Spain - Barcelona
Museu del Modernisme de Barcelona
By @hanneolsen
In the beautiful Eixample district, you can discover this focused museum devoted exclusively to Catalan Modernisme. It is housed inside a perfectly restored factory building from the early 1900s by the architect Enric Sagnier, a space once connected to the city’s textile trade. The museum brings together a stunning collection of furniture, painting, sculpture, and decorative arts from the movement. This entire project grew out of the private collection of antiques dealers Fernando Pinós and Maria Guirao.
Address: Carrer de Balmes, 48, L'Eixample, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Why go
A clear, compact look at Modernisme beyond the facades. You see carved furniture and stained glass alongside paintings and sculpture by key Catalan names, which helps you imagine how upper-class homes looked around 1890–1915.
Known for
The only museum dedicated solely to Catalan Art Nouveau, with some 350 works by around forty artists shown in a former textile buildin
Vibe
Quiet and well kept. Brick and iron outside, calm galleries inside with wood, glass and ceramics that reward a slow look.
Tips
Verify opening days online, as hours can change with temporary shows. Plan an unhurried hour and read the room texts to follow techniques and materials. If you are tracing Modernisme across the city, pair this visit with a walk past nearby buildings to connect domestic objects with architecture.
About @hanneolsen
I am a travel journalist specializing in Spain. I often work and live in Spain, which I consider my second home. As a cultural traveler, my curiosity drives me to continually seek out and convey the many stories that help define Spain, its people, and their culture. In addition to running Spain by Hanne, I also contribute travel articles and photos to Politiken and other Danish media. Received the Danish Media Award at the Spain Talks Awards 2025, organized by Turespaña, for a travel feature on Benidorm focusing on sustainable tourism.
