He may have spent most of life in France, but Pablo Picasso never forgot the town that he grew up in. And Málaga never forgot him either, as the grand and comprehensive Picasso Museum Málaga attests. Picasso, who was born in Málaga in 1881, had long insisted that he wanted his work to be displayed in the town of his birth. In 2003, three decades after his death, that wish came true.
Almost 300 works by Picasso are on display at the museum, most of which were donated by the great artist’s heirs. From 19th-century landscape sketches to 20th-century portraits and cubist impressions, the museum’s collections are marked by their extraordinary range. Sculptures, ceramics, etchings and paintings are all on display.
Make your way through the museum’s exhibitions and observe the life story of this brilliant, influential and highly controversial man. From the very start of his academic studies, Picasso was considered outstanding. Track his development from his earliest childhood sketches all the way through to his bold experiments in cubism and primitivism, and then even further to the work of his last few years of life.
This monument to Málaga’s favourite son is housed in the elegant Palacio de Buenavista, a grand palace built in the 16th century. Enjoy its charming garden with a snack or a glass of local wine from the Picasso Museum Café, or come back in the evening for a poetry reading or music recital. And don’t miss the excellent library and bookshop on the way out.
The Picasso Museum Málaga is walking distance from the bus hub at Paseo del Parque. There is a small entry fee, except on Sundays in the late afternoon. The museum is open every day of the week but Monday, although it is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Opening hours extend into the early evening.
