Barcelona Guide
El Raval
Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona
Address: Plaça dels Angels
Opening time: Mid-June to mid-Sept Mon & Wed 11am–8pm, Thurs & Fri 11am– midnight, Sat 10am–8pm, Sun & holidays 10am–3pm; rest of the year closes weekdays at 7.30pm; closed Tues all year
Price: Admission €4 or €7.50, depending on exhibitions visited, Wed €3, 3-month season ticket €10
Telephone: 934 120 810
Website: www.macba.es
Anchoring the northern reaches of El Raval, the iconic Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona, or MACBA, opened in 1995. The contrast between the huge, white, almost luminous, structure of the museum and the buildings around it couldn't be more stark. The aim of the architect, American Richard Meier, to use as much natural light as possible and "create a dialogue" between the museum and its surroundings, is reflected in the front side, which is contructed entirely of glass. Once inside, you reach the fourth floor via a series of swooping ramps which afford continuous views of the square below and the sixteenth-century Convent dels Àngels.
The collection represents the main movements in contemporary art since 1945, mainly in Catalunya and Spain but with a smattering of foreign artists as well. The pieces are not usually shown together in a permanent space but in smaller rotating exhibitions, so, depending on when you visit, you may catch works by major names such as Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Eduardo Chillida, Alexander Calder, Robert Rauschenberg or Paul Klee. Joan Brossa, leading light of the Catalan Dau al Set group of the 1950s, has work here too, as do contemporary multimedia and installation artists like Antoni Muntadas and Francesc Torres. Probably the best way to acquaint yourself with the collection is to take the free guided tour (in English on Mon at 6pm, otherwise Mon– Sat at 6pm, plus Sat & Sun at 1pm, and night tours in summer). There's also a good museum shop selling everything from designer espresso cups to art books, and a café-bar around the back that's part of the CCCB (contemporary culture centre).