A Sunday with Picasso




As a trainee for a company that rents touristic apartments, my daily work includes meeting people from all over the world who come to Malaga to spend their vacations. I don't yet know Malaga that well myself, so I try to spend as much of my free time as possible getting to know the city and its main attractions, so that I would be better prepared to answer any questions the clients may have and maybe even give recommendations about what Malaga has to offer.

This past Sunday started with a rain shower, so I decided it would be a good day to visit a few museums. Malaga is not only a nice place for a beach holiday, but also, among other things, an internationally renowned city of museums. Among the most important ones are those dedicated to the life and work Pablo Picasso, regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

Picasso was born in Malaga in 1881. Even though he spent most of his adult life in France, he never forgot his Spanish roots, and it was later his wish to have an exhibition space in his hometown. The Picasso Museum was opened in 2003 in the impressive Buenavista Palace, a Reneissance building and a national monument since 1939. Nowadays, more than 3 million people visit the museum every year, making it one of the most visited museums in Spain. Be prepared to stand in line, especially during high season. I entered the museum during lunch time on a Sunday, and was able to get in without having to wait hardly at all.

While Picasso's most well known works may be exhibited elsewhere, the Picasso Museum's permanent collection still displays a wide variety of paintings, sketches, sculptures and engravings, all dating from different periods of Picasso's work. There is also a large space for a changing exhibition. During my visit to the museum I got to see a fascinating display of the works of artists associated with the School of London, such as Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, organized by Tate, London, together with the Museo Picasso Malaga.

Another Picasso-related attraction in Malaga is the Casa Natal de Picasso, the house where Picasso was born, at number 15 Plaza de la Merced. While you shouldn't expect to find any of Picasso's major works here either, this small museum is still a must for any Picasso fan, featuring memorabilia and other objects dating from the time that Picasso's family lived there. The museum also has another exhibition space very close by, at number 13 Plaza de la Merced, featuring a changing exhibition related to Picasso. Entering the two exhibition spaces is quite affordable, and the free audioguide gives extra information for those who are interested.


More information on the Picasso Museum: museopicassomalaga.org
More information on the Casa Natal: fundacionpicasso.malaga.eu

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Final days in Malaga

Image
This Friday was the last day of my on-the-job learning period here in Malaga, and on Sunday I will fly back to Helsinki. Last Sunday I had to move into a different apartment, because the room I had rented in the center was only available until the end of September. Living in the center was great for getting to know the city and the principal sights, and I enjoyed my short walk to work past the Picasso Museum and the Cathedral. However, living in the epicenter of the nightlife of Malaga above a bar can be a bit tiring, especially at weekends. But I learned to sleep with earplugs and survived. Also, now that I haven’t been living in the center, I’ve noticed that it’s easier to disconnect from work. When you work in tourism and live in the historical center a the city that’s full of tourists, you find it hard not to think about work even when you’re not working. Or at least this was my experience. If I come here again, I’ll try to choose my place to stay more carefully.
Read more

Pilates, beach, and a work marathon

Image
Time flies, and there is only one month left of my on-the-job learning period here in Malaga. For me, the best part of working in the holiday apartment business is doing the check-ins and getting to meet people from many parts of the world and trying my best to make sure their holiday is Malaga starts of smoothly. In the process, I'm getting to know Malaga better myself day by day. The work is varied and rarely boring. It's also a bit stressful, because there's a ton of things to learn and you never know what problems you might encounter. As I'm still relatively new, there's a lot I don't know and need help with. Luckily a have very helpful collegues. Starting from tomorrow, I will work nine days in row. To refuel my energies for the days ahead, I started my Wednesday off by finally signing up for a gym membership for the time I have left here. Going to a Pilates class after about a month's break was absolutely lovely - and a good 'refresher class'
Read more

Sounds of feria

Image
Note to self, and to anybody planning to visit Malaga in August in the future: if possible, avoid trying to walk in the city center with a suitcase during the feria , especially in the evening . I tried it yesterday, so I know what I'm talking about. The streets are so packed full of people in a festive mood that getting anywhere even without a suitcase can be difficult. With a suitcase, it's close to impossible. It's not that I was completely unaware of what to expect. But my home away from home in Malaga is situated in the historical center of the city and not accessible by car, as far as I know. A taxi would not have done me much good, so I had to walk. Luckily I did finally reach my goal, with the help of some friendly malagueños (Malagan people). Now I'm surrounded by the sounds of the festivities outside, and mentally trying to prepare myself for my first day of on-the-job learning tomorrow. I already had the chance to visit the office yesterday evening, so
Read more