Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of which are preserved down here almost in their entirety. Not much survives above chest
height, but explanatory diagrams show the extent of the streets, walls and buildings - from
lookout towers to laundries - while models, murals and displays of excavated goods help
flesh out the reality of daily life in Barcino.
There'sagoodbookandgiftshoponsite(entranceonc/delaLlibeteria),whilethemuseum
ticket is also valid for other MUHBA sites, notably the Poble Sec air raid shelter and Ped-
ralbes monastery. Plaça del Rei's
Saló del Tinell
and the beautiful
Capella de Santa Agata
are also part of the history museum, and are usually open for visits with your museum ticket.
The hall is particularly impressive, being a fine example of secular Gothic architecture, with
interior arches that span 17m. At one time the Spanish Inquisition met in the hall, taking full
advantage of the popular belief that the walls would move if a lie was spoken.
Museu Frederic Marès
Museu Frederic Marès
Pl. de Sant Iu 5-6, off c/dels Comtes • Tues-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun & hols 11am-8pm
• €4.20, under-16s free, plus Sun after 3pm & first Sun of the month free •
932 563 500,
www.museumares.bcn.cat
•
Café d'Estiu
April-Sept Tues-Sun 10am-10pm • Jaume I
One of the old town's most fascinating museums, the
Museu Frederic Marès
occupies a
wing of the old royal palace, behind Plaça del Rei. It celebrates the diverse passions of
sculptor, painter and restorer Frederic Marès (1893-1991), whose beautifully presented col-
lection of ancient and medieval sculpture does little to prepare visitors for Marès' true obses-
sion, namely a kaleidoscopic array of curios and collectibles. The large arcaded courtyard,
studded with orange trees, is one of the most romantic in the old town, and the summer café
here,
Café d'Estiu
, makes a perfect place to take a break from sightseeing.
Sculpture collection
Frederic Marès trained as a sculptor at Barcelona's La Llotja (School of Fine Arts) and be-
came known for his monumental sculpture, including grand works now on display in Plaça
de Catalunya. His later focus, however, was on the restoration of Catalunya's decaying me-
dieval treasures, many of which are now preserved in the galleries on the
ground
and
base-
mentfloors
ofthe museum. Ondisplay is essentially Marès' personal collection ofmedieval
sculpture-animportantbodyofworkthatincludesacomprehensiveseriesofwoodencruci-
fixes showing the stylistic development of the form from the twelfth to the fifteenth century.
There are also antiquities, from Roman busts to Hellenistic terracotta lamps, while the intric-
ate craftsmanship of medieval masons is displayed in a stunning series of carved doorways,
cloister fragments, sculpted capitals and alabaster tombs.
Collector's Cabinet
Marès was also an avid collector and the upper floors of the museum - the so-called
Col-
lector's Cabinet
(Gabinet del Col.leccionista) - present an incredible retrospective jumble
