Museu Frederic Marés

Frommer's Review

One of the biggest repositories of medieval sculpture in the region is this interesting museum, situated just behind the cathedral. Marès was a sculptor and obsessive collector, and the fruit of this passion is housed in an ancient palace with beautiful interior courtyards, chiseled stone, and soaring ceilings. He amassed a simply mind-boggling collection of religious sculpture and imagery. Downstairs, the pieces date from the 3rd and 4th centuries, then travel through to the fixating polychromatic crucifixes and statues of the Virgin Mary from the Romanesque and Gothic periods. Upstairs, the collection continues into the baroque and Renaissance before becoming the so-called Museu Sentimental, a collection of everyday items and paraphernalia that illustrate life in Barcelona during the past 2 centuries. The Entertainment Room features toys and automatons, and the Women's Quarter has Victorian fans, combs, and other objects deemed for "feminine use only." Outside, the Café d'Estiu in the courtyard is an agreeable place to rest before moving on.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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