The Frederic Marès Museum is located in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, in an impressive medieval building that was formerly part of the Royal Palace.
The museum boasts an extensive collection of medieval sculptures as well as tens of thousands of everyday items, which provide insight into the lives of Barcelona’s upper class during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The museum is divided into two parts. The first two floors are dedicated to displaying sculptures and religious objects dating from the fifth century BC to the fourteenth century AD. These sections are further divided into categories for Antiquity, Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance art.
The upper floors contain the so-called Collector’s Cabinet (Catalan: El Gabinete del Col·leccionista), which houses a vast collection of everyday objects, including pipes, cigarette cards, spectacles, fans, and children’s toys.
Tucked away among all of this is Marès library cum studio, which contains a collection of modern sculptures, many of which were created by Marès himself. In the summer, a small café operates in the museum courtyard, providing the perfect place to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of the Gothic Quarter outside.
History of the Frederic Marès Museum
Frederic Marès was a prominent Catalan sculptor born in Portbou, near the French border, in 1893. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Barcelona, where he studied art at the famous Escola de la Llotja art school.
In addition to being a sculptor, Marès was also an avid collector who, from an early age, began accumulating a diverse array of objects. As his career flourished, Marès began purchasing antique religious sculptures, including statues of the Virgin Mary and crucifixes, as well as other decorative objects.
Marès first exhibited his collection in 1944, when he bequeathed it to the city of Barcelona. The Frederic Marès Museum opened in 1948 when Marès was fifty-six. Over the following years, as Marès’ collection grew, the museum also expanded, reaching its current size in 1970.
Visiting the Museu Frederic Marès in Barcelona
Time needed to visit the museum
The museum is surprisingly large, and if you want to see the entire collection, you should allow between ninety minutes and two hours.
Information in English?
Yes, all the information boards in the museum are in English, Catalan and Spanish. The Audioguide is also available in English.
Location
The Museu Frederic Marés is located in the Gothic Quarter, right next to Barcelona Cathedral.
Address: Plaça Sant Iu, 5, Barcelona
The nearest metro station is Jaume I, on Line 4 (the yellow line).
Opening times
| Day | Schedule |
| Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 – 19:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00 – 20:00 |
| Monday | CLOSED |
Tickets
| Standard | €4.20 |
| >65 years | €2.40 |
| 16 – 29 years | €2.40 |
| <16 | FREE |
| Audioguide | €1 |
Barcelona Card
The Frederic Marès Museum is also covered by the Barcelona Card, which includes free access to twenty-five of the city’s best museums, unlimited journeys on public transport and discounts at many other attractions and activities.
Free admission days
The museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month and from 15:00 to 20:00 every Sunday.
Other attractions nearby
- Barcelona Cathedral
- MUHBA Plaça del Rei
- Plaça de Sant Felip Neri
- The Temple of Augustus
- Barcelona City Hall
Map
Plaça Sant Iu, 5, Barcelona
