Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga in 1881 – and in 2003 the city finally got the museum he had dreamed of. The Picasso Museum Málaga occupies the Buenavista Palace, a 16th-century mansion in the heart of the old town, a few steps from the Cathedral.
The collection
The museum’s works were given by the artist’s family, his daughter-in-law Christine Ruiz-Picasso and his grandson Bernard Ruiz-Picasso. They cover his whole career: early academic studies, Cubist experiments, portraits of the people he loved and the playful ceramics of his later years. Temporary exhibitions put his work in dialogue with other artists.
Under the palace
In the basement, excavations revealed Phoenician walls and remains from Roman and Moorish times – a reminder that Málaga is one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Picasso’s birthplace
A few minutes away, on the Plaza de la Merced, the house where Picasso was born is now a museum too, with family objects and works on paper. A bronze statue of the painter sits on a bench in the square.
Tips
- Book a timed ticket online in busy months.
- Allow time for the courtyard and the café in the palace.
- Combine with the Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre, two minutes away.
