Spain Day 16c - MNAC - The Building and Restaurant

 The National Catalonian Art Museum or MNAC (Museum National d'Art of Catalunia) is a superb museum in Barcelona. It can be an all day event, which it mostly was for us. We went there for a lunch and then visited the art on display. We wish we had more time as we rushed around at the end.

The MNAC building, on the Montjuic, was the Palau Nacional (or National Palace) made as the main site for the 1929 International exhibition. Since 1934 it has been a museum for Catalan art and has expanded its contents and scope over the decades. You can see selections of the collection online here.

A view from the restaurant, Oleum, of the 1929 exhibition grounds still used today and Barcelona further afield.

The restaurant itself is situated in the old throne room.

You can see its original architecture above the walls.

We had a Catalonian wine for the meal.

A light soup appetizer.

Starter.

Paella main course.

Dessert I had.

The dessert my spouse had.

The main hall for entering and exiting the museum.

A gathering place that has a gift shop, washrooms, and cafeteria.

The upstairs central area.

The museum has a fantastic selection of Romanesque, Gothic, and Modern exhibits and a great selection of Renaissance items as well. Worth a visit!