Guggenheim, Bilbao:

Now one of the most
easily recognised buildings in Europe, the Guggenheim in Bilbao
is a work of art itself. Opened in 1997 and designed by American
architect Frank O. Gehry, the museum has been a lynchpin for the
city?s redevelopment programme and in many ways the museum
symbolises the new, modern Bilbao. Standing right in the city
centre alongside the river the museum offers 11,000 sqm of
exhibition space over three galleries. The museum has a body of
permanent work always on display as well as large exhibitions
which run for months at a time. Currently on View is the ?Aztec
Empire? comprising of a huge body of work from the pre-columbian
civilization. Previous exhibitions have encompassed an eclectic
blend of art with work from the likes of Matisse, Michelangelo,
Reubens and Warhol having graced its corridors.

Dali
Theatre-Museum, Figueres

Located in Figueres, the Dali
Theatre-Museum is the broadest collection of his work in the
world tracing his first artistic forays, the surrealist period
and even including some of the last works painted before his
death. Figueres also happens to be Dali?s hometown and the
decision to build the museum from the ruins of the town?s
Spanish civil war-damaged theatre, didn?t seem like a difficult
one. Indeed, it was here as a boy where Dali first had the
chance to display his work so is a fitting place to exhibit the
cream of his life?s work. Dali himself supervised the building
and creation of the museum turning it into a huge surrealist
playground. Dali also created some works specifically for the
museum itself ? the ?Mae West Room?, the ?Wind Palace Room? and
the ?Monument to Francesc Pujols and the Rainy Cadillac? are
larger than life and superb examples of Dali?s fertile
imagination.

Reina Sofia, Madrid

One of Madrid?s
most celebrated museums, the Reina Sofia houses a huge
collection of contemporary art. Once the city?s San Carlos
hospital, the museum was originally founded in 1986 but
underwent a serious revamp in 1990 at the hands of British
architect, Ian Ritchie. They envisioned creating something to
rival the Tate in London and the Pompidou centre in Paris, and,
with 36,000 sqm of exhibition space, it?s one of the world?s
largest museums and an extremely impressive place. The most
famous painting housed there is undoubtedly Picasso?s Guernica,
an immense cubist work and war protest and probably the great
painter?s most famous work. Visitors can also see the many
preliminary sketches that he made for the work. Other great
Spanish artists on display are Dali, Miro and Orteiz to name but
a few as well as Spain?s most important artists of the last 20
years.

Fundacio Joan Miro, Barcelona

One of
Spain?s most important artists and often overlooked due to the
lure of Picasso and Dali, the Fundacio Joan Miro in the Montjuic
area of Barcelona is well worth a visit. Spacious and set in its
own grounds, the museum is a step away from the regular
metropolitan museums and galleries ? the white building built
around an internal courtyard is typically Mediterranean. Huge
amounts of natural light help to bring Miro?s surrealist works
to life and the museum also houses some of his sculptures and
ceramic works as well as the paintings he?s more famous for. The
museum also has a permanent exhibition space in which the
foundation gives special attention to Spain?s more experimental
artists ? not everyone?s cup of tea, granted, but worth a look
if you?re visiting the museum.

About the author:
For the last five years Mike McDougall has been working as a
travel writer and marketeer. He's currently working for a
Spanish language School (http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/) to
provide additional cultural and travel related material on Spain
and Latin America. This article is licensed under a Creative
Commons License:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/uk/