Museo Picasso Málaga
The Picasso Museum in Malaga is one of the city’s most visited cultural attractions. Dedicated to the life and work of Pablo Picasso, Malaga’s most famous son, the museum is located in the narrow streets of the former Jewish quarter, inside the 16th-century Buenavista Palace (Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista).
The museum was created in response to Picasso’s own wish that his work should be displayed in the city where he was born on 25 October 1881. Managed by the Museo Picasso Málaga Foundation, its mission is to preserve, exhibit and study the artist’s legacy, while also serving as “a vibrant cultural and social catalyst” for visitors and locals alike.
The Buenavista Palace
The Buenavista Palace, built in the first half of the 16th century on the ruins of a Nasrid palace, lies just a short walk from Malaga Cathedral. Declared a Property of Cultural Interest in 1939, it was leased to the Spanish government in 1946 to house the provincial art museum.
In 1997, the building was acquired for the Picasso Museum, which officially opened its doors in 2003. The palace, centred around a striking courtyard, has since been renovated and expanded into adjoining buildings to create spacious galleries.
Permanent collection and temporary exhibitions
The Museo Picasso Málaga presents a rich permanent collection that spans eight decades of Picasso’s work, offering insights into his creativity and evolution as one of modern art’s most influential figures.
Alongside this, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions that highlight Picasso’s influence on other artists, as well as the inspirations that shaped his own work. This dynamic programme ensures there is always something new for returning visitors.
As the museum itself explains: “The collection of the Museo Picasso Málaga provides an insight into eight decades of Pablo Picasso’s work. Through the many different approaches it offers, visitors can discover the thoroughness and huge creativity of an artist who was an indispensable figure in the history of modern art.”
Visiting the Malaga Picasso Museum
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Opening hours vary by season, so it is best to check before your visit.
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Tickets can be purchased online in advance, which is strongly recommended during high season.
For the full Picasso experience, head to Plaza de la Merced, where you can also visit Picasso’s birthplace, now a museum dedicated to his early life.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.