Barcelona is a vibrant and lively city and the perfect destination for art lovers. The city
is considered one of Europe’s major cultural hubs, known for its wide variety of
museums, art galleries, art centers, exhibitions, and less conventional art experiences.
Spanish in Barcelona
Barcelona is the second-most important city in Spain, the birthplace and home of the
Spanish language. The importance of Spanish in the modern world is undeniable. It is
considered one of the most useful languages for business settings, as it is the second
most spoken worldwide (Chinese Mandarin) and in the US. There are many ways of
learning Spanish, but there is no denying that studying abroad is the key.
Therefore, learn Spanish Barcelona is an excellent way of becoming fluent in the
language of Cervantes. Being surrounded by native speakers enables students to gain
important insights about the culture and accelerates the language learning process.
There are many ways of learning Spanish in Spain. While learning with Expanish is one
of the best options – since the school has many branches and courses for all types of
students and budgets – there are other educational options, such as hiring a tutor or
just interacting in the streets with locals.
As mentioned, Barcelona is a great destination to discover art while spending some
time studying the Spanish language. With this in mind, we have made a list of the best
cultural and artistic places you cannot miss on your next student trip to the capital of
Catalonia.
● The Picasso Museum
Barcelona is home to many of the most famous national artists of the 20th century. One
of them is Pablo Picasso, who started his artistic career in the city (although he lived
most of his life in France). Picasso has a permanent exhibition in a museum called The
Picasso Museum, a place that hosts his best art pieces.
The Picasso Museum is usually very crowded, as it is one of the city’s main tourist
destinations. During high season, queues can be quite long. Therefore, if you want to
visit it and get the most out of your time, try to buy your tickets in advance. You can
purchase them online or early in the morning before the museum opens.
● The Chocolate Museum
This is one of the less conventional art experiences you can find in Barcelona, which
does not mean less attractive than the popular ones. It is a small place owned by the
local pastry-maker’s union that features the history of chocolate in Spain and explains
all the steps of the manufacturing process, from selecting the beans to the packaging.
The museum is located in Born, a neighborhood close to the historical center, in a
building that used to be a church (Saint Agustine convent). After the visit, you can
access it for a small fee to enjoy a cozy cup of chocolate with a pastry since it has a
charming coffee shop open to the public.
● Catalonian National Art Museum
The Montjuic Hill is the most famous hill in Barcelona that can be reached on foot. It is
considered a historic site and hosts several attractions, like a cable car, a park with a
big castle, and a museum called the NAMC with an extensive collection of local
artworks (Catalan).
Inside the museum, you can find metalwork, carvings, sculptures, and paintings; from
the outside, you can appreciate a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city of
Barcelona.
● Joan Miró Foundation
Joan Miró was a very famous Catalan artist. He died in 1983, leaving behind a massive
piece of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, and ceramic works.
The Joan Miró Foundation (Fundación Joan Miró) is one of Barcelona’s most
significant buildings. It hosts an incredible collection of the artist’s work and other
temporary exhibitions of other local artists.
The Joan Miró Foundation is located in Montjuic Hill and is open from 11 to 6 pm. It
offers the possibility of guided tours, even outside opening hours (you need to
purchase your ticket in advance).
● Caixa Forum
La Caixa is the name of the largest bank in Spain, which also has a vital role in the
country’s cultural and artistic scene.
The Caixa Forum Barcelona is a cultural art center dedicated to hosting modern
exhibitions of architecture, culture, photography, and even technology exhibitions. The
building that looks like a castle is located in the Monjuic neighborhood and used to be a
textile factory called Casaramona, which was designed by architect Josep Puig I
Cadafalch.
If you want to visit the Caixa Forum, there is a small fee (less than six euros), which
makes the place super affordable for students.
● Marijuana Museum
Located in Palau Mormau, the Hash, Marijuana, and Hemp Museum is entirely
dedicated to cannabis, telling the story of how the plan was used by different cultures
and the effects of consuming it.
As well as the Chocolate Museum, this museum is considered a less conventional
alternative for art and culture lovers, but it is one the most excellent and unique spots in
Barcelona, just as attractive as the most famous places everybody wants to visit.
The museum offers guided tours for groups of 10 or more persons, but this option
requires buying tickets in advance.
Final Considerations
As you may appreciate, Barcelona is a safe bet for an international artistic experience.
The city is a real hot spot for art lovers, with plenty of cultural places and activities to
discover.
Therefore, if you want to get the most out of your arts education abroad, consider it an
exchange destination. You should do a little research before visiting it to buy museum
tickets in advance and make the most of your experience.
