Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)

A soaring, shimmering glass and concrete edifice in the Raval, Barcelona’s Museum of Contemporary Art was designed by US architect Richard Meier and completed in 1995, spearheading the once-tatty district’s revival. Its matt-white interior is flooded with natural light and creates the perfect backdrop for the museum’s 5,000 paintings, sculptures, images and conceptual pieces, which are shown in ever-changing temporary exhibitions running for between three and six months. Featuring avant-garde artists from the latter half of the 20th century, the collection is rich in international names such as Paul Klee, Dieter Roth and Jean-Michel Basquiat – among many others – but specializes in the works of celebrated Catalan artists including Antoni Tàpies, Miquel Barcelò, Susana Solano and Pere Jaume.  The museum also has a library, a well-stocked bookshop and café as well as Saturday morning workshops for families visiting with young kids. The vast piazza leading to MACBA’s entrance is a popular meeting place for Barcelona residents and skateboarders congregate daily around the museum’s sleek ramp. 

Practical Info

Plaça dels Angels 1. Open Mon, Wed–Fri 11am–7.30pm; Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 10am–3pm. Admission adults €10, seniors & students €6.5; under 14 free. Metro to Plaça de Catalunya or Universitat.