If you follow the Avenue Maria Cristina from Plaça de Espanya, you will find an escalator going up to the museum area of Montjuïc.
Shortly before arriving, you will see the Magic Fountain, an incredible fountain offering one of the most beautiful shows of Barcelona.
The Magic Fountain
The Magic Fountain of Monjuic is one of the masterpieces built in Montjuïc during the International Exhibition in 1929.
The local engineer Carles Buigas was the one who developed new systems of water dispensers and water jets making it one of the most innovative fountains and monuments on the time.
At night the fountain is illuminated and jets of water are dancing following the sound of music. Don’t miss this amazing show of water, lights and colors.
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Schedule Magic Fountain
| Date | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November - 5 January | Th - Fr - Sa | 20:00h to 21:00h |
| 7 January - 4 March | - | Closed for technical reasons |
| 5 March - 31 March | Th - Fr - Sa | 20:00h to 21:00h |
| 1 April - 31 May | every day | 21:00h to 21:30h |
| 1 June - 30 September | Wed to Sun | 21:30h to 22:30h |
| 1 October - 31 October | Th - Fr - Sa | 21:00h to 22:00h |
CaixaForum
You can access the CaixaForum cultural center using the escalator from Avinguda Maria Cristina, close to Plaça Espanya.
CaixaForum is of the most interesting museums in the city that organizes many modern art exhibitions.The museum has a very interesting location, a former Modern Art Style factory known as Fàbrica Casaramona currently renewed. The original building was created by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, one of the greatest architects at the time together with Antoni Gaudí.
Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion
Right in front of CaixaFòrum you will find the Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion.
This building was the German Pavilion at the Barcelona Internationals Fair, back in 1929.
It was designed by architect Mies Van der Rohe, one of the main exponents of the Arts~Crafts movement and the Bauhauss School.
It is impressive to see how this early artwork used many modern materials and resources, that will later be very common in contemporary architecture.
It is the perfect example of simplicity, funtionality and beauty of the Rationalist Architectural Style.
The Poble Espanyol
The Poble Espanyol or Spanish Village is what we can define a little Soain or Spain in miniature.
It was also built by the the Modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
In this village you will find realistic reproductions of streets, squares and landmarks of Spain, for example the City wall of the Torres de Ávila, a typical Andalusian patio, or a Plaza Mayor (Main Square). You will be able to see up to 17 of the Spanish autonomous communities through replicas of many traditional Spanish buildings.
In the Poble Espanyol you will also admire some examples folk crafts as there are several workshops and small shops dedicated to different handcrafts.
You will also find many restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, such as the Tablao del Carmen Flamenco Venue. If you want a discover the magic of a Flamenco Show we strongly reccomend to book in advance.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is located in the Palau Nacional, the home of Catalan Art as it contains all kind of artworks from the IX to the XX Century (photographs, paintings, sculptures, ceramics and much more).
A special note goes to the the rooms dedicated to the Roman and Gothic art, with paintings, sculptures, religious artifacts and silverware objects.
The musem also the major collection in the world of Roman mural painting.
Skip the line to many museum and major attraction of Barcelona.
Palauet Albéniz
Accesible from the back side of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, you will see the gardens of the poet Joan Maragall with sculptures of Frederic Mares and Ernest Maragall.
There you will also find the Palauet Albéniz of Juan Moya, one of the buildings built in occasion of the International Fair of Barcelona.
If you have extra time, don’t miss a visit inside the palace to be able to admire the paintings of the Surrealist genious artist Salvador Dalí from 1970.
Behind the National Museum you will also see a XVIII Century hermitage dedicated to Saint Madrona as well as a stair leading you to the Monument to Frederic Mistral, built by Josep Puig and Eusebi Arnau.
Archaeological Museum
Continue down the square Plaça de les Vidues to arrive at the Archaeology Museum, the headquarters of the Archaeological Research in Barcelona, created to better preserve the archaeological remains of Catalonia.
The Museum has different venues and sites scattered throughout Catalonia, where you will be able to see traces of the past, for example some Iberians ruins or the Greco- Roman ruins of Empurias (county of Alt Empordà).
Fundació Miró Museum
Another must see of the area is the Fundació Miró where you will find the masterpieces of the famous artist Joan Mirò and where local academics and artists study new trends in Contemporary Art.
It contains over 14,000 pieces including paintings, sculptures, tapestries, ceramics, drawings and sketches.
The Grec Theatre
Close to Fundació Miró, following the road down the mountain you will find the Teatre Grec.
Despite its name, Greek Theatre, it is not an ancient theater. It was created in 1929, by the architect Ramon Reventós.
On Summer time it hosts The Grec Festival of Barcelona: this theater and other spaces in the city host various shows: dance , theater , music concerts and much more.
How to get to the monuments
To reach the main museums and monuments these are the best combinations.
- Metro: L1 and L3, stop Plaça Espanya. From the stop you can take the escalator up to the area of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya.
- Buses: 50 55 61 125 193
- Barcelona Touristic Bus: Blue Route. You can take it at Plaça de Catalunya or Plaça de Espanya. Stops centers Art Montjuïc: CaixaForum - Mies van der Rohe, Poble Espanyol, MNAC