Gallery Hopping in Spain & Portugal can be lots of fun, as the countries of the Iberian Peninsula have a style and flair all their own. They are havens of some of Europe’s finest art galleries, from the great masters to the avant-garde.
Gallery hopping is very rewarding in Spain and Portugal, where some of the world’s finest creations are on display. Let’s do a sort of circle tour starting in northern Spain, noting the most popular and interesting galleries along the way.
Art isn’t confined to public galleries, however. Throughout your travels, you’ll come across interesting artistic and architectural sights as well as artists at work. Spain and Portugal have style to spare, and artistic expression is alive and well in these vibrant countries.
SPAIN
- Bilbao – The Guggenheim Museum of modern art is as popular for its unique design by world-famous architect, Frank Gehry, as for its modern art collection, which includes works by Kandinsky, Picasso, Miro, Dali, Modigliani, Mondrian, Matisse, Klee, Pollock, Chagall, Leger and Moholy-Nagy.
- Figueras – Visit the Salvador Dali Museum in the hometown of the most famous Surrealist.
- Barcelona – The home of Gaudi, Picasso, and Miro is a Mecca for lovers of art and architecture, deserving of its own page. Click the tab above for
- Madrid – Spain has the largest collection of paintings in Europe, and Madrid leads the way with three world-class galleries.
- El Prado – Mainly Spanish Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque art as well as major European masters, including Rubens and Rembrandt.
- Centro de Arte Contemporaneo Reina Sofia – The home of Picasso’s famous Guernica, along with other 20th-century contemporary artworks.
- Thyssen-Bornemisza – Romantic religious art to impressionism by mainly European masters.
- Valencia – This centre of futuristic architecture is also home to several worthwhile galleries.
- Valencia d’Arte Modern – One of Spain’s leading modern galleries.
- Museo de Bellas Artes – Works by Spanish artists Velazquez, Van Dyck, Goya, and El Greco.
- Lladro City of Porcelain Museum – The famous porcelain art and figurines are made in Valencia.
- Malaga – The popular Museo Picasso is just a few minutes from the artist’s birthplace, Casa Natal.
PORTUGAL
- Évora – The City Museum, next to the Cathedral, has a good collection of Portuguese and European painting from the 15th and 16th centuries, ceramics, Roman tablets, and medieval and Baroque jewellery.
- Lisbon
- Portugal is a living museum of glazed tiles or Azulejos, which have adorned buildings since the 15th century. The Museu Nacional do Azulejo in Lisbon is the best place to learn the history, technical, and artistic evolution of these magnificent, artistic tiles.
- Lisbon’s most notable art gallery is the Centro de Arte Moderna, featuring works by many Portuguese artists
- At Galeria 111, modern local artists exhibit their works.
- The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga houses paintings, ceramics, and sketches, along with various city artefacts.
- For a number of Henry Moore sculptures, photographs, and some Portuguese-themed paintings, visit the Museu do Centro de Arte Moderna.
- Some of the best contemporary paintings and sculptures are found in the Museu da Arte Popular.
- Oporto – This north-coastal city is home to two major galleries. The Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis features international art from Neolithic carvings to the 20th century. A collection of modern art is found in the Museu de Arte Contemporânea.
- Vila Real – Noted for its Baroque architecture, the crowning glory is the Casa de Mateus, a magnificent estate which houses a fine collection of 17th and 18th century paintings, silverware, and ceramics.
- Vale do Côa – Something completely different is the open-air, Palaeolithic art gallery in the countryside of northeast Portugal. The UNESCO World Heritage site of the Vale do Côa is an archaeological park uncovering the secrets of the Palaeotlithic Age to the Iron Age, including prehistoric rock art.
Spain and Portugal’s art galleries are world-class cultural treasures. Our advisors’ Barcelona Must-See Sites guide highlights the best of Spain’s extraordinary cultural offerings.
