran Via, heading to and from Tetuan Square (Plaça de Tetuan).
If you’d rather take your chances without a pre-booked entry ticket, visit the Museum of Modernism in the morning when it tends to be quieter. Usually, the museum is open Monday through Saturday, however, check before you go as it is sometimes closed to the public.
The Museum of Modernism in Barcelona is packed with beautiful and culturally important artworks, but there are some pieces that are truly unmissable. The top floor is entirely dedicated to Gaudí’s paintings, sculptures, and furniture—look for his famous couch. Elsewhere in the museum, you can find Casas’ important paintings, which inspired the wider European Modernism movement. Keep your eyes peeled for After the Ball, one of the Catalan artist’s most famous and reproduced works.
