Picasso’s Barcelona

“That’s where it all began… That’s where I understood how far I could go.” This remark by Picasso about Barcelona might well be a good starting point to begin the Picasso Route around the city.

Following in the footsteps of this genius painter, you embark on a journey through the scenes of his youth in the Barcelona of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries: the atmospheric bars on Carrer d’Avinyó which inspired him to paint Les Demoiselles d’Avignon;  Els Quatre Gats café and cabaret, the soul of the bohemian Art Nouveau world where he rubbed shoulders with Santiago Rusiñol, Ramon Casas and Antoni Gaudí; the gallery where he exhibited his work for the first time on Carrer Petritxol, and the art school where he studied, the Llotja de Mar.

All these settings are crucial to understanding Picasso’s work. The Picasso route ends with a guided tour of the Picasso Museum which holds over 3,800 pieces by the artist, including the world’s most complete collection of his early works. The museum also houses a significant number of pieces from 1917, the Las Meninas series (1957) and a complete collection of prints.

The Barcelona Picasso Museum, opened in 1963, also reflects the artist’s close ties with Barcelona: an inseparable bond which was forged in his youth and lasted until his death. 2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death and the sixtieth anniversary of the opening of his museum in Barcelona. A twofold celebration featuring a cultural programme accessible to all: exhibitions, conferences, a series of activities and several routes.