Museu de les Arts Decoratives, Decorative arts museum in Barcelona, Spain
The Museu de les Arts Decoratives holds European decorative objects spanning ceramics, textiles, furniture, glassware, and metalwork created from medieval times through the industrial period. The collections are now part of Disseny Hub Barcelona, where they are displayed alongside textile and graphic design exhibitions.
The collection was founded in 1932 at Palau Reial de Pedralbes and relocated to Olot during the Spanish Civil War, later returning to Barcelona through various locations. In 2014, the holdings were integrated into Disseny Hub Barcelona as part of a broader consolidation of design institutions.
The institution displays Spanish handcrafted objects from different regions, including furniture, tapestries, and timepieces that reflect how people shaped their daily surroundings. These pieces tell stories about local traditions and the ways artisans passed down their skills through generations.
The exhibitions are integrated into a modern design center that brings multiple collections under one roof, making it easy to explore them together. Visitors can move between different galleries at their own pace without leaving the building.
The original building was Palau Reial de Pedralbes, a palace whose gardens were partly designed by Antoni Gaudi. The estate also included a Caribbean-style villa and a Gothic chapel, making it an architecturally diverse location.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
