Must see in Málaga: The Picasso Museum

Pablo Picasso spent his early childhood in the historic city of Málaga and perhaps this is where he found the inspiration that would later make him a world-famous artist. Whether you have the same aspirations or simply an interest in art and Spanish history, we highly recommend visiting the Picasso Museum in Málaga city centre.

The Picasso Museum – Málaga’s most popular museum

Today, there are around 40 museums in Málaga, so the city has proudly chosen to mark itself as a ‘Museum City’. However, the undisputed most popular museum is the Picasso Museum, which is located in the historic part of Málaga city centre. In fact, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso is Plaza de la Merced in the large, open space at the foot of the city’s Mauer castle ‘La Alcazaba’ – both worth a visit.

The museum building itself is a magnificent example of 16th-century Andalusian architecture. And as you go through the streets of the historic part of Málaga to get to the museum, it is impossible not to fall in love with the beautiful properties with wooden shutters and flowers on the French balconies. For the same reason, many tourists choose to rent an authentic Andalusian-styled home with associated facilities and its own terrace instead of a hotel.

MOJO TIP ONE: You can park in the underground car park under Plaza de la Merced, which is probably the easiest if you arrive by car. Plaza de la Merced is just a few minutes walk from the Picasso Museum and a great place to take a little break in one of the many bars and restaurants.

The history

In the Picasso Museum, you will find paintings and drawings from Picasso’s early life and momentos from his childhood. The young Picasso drew a lot of inspiration from the atmosphere of the vibrant city of Málaga, as he featured bulls, flamenco, and doves in some of his paintings. Picasso always wanted to display his work in his home town, and he first got the idea in 1953.

It was not until 2003 that the museum was opened in the Palacio Buenavista, exhibiting up to 230 of his works donated by the artist’s daughter-in-law and grandson, Christine and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso. This collection houses pieces that mark the different artistic phases of his life, with examples of his drawings, oil paintings, engravings, sculptures and ceramics. Since the museum was founded, there have been more than 68 exhibitions, 63 publications, and more than 8,606,000 visitors.

Collection 2020-2023: ‘Diálogos con Picasso’

Pablo Picasso was a very productive artist, and although his works can be found all over the world, the museum in Málaga contains almost 400 of these in the updated 2020-2023 collection called ‘Dialogues with Picasso’. On the museum’s website, you can see a more detailed overview of the works themselves and the exhibitions, which extend over several floors.

The inspirational life in Málaga

Málaga is booming and has become an extremely popular holiday destination in recent years. The quality of life in the area relies on many factors, but the more than 320 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of around 19 degrees, with highs of 30, seem to be decisive for most. The centre of Málaga attracts several different types of tourists. There are those who seek to get a lot of culture and gastronomy for the money, real estate investors, pensioners and families who want a second residence in Andalusia, and remote workers who are drawn to the incredible Costa del Sol lifestyle.

The city’s hotels report ‘everything sold out’ year after year in the high season, but Málaga is well visited all year round, which is why many have also opened their eyes to the investment opportunities of buying a property in Málaga. The popularity of tourist apartments has soared in the last couple of years. Since 2019, the supply of these accommodations has increased by 25%, according to data provided by the Association of Professionals of Tourist Housing and Apartments of Andalusia (AVVA).

In addition, the housing market has performed better since the pandemic than in many other southern European countries. It also helps that the lifestyle is unlike anywhere else, and the investment possibilities are endless – whether you are interested in new developments, building your own dream home from scratch or resale homes with true Andalusian charm.

Are you visiting Málaga and want to fully enjoy the beautiful view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea? Enjoy a drink on some of the city’s most amazing roof terraces while the sun goes down behind the horizon. Check out the 10 best rooftop bars in Málaga!

How to buy a ticket to the Picasso Museum

You can easily buy your entrance to the Picasso Museum at the museum, but you save both time and money by buying it in advance via the Picasso Museum’s ticket booking. The museum often holds concerts and other activities in the courtyard on the weekends. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the activity calendar all year round if you want an experience beyond the usual when visiting Málaga’s most popular museum. There is also a café at the museum where you can have a nice cup of coffee and a bite to eat.

MOJO TIP TWO: If you only have time for a short visit, admission is free every Sunday for the last two hours of opening hours.

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27 Jul 2020

Per Moensted