Costa del Sol Tourism Guide - Pablo Picasso Malaga

Pablo Picasso Museum Malaga

Just a short walk from Malaga's Cathedral, around Malaga's narrow old town streets sits Malaga's top draw, the Picasso Museum, and there is something extra special about viewing this large collection (some permanent, some temporary) in Picasso's birthplace. Born here in Malaga at Casa Natal in 1881, he moved to Northern Spain with his family at the age of nine. Like the Dali Museum in Figueres to the north, the Picasso Museum in Malaga is friendly and accessible. You almost stumble on it in Malaga's old town. The museum is housed in the 16th century Palacio de Buenavista, a superb setting noted for its Renaissance and Mudejar architecture.

The Picasso collection covers the full spectrum of Picasso's Paintings, through various periods - cubism, surrealism and blue and both paintings and sculpture are represented. Picasso's early work is particularly well represented including 'Olga Kokhlove con Mantilla' (Barcelona 1917) and 'Retrato de Paulo con gorro blanco (Paris, 1923). More realist are these two works, but it's all in the eyes!

The Picasso Museum's website (see right) guides you through the collection online - well worth a browse before a visit, as well as for checking on temporary changing exhibitions. See also the chronology of his life on this website, plus further Pablo Picasso biography and Picasso paintings/works listings on the Picasso Foundation and Picasso Journal's websites right.

Museo Picasso Malaga, Palacio de Buenavista, c/ San Agustin, 8 29015 Malaga, Spain. Tel. (00 34) 952 127600. (see Picasso Museum website right for up-to-date opening times and details on the Picasso collection held here).

Picasso Foundation & the Museu Casa Natal, Picasso's Birthplace

A short walk up from the Picasso Museum into Plaza de la Merced and you're facing onto Picasso's birthplace home, Casa Natal which has been extensively renovated and now the whole building is run by the Picasso Foundation. Several floors are inside, and more works by Picasso, particularly ceramics, are on display in the first floor Picasso Museum.

Other floors are designated for the study of art, Picasso workshops and administration. Again, to view works by Picasso in his birthplace home is something special. There's no doubt Malaga is now somewhat of a pilgrimage for Picasso fans. The Casa Natal buildings dates from 1861, and forms part of the urban structure called Casas de Campos. Picasso's father, Jose Ruiz Blasco rented the house from 1880 until 1884. The family then moved to another building on the same square until 1891 when they moved to La Coruna when Picasso's father was offered employment as a drawing professor.

Later ceramic works by Picasso, for example 'Picador' and 'Bull' dating from 1956 are on display on the first floor. See also graphic works, forerunner to Guernica - 'Dream and Life of Franco' here at Casa Natal. The Foundation's collection is ever growing and increasingly more impressive. Other artists represented here include Miro, Francis Bacon and Henry Moore. Discover the talent of contemporary artists from Malaga here including Enrique Brinkmann and Eugenio Chicano.

Fundacion Picasso, Museo Casa Natal, Pablo Ruiz Picasso Foundation, Plaza de la Merced, 15 29012 Malaga, Spain. Tel. (00 34) 952 06 02 15. (see weblink right for opening hours and collection details).

Contemporary Art Museum Malaga

When you've recovered from the amazing experience of a visit to both the Picasso Museum and Picasso Foundation at Casa Natal (if that's possible!), a visit to Malaga's Contemporary Art Museum is another treat.

Changing exhibitions and cutting edge contemporary art and design are on show here in this creatively designed converted Wholesalers Market building. The original Market building was the work of Spanish rationalist Luis Gutierrez Soto, and in 2005 acclaimed architect Rafael Moneo added an extension.

Checkout the website for Malaga's Contemporary Arts Centre right for details of artists' work held here, and current exhibitions.

Centro de Arte Contemporaneo de Malaga, Calle Alemania s/n, 29001 Malaga Spain. Tel. (00 34) 952 12 00 55. (see the Contemporary Art Museum's website right for details on the full collection and opening times).

Bullfighting Museum Malaga & Malaga Museums Listings

The superb Malaga Tourism website right offers full listings of all Malaga Museums, with details in English to assist. Religious Art Museum, Cl Cister 13, 29015 Malaga. (see Malaga Tourism/City of Museums section for details). Interactive Music Museum, Pl. Marina de la 3, 29015 Malaga. Tel. 952 210440.

Dolls House Museum, Cl. Alamos 32, 29012 Malaga, Spain. Tel. 952 210082 (weblink right for details). Popular Arts and Customs Museum, Pllo Santa Isabel 10, 29005 Malaga, Spain. Tel. 952 217137 (weblink right for details).

Malaga Municipal Museum, Pso Reding 1, 29016 Malaga, Spain. Tel. 952 225106 (weblink right/Spanish only). Interactive Science Museum Malaga, Av. Luis Bunuel 6, 29011 Malaga. Tel. 952070481 (weblink right/Spanish only). National Airports and Air Transport Museum, Av.Comandante Garcia Morato 81, 29004 malaga. Tel. 952048176 (weblink right/Spanish only).Marine Centre Museum Malaga, Av. Manuel Agustin Heredia 35, Malaga. Tel. 952229287 (weblink right/Spanish only).

Malaga has a huge and rather famous Plaza de Toros bullfighting ring situated to the east of Paseo del Parque (parking is adjacent). Visit both the Bullfighting Museum Malaga here, and the Plaza de Toros stadium. Plaza de Toros La Malagueta Bullfighting Museum, Paseo Reding, 8 - 29016 Malaga. Tel. 95 222 17 27. (weblink right/Spanish only).